Epilogue
Casey
A few months later…
“S top being a baby.”
Riko howls as I press my fingers into his reinjured thigh. I’m immune to his over-the-top reactions. He’s dramatic and loud. Thankfully I scored a private room for him today. When he’s on the floor, he irritates the other patients with his brashness.
“If you would have listened to me months ago,” I say grumpily, “you wouldn’t be here right now. What part of ‘no more soccer’ didn’t you understand?”
I know it’s unfair. He loves soccer. But I know he hates pain. Soccer and pain are married to each other when it comes to Riko Valentine. Unfortunately, that’s his lot in life. The sooner he comes to terms with it, the better.
“I’m on an athletic scholarship,” he says, breathing heavily. “I can’t just quit. My parents would lose their shit.”
Since I don’t know much about his home life, I don’t weigh in with my opinion.
He drives an expensive car and his parents are loaded.
That much I do know. I’m sure they could afford to pay for college for him, or at the very least help him get a loan.
If they’re pressuring him to keep playing the sport that causes him so much pain, well, that’s just cruel.
“Nice ring,” Riko says, changing the subject. “Is it rubber to remind you that you don’t know what those are?”
I bark out a laugh. “You’re a thorn in my side, Riko. You know that?”
He gives me a goofy grin that makes me shake my head in exasperation. He’s not wrong, though. Brayden gave me the rubber ring, so I could wear it at work, later the same day I gave him the news.
I’m pregnant.
It’s surreal, most days, and I freak out with worry, but I’m happy.
We’re going to get married at the courthouse next week.
Clara is going to throw me a “shotgun themed” bridal/baby shower tomorrow.
She’s extremely tickled over her “clever” idea to combine both the events with the theme.
My mother was less thrilled over it, especially considering my grandma and great aunts are invited.
Someone knocks on the door and Jenna peeks her head in. “Cute boy with a watermelon chiller is waiting in the lobby for you.”
“Probably to try to get her pregnant again,” Riko offers. “Is that how twins are made?”
She rolls her eyes at him and shuts the door.
“Maybe you should pay attention in your science classes,” I offer, giving him a saccharine smile.
We continue giving each other a hard time until he’s done with his session.
As much as we mess with each other, I’ve grown to really care about Riko’s wellbeing.
I want him to do what’s best for his body, not for his college career or for his parents.
Every day, I worry about him. Behind his jokes, there’s a darkness that breaks my heart for him.
After I get Riko on his way, I clock out for lunch, and head over to Brayden who’s chatting it up with Sophia. Both her and Jenna each have a Starbucks drink in hand. Not only does he spoil me, but he’s sweet to the girls I work with too.
“Hey babe,” he says upon seeing me, eyes lighting up and then darting down to my stomach. “You look hot today.”
He thinks I look hot every day.
The girls giggle.
I walk over to him and boldly kiss him for all to see.
“Not at work,” Drew barks out from where he’s doing therapy on an older woman’s hand. “Nobody wants to see that.”
“I’m off the clock,” I sass back. “Plus, it’s romantic. You might learn something.”
“Yeah,” Sophia agrees, giving Drew a mean glare.
“I’m romantic, Crybaby, and you know it.”
Rather than sticking around while they get into one of their fights that is really just foreplay, I take Brayden’s hand and follow him outside. Since it’s warm, and not quite fall yet, it’s a great day to walk and sip my sweet drink.
We make our way to the end of the strip center where my work is located and then head for a grassy area in front of a small church. It’s our spot. He’s already laid out a blanket and his food bag is waiting to be unloaded.
I’m going to miss this when it gets cold. But, knowing Brayden, he’ll find another way to make lunchtime special.
“What have you been up to today besides spoiling me?” I ask as he helps me sit down.
“Went with Dad to look at a property that’s being foreclosed on. I’m thinking about getting it.”
He shows me the pictures he took on his phone.
It’s not a complex like Moonlit Gables, but it’s a cute, older home downtown with a garage apartment.
I listen with rapt attention as he explains his plans to rent them both out after rehabbing it.
Both his parents are going to cosign on the loan for him, but it’s going to be his responsibility.
“I’m proud of you,” I tell him as he hands me a warm container of leftover spaghetti from last night. “You’re really going to do something great with that.”
“Gotta provide for my baby momma and our little bear.”
I seriously swoon every time he refers to the baby as our little bear.
“I make enough to take care of us,” I remind him.
“I know, babe. It’s a manageable project while I stay home with the baby. And it’ll give us more income in case you decide you want to cut back on work or stay home.”
I love my career, but I won’t lie and say I haven’t considered doing just that.
At once, when I thought my future with Derek was what I had to work with, staying with the baby was more appealing since I knew he wasn’t going to give up working.
Brayden is such a sweet, caring soul, though.
I trust he will be the best stay-at-home-dad, and I can continue to do what I love.
It’s thoughtful he’s providing options in case I change my mind.
As we eat the lunch he packed, we discuss next week. We’ll have family in town to witness our small courthouse wedding, so there’s a lot to plan and think about. Luckily, Brayden has put together an awesome menu for our party afterward at the Moonlit Gable meeting room.
“You have room for dessert?” Brayden asks, holding up container filled with cut fruit. “I made that dip you like.”
That dip is addictive and my mouth waters. I think the baby craves it the most of everything he feeds me.
“Maybe I can take it back with me. Right now, I just want to enjoy the sunshine and you.”
I lie down with my head in his lap and he strokes my hair.
The wind tickles over my flesh, making me shiver happily.
Brayden gives me the most serene moments I’ve ever known.
Sure, we can light the bedsheets on fire because our sexual chemistry is off the charts, but he’s also intuitive about my emotional needs.
He’s going to make a great father.
“Tell your dad he can hang out with me and my dad during the shower tomorrow,” Brayden says. “We’re going to go eat at Smoke & Sugar. I guess it’s kind of a bachelor party thing, but lowkey since it’s family and old dudes.”
I giggle at him. “Dad does love to eat.”
The first time I brought Brayden home to my parents for them to meet, I thought my mom was going to have a stroke.
She rudely pulled me aside to ask me if he was even an adult yet.
Dad, though, welcomed Brayden right away and they got to discussing how they could fix my parents’ back deck that had some wood rot.
He’s growing on Mom, especially once she learned he’s an excellent cook, but Dad adored Brayden right from the start.
A big brown truck passes, and we both look to see who’s driving. Sure enough, it’s Derek. He doesn’t look our way which is probably for the best.
“Oh,” I say, sitting up. “How did it go with your dad and his girlfriend? I forgot to ask.”
For the past few months, Amara and her daughter have been living in Gordon’s old unit. Brayden confided in me that Amara made first month’s rent but hasn’t paid since. His dad is stressing out over it.
“Ugh,” he says with a groan. “Not good.”
“Oh no.”
“It’s a sticky situation since she’s his girlfriend, but he was honest with her. Told her he has his own bills to pay, and he can’t afford to lose the rent money on that unit.”
“Let me guess,” I utter with a frown. “She cried.”
Brayden snorts out a laugh. “Of course she did. She cries so fucking much. I’m pretty sure it’s emotional manipulation.”
I’m not therapist, but I wholeheartedly agree. I don’t know that she’s doing it on purpose, though. It’s just her go-to reaction when things don’t go her way. Amara is mousy and soft-spoken. She likes to be rescued.
“So, he’s evicting her?”
Brayden shakes his head. “Well, yes and no. She asked if she could live with him instead.”
“No,” I huff. “This is a recipe for disaster.”
“Tell me about it. And, for the record, he reluctantly agreed.”
I feel guilty for letting Brayden move in with me, freeing up his room at Reid’s house. Amara probably saw that as an opportunity to move her and her daughter in since Brayden’s room was empty.
“It’s weird giving Dad relationship advice,” Brayden says with a smirk. “Not that he listens. I’m just happy as fuck we have it so good.”
The thing with Reid and Amara is it’ll never work.
He’s doing the noble thing by letting her move in, but it won’t be without consequences.
I know this because me and Derek stayed together for all the wrong reasons.
Brayden changed my life for the better. Amara is going to change Reid’s for the worse.
We move on to lighter subjects like what to name the baby and if Mo needs a cat friend, so he won’t get jealous. Brayden pulls me into his arms and rubs my belly with such reverence my eyes tear up. Stupid pregnancy emotions.
It’s hard to believe that six months ago I was depressed from my miscarriage and trying so hard to hold a toxic, failing relationship together. I’d held on so tightly to the life I thought I wanted.
But there was this better life out there waiting for me.
All I had to do was let go of the other one.
Nothing about me and Brayden makes sense, but it’s also the most sensical, real thing in the world.
Next week I’ll be Casey Foss.
A loving wife. Soon-to-be mother. Amazing cat lady.
Best of all, I’ll still be me. The me I’d somehow lost over the years, who was hiding behind insecurities, pain, and stubbornness.
Brayden found her in the wreckage of her life, dusted her off, and reminded her she was worthy, capable, and beautiful both inside and out.
My life irrevocably changed when I fell in love with the neighbor’s son.
And it keeps getting better.
The End