Epilogue

APRIL

I sighed in contentment as we lay in the bed, the gentle breeze cooling our warm bodies. It was hard to believe we were back in paradise, together, as a real honeymooning couple this time. The wedding had gone off without a hitch and the reception had too, the happiest day of my life coming true.

“What are you sighing about?” Connor asked, his chest rumbling under my cheek. “Did I not give it to you good?”

I raised my head and saw his cheeky grin, the corners of my lips moving to match. Since our plane had landed six hours ago, we had done it once in the water under the hut, sheltered by the dock, twice in the shower, and once in the bed. That didn’t count the quickie in the limo as it took us from the reception to the airport. I didn’t think I would be walking anytime soon with my legs as shaky as they were feeling at the moment. But I couldn’t get enough. I would never get enough of my husband. “Which time?”

“Well,” he started, his hand coming up to cup my face. “I would say all of them were damn equal, but we are really gonna have to wait for another. I gotta recharge, babe.”

The band of his ring caught my eye and I couldn’t help but feel the need to pinch myself to make sure this was all real. He was actually wearing it. I never really expected him to wear it. But he had insisted, saying that he wanted the entire world, like they didn’t know already, to know that he was taken and damn happy. “The only time I won’t wear it will be during a game,” he had said. “But it will be on your finger then until I ask for it back.”

I lay my head on his chest and allowed my fingers to trail over his abs idly. “So Mr. Haden, what do you have lined up for us this time? You know our ‘first’ honeymoon was pretty damn awesome.”

He chuckled and hugged me to him. “I was thinking a couples massage is definitely in order later on. I would like a repeat performance of our last one on the beach, but with a more explosive ending, Mrs. Haden. I hear that marriage sex is way fucking better than engaged sex.”

I giggled and kissed his chest, happiness welling up in my chest. “I love you.”

“Babe, I love you too,” he said drowsily. I grinned then, rising up to look at him one more time.

“Hey, I got something to tell you.”

“What’s that?” he asked, his eyes closed, his hand stroking my back softly.

“Well, you know how we’re going to be godparents in a few months?”

His eye popped open and he looked at me, a grin on his handsome face. “I’m going to spoil that kid rotten. Jay doesn’t know what he has done.”

“Well,” I started, rubbing little circles on his chest. “Save some spoiling for our own baby, okay?”

I watched as his grin faded a little, surprise replacing the look on his face, sitting up so fast that I thought he was going to throw me off of the bed. He gripped my arms lightly and crushed me to his chest before pulling me back to look into my eyes. “Are you fucking serious?”

I thought about the two pregnancy tests I had taken the day before the wedding, and the missed period that probably wasn’t going to rear its ugly head for about seven or eight months. “I’m pretty sure.”

Connor leaned down and tenderly kissed me, surprising me as I saw the shine of tears in his eyes. “Hot damn, I can’t believe I’m gonna be a father. It’s the start to our own football team. And if she’s a girl, well hell, we’ll have our first female quarterback in professional football.”

“Let’s give the baby a month or two before we start showing him or her the football, or at least let me have the chance to corrupt the little bug to be a Battle Hawks fan,” I giggled, teasing him, though I was glad for his enthusiasm. He was going to make an wonderful father.

“You wouldn’t dare,” he said and tickled me into submission.

We had briefly talked about kids, but when I saw the positive test, I wondered whether or not he might think it was a bit too early for us. Surprise, I was wrong again.

The man never ceased to amaze me. He released me from his tickling onslaught and pulled me close until I could hear the rapid beating of his heart, enjoying the circle of his arms.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better wedding present… I feel like I’m going to burst, April. I’m going to do everything to make you and our baby proud of me. I’m going to love you both till you can’t stand it,” he said, kissing me again and again and rubbing a hand over my stomach.

And I had to agree, this was the sweet cherry on top, the winning touchdown; me and him, our love for one another, and our future family growing within my belly. It was all I’d ever dreamed of, and it was a lifelong game changer.

The End

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