Chapter 25
Chapter
Twenty-Five
Zander
My sweet girl was glowing. She was showing finally, and I found it difficult to keep my hands off her.
Knowing my daughter was growing in her womb made me want to be a better man and future husband so I could be a good father.
She’d want for nothing, always be up on game, and know the world was hers for the taking.
It was Navy’s birthday, and as she expressed last year, we spent this birthday out of town.
Ian’s family had simmered down, and we hadn’t heard anything for months.
Her parents were cool with me taking her out of town and appreciated not having to do a lot of work during the coldest month of the year in The Hills.
I found a beachfront resort in Rancho Palos Verdes that had the perfect warm weather for this time of year.
We were able to swim in the pool and play in the beach without having to worry about heavy wind or cool temperatures.
I was a little worried about the chlorine, but she assured me that she checked with her doctor and was told she’d be fine.
We’d spent our first three days here relaxing, eating good, and enjoying the beach. I figured that was how we’d spend the rest of the week here too.
It was her birthday, so whatever she wanted, she would get.
I was able to convince her to leave the suite today.
I treated her to a spa day, and after that, I let her eat as much ice cream and waffle cones as she wanted.
It was crazy to me how simple the treat was and how much she was enjoying it, but that was proof of how important it was to do what people wanted you to do when it came to their birthdays or even love languages for that matter.
As simple as the trip had been, I made sure to go above and beyond for her birthday gifts.
She insisted on me not getting her anything because all she wanted was a staycation with me.
I told her okay, but she should have known I wouldn’t not get her anything.
All of her birthday gifts were waiting for us in our new home.
We’d closed on our home one week before Christmas, and it was in the perfect neighborhood, offering a quick drive to our jobs and less than a ten minute trip for both sets of our parents.
I was hoping Navy would take off for the next schoolyear since she was due in May, but she loved her job so much I didn’t know how long she’d stay away.
This summer would be busy for us.
I’d officially been named the head legal representation for the entire secret society. I’d put a small team of five lawyers and ten paralegals together at the firm to handle things in my absence, and the board of the secret society was more than okay with that.
Tristan and Taj were getting married in July in Lake Tahoe, which would also be the month we’d be celebrating Serene’s first year of life.
Carson and Venus didn’t want a long and drawn out engagement. I believe after what happened with her and Trevor, she’d lost interest in the fanfare of having a big wedding. Instead, they agreed on having a small and intimate church wedding on their anniversary.
For me and Navy?
I honestly didn’t know when we’d have a wedding.
She was materialistic and loved gifts and being spoiled, so I knew she’d want to go all out.
I was cool with that. I didn’t give a fuck if it was a courthouse wedding or not.
I just wanted her to be my wife. We agreed we’d have our marriage license before our daughter made her arrival, because I wanted Navy as my wife before I made her a mother.
Initially I said I didn’t care about the order, but she deserved to have my last name before we gave it to our daughter.
So if it took us a couple of years to plan what Navy considered the perfect wedding, I was okay with that.
All I had to do was propose, and I planned on doing that today.
She hummed under her breath, completely content and in her own world as we walked in the direction of the suite.
One hand was in mine, and the other rubbed her belly—and I wasn’t sure if that was because of the baby or all the ice cream she’d eaten.
I chuckled to myself as I looked down toward the beach and saw that everything was set up.
I thought I’d be nervous when this moment came, but I wasn’t. I knew she was my wife and that she’d say yes. That this was just a technicality. That this was finality.
When Navy noticed the roses, heart shaped wreath made out of roses, candles, and people standing around, she gasped.
“Aww that’s so romantic! Someone is about to propose or get married,” she said.
“Yeah, let’s go be nosy.”
Navy giggled as her grip on my hand tightened. “This day just keeps getting better and better. I love love.”
“You know what I love?” I asked, leading her out onto the sand.
I’d made sure she dressed in a flowing white maxi dress and comfortable sandals that she wouldn’t mind getting sand in.
At first, I got a little nervous when I saw her devouring the ice cream.
If she spilled it and had a stain on her dress for these pictures, I’d never hear the end of it.
“What?”
“You. This life we’re building. Our baby girl.”
“Aww, bookie. You know I’m overly emo—” Her mouth snapped shut and she tugged on my hand to get me to stop walking. “I don’t think we can be that close, bae.”
Chuckling, I continued to lead her toward the heart.
“I think we can. Let’s see.”
She eyed me skeptically, then pulled her hand from mine and covered her face when I shook the officiants’ hand.
Also in attendance was a photographer and event coordinator.
I’d let them in on my plan to propose and have a private ceremony for just me and Navy before we went back home.
There, we’d get our license to make our marriage official.
And whenever we were ready, we’d have the wedding after the baby was born.
They were on board and made everything simple.
All I had to do was approve or deny certain things.
“Zander,” she whispered as I kneeled before her.
“We’ll have the big wedding you want and deserve in the future.
For right now, I want this moment to be just about us.
You expressed to me back in August that you were concerned about having a baby leading to us focusing on each other less.
Though I told you that wouldn’t be the case, I want this action to seal that within your heart.
” I pulled the diamond ring out of my pocket, and at the sight of it, she whimpered as I took her hand into mine.
“I love you, Navy Robertson. You’ve been the only woman to ever have access to my heart before I even accepted the fact that it worked.
Being with you has made me feel so blessed that I feel greedy praying to God for anything more.
Will you be my wife, sweet girl? And if so, let’s make it official. Right here . . . right now.”
Her tears poured so rapidly I wondered if she could even see me. Eventually, she giggled and used her free hand to wipe her face.
“Is there any other answer besides yes? Of course I will marry you, Zander!”
“I mean, I knew that. Your daddy said I still had to ask,” I grumbled through my amusement as I slid the ring onto her finger.
She laughed as she used my shoulders to lift me to my feet. Onlookers cheered and clapped as we kissed. We rode a natural high as we exchanged our vows. After, we took a few pictures along the beach, then made our way back to the suite.
“Did we really just get married?” Navy asked, untying the string wrapped around her neck. “Like . . . when we get home, we’re going to get a marriage license, and I’ll legally be your wife?”
“That’s right, bae. You changing your mind already?”
“Absolutely not,” she assured me, turning in my embrace. “One thing I’ll never change my mind about is spending my life with you.”
Her declaration led to kisses and touches that ended with me being buried deep inside her pussy.
She went straight to sleep afterward, and once I cleaned her up, I stepped out onto the patio.
The sun was setting, and it along with the ocean provided an intimate backdrop to thank God.
I thanked Him for His gift of mercy and His grace.
No part of me believed I was worthy of what He’d given me, and that conscious truth was going to drive me every day to make sure I stewarded His gifts properly.
I didn’t want Him to ever take the blessings He’d given me because I didn’t appreciate and deserve them, and my sweet girl, my treasure, she was at the top of the motherfucking list.