Epilogue
THREE MONTHS LATER
ASTRID
Did Chase really say what I think he said?
After months of taking things slowly, seeing each other when we could, but keeping it if not intentionally secret, keeping it as much to ourselves as possible without any big announcement about our relationship.
And things were going well...well. This was coming way out of left field, and I wasn’t sure what to do or say.
Or maybe I was afraid to believe he wanted more.
The sex was great, and Chase had been seeing a new PT; his mobility improving rapidly.
I even relaxed my stance on Josh spending time with someone I was dating.
Those two had quickly bonded over video games, which I hoped wasn’t a huge mistake considering Josh’s favorite game featured Black Ops and covert military groups.
Chase had talked about what he could concerning his time overseas, and I knew enough to know I could live without knowing everything he went through. Especially how he ended up with a bullet in his back. But then again, that had brought him back home. To me.
“This isn’t some fairytale or an enemy-to-lovers romance that has a happy ending, Chase. I don’t expect you or need you to make me whole.”
“That’s fair. But what if you want me? What if you realize that even though you’re more than capable of standing on your own two feet, which I admire the hell out of by the way, that you want to be with a man? And that man would be me, just to be clear.”
Chase was sticking around and fighting for me, for us, this time. I wasn’t ashamed to admit it sent a thrill through me. His vulnerability broke through my last wall. In a blur of movement, I launched myself into his arms.
“Mom?”
“In the kitchen.” My response muffled by Chase’s shoulder as I buried my head against his warmth.
“Josh, it’s all good. And perfect timing. Just trying to convince your mom to marry me, like we talked about yesterday. When you said it would be cool?”
“What? Have you been drinking?” I couldn’t believe he’d gone to Josh, but it was kind of sweet.
“Oh, hell yeah!” Josh shouted, punching a fist into the air.
“Language young man.” I wiped away a few tears. Never did I ever think this would be my life.
“Thanks for the support, bud. And I’m looking forward to becoming someone you can also come to whenever you need me.”
“And for gaming.” Josh added, his grin wide.
“Yes. But it’s under your mom’s rules. That’s one battle I’m not getting in the middle of. Deal?”
Josh listened quietly, answering with a nod. “Deal, bro.”
Chase looked at me. The obvious question flashed in his gaze. “Um, yeah. Welcome to the teenage and gen-Alpha life.” I teased.
“Cool. So, I should have asked this a while ago, but is there a slang handbook I should study, or....?”
I laughed, and Josh smirked and rolled his eyes.
“Alright, I’ll pay closer attention when the next we hang or rap or whatever it’s now called.
But I think we got away from the main topic here.
” Chase guided me by my shoulders, turning me to face him again.
Nerves and excitement had dropped to about a level three since Josh walked into the room; now they ramped back up to level nine on the way to ten.
“Astrid Johansson, I love you. Have for twenty years. Be my best friend again, and promise to always watch midnight lightning storms with me? Marry me?” Chase removed something from his back pocket.
It was a ring, but all I cared about was the look in his eyes.
The look that hadn’t changed since I walked into my clinic’s procedure room three months ago.
Warm fuzzies wrapped around my heart, and yeah, maybe there was some tingling happening in my girly parts.
Because yes, I will enjoy and anticipate all the orgasms my man gives me.
“Yes, Chase London, I love you and have for twenty years. Thank you for coming back for me, for us. For our little family of four. I no longer want to go through life without a man by my side, and yes, that means you.” I shifted to kiss him, then remembered our audience, and tilted my head.
Chase nodded. He got the assignment. “Hey, Josh. Your mom said yes, and what usually happens next is happening. So you can stay and watch your mother be thoroughly kiss--”
“I’m outta here. I’ll head over to Uncle Baz’s place. "See ya!” He took off; seconds later the front door slammed.
I peeked up to see if Chase had caught my announcement. Oh yes, he had. Eyebrows practically disappeared into his hairline. If this moment weren’t so serious, I would have laughed. But we’d never talked about whether he wanted children, except to use protection after that first night together.
“Four? As in, you’re carrying my kid right this minute? From just that first night?” Panic laced his voice; however; Chase lifted me against him, and before I could ask if he was okay, his lips descended and he poured all his love into the kiss.
This life, our journey to this moment, may not have been what I dreamed of for Chase and me at eighteen, but at thirty-seven, my new dream was even better.
Thank you for reading Chase + Astrid’s happily ever after.