Epilogue
Paris, seven months later
Getting marriedat sunset in the Eiffel Tower was pretty fucking epic.
Legally, of course, Tommy and I had been married since early November, but that had been when we eloped.
This was our wedding.
Almost everyone we knew and loved was here, and we’d rented out one of the restaurants on the first level of the Eiffel Tower for both the ceremony and the accompanying dinner and reception. We’d had the ceremony just as the sun had been disappearing into the horizon, and now we were at a table looking out over the city.
“A toast!” Kingston stood up, holding a glass of champagne, and everyone grabbed one. “To two of my favorite people in the world. Tommy and Harley. My drummer, my business partner, my brother—I couldn’t have dreamed up a better partner for you. Harley, even through the years you weren’t around, you were still part of us. You’re family and I’m looking forward to seeing what mischief we all get into over the next fifty years or so!”
“Cheers!” Everyone clinked glasses and sipped their drinks, but I put mine down, glancing over at Tommy.
“Your stomach still bothering you?” he asked.
“A little.” I smiled. “Can we go outside for a minute? I want to tell you something.”
“Sure.” He got up and took my hand.
We’d gone all out with tuxedos for the guys, a gorgeous couture wedding gown for me, beautiful dresses for my bridesmaids, and of course, the cutest little suits for River and Jeremy. Casey had flown in, along with Sasha, her husband Anton, and their boys, Phoenix and Jackson. Kirsten was here with all of the guys from Nobody’s Fool and their significant others, and of course, the guys from Crimson Edge were on tour with Onyx Knight so we’d invited them too. Along with the crew.
And there was something going on with Wynter and Ross, but I wasn’t thinking about anyone but my husband tonight.
I had something magical to tell him, but I was also a little nervous.
“What’s going on, beautiful?” He put an arm around my waist as we stared out at the city.
“I have really, really exciting news.”
“Yeah?” He cocked his head slightly. “Tell me.”
“You know how I mentioned that Carter had left some frozen sperm in case I wanted to give River a sibling?”
He nodded. “I thought we were going to talk about that once the tour was over?”
“Yes. But now we don’t have to.”
He squinted slightly. “What do you mean? Did you change your mind about another baby?”
“No, but fate had other ideas.” I turned so I was facing him and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Remember back when we did all those tests, and the doctors said your sperm count was virtually zero?”
His face tightened a little, but he nodded.
“But he also said it wasn’t zero-zero. Like, there had been a handful of live sperm. He just wasn’t sure of the quality and all that complicated science stuff.”
“He said the count was so low it was as good as zero,” Tommy said, frowning.
“But it wasn’t zero.” I smiled and took one of his hands, putting it on my stomach. “Because I’m pregnant, Tommy.”
The strangest look crossed his face.
He blinked a few times, then he looked down to where his hand was flat against my stomach.
“You’re…are you sure?”
“Very, very sure. I went to a doctor when we were in London. I’d had our records sent from the fertility specialist we saw eight years ago, and they gave me a very thorough examination. The doctor in London said that while the chances of you getting me pregnant were low, they definitely weren’t zero. They never should have told us you were sterile. Our chances were slim, but it happened anyway. Our baby’s due on December twenty-second.”
“Harley.” His eyes were suspiciously watery and he blinked a few more times before lowering his head to mine. “We’re having a baby? Really?”
“We are. We got pregnant in late March or early April. I’m sixteen weeks. It was killing me not to tell you, but I wanted this to be my wedding present to you.”
“Oh my god.” He dropped his forehead to mine. “Holy shit, baby—we’re going to have a baby!”
I bit my lip. “Are you happy? I know this came out of nowhere…”
“I’m so fucking happy! I love you. I love you so fucking much.”
He crashed his mouth to mine, kissing me with the passion of a man in love. A man who had everything he ever wanted. And who’d given it all to the woman he loved.
“Seriously, you guys?” Wynter stuck her head out the door. “Everybody’s been clinking their glasses for kisses and you’re out here making out like teenagers.”
“You’re going to be an aunt again!” Tommy yelled at her.
She rolled her eyes. “Duh. I’ve known for weeks. About time you told him.”
“I had to tell one person,” I whispered when she ducked back inside. “Just in case something went wrong. And also because I was so excited after I saw the doctor in London.”
“I remember that day,” he said, chuckling. “I thought it was really weird you were gone all day, supposedly shopping, and came back with zero bags.”
“I had to make sure, because I was freaking out at first too. But after the doctor in London explained those results we got eight years ago a little more clearly, I felt better.”
“I can’t fucking believe I’m going to be a dad again!” He pumped his fist. “This is so fucking awesome, Harley.”
“And maybe a third time if we use Carter’s frozen sperm. I feel like continuing his legacy is important.”
“I want whatever you want, baby.”
We smiled.
“So, once the European and Asian legs are over, we’re going home, right?” I asked gently. “I don’t want to spend my entire pregnancy on tour.”
“Absolutely. We’ll head home after we do Japan and Australia, which is October. Then I’ll tell the boys we’re done.”
“I heard rumblings about a few more US dates.”
“We might do that, but if we do, it’ll be limited dates and venues, and I can fly out for the shows and then come right back to you. And starting December first, I won’t go anywhere.”
“We have to decide if we’re going to buy a new house,” I said.
He chuckled and pulled something out of his pocket. “This is your wedding present.”
I unfolded a thick sheaf of papers and tried to figure out what they were.
“It’s a deed for our new house,” he said. “Overlooking the ocean in Manhattan Beach.”
“Oh my god. Tommy!” I threw myself at him and we started kissing all over again.
“I guess he gave her his present,” someone said in the background.
“They’re newlyweds. Let’s leave them alone.”
I thought it was Ross and Wynter’s voices, but I wasn’t sure.
And frankly, all I cared about was the man kissing me.
In Paris.
The City of Love.
It certainly was tonight.