Caitlin
Two years later.
Travis kisses the top of my head.
“Stop fussing over the cake. Peony’s two. She won’t notice if the cake isn’t perfect.”
I laugh. Travis is right, of course, but I can’t help it. The perfectionist in me wants our daughter’s second birthday cake to be amazing because what if Peony remembers this day? What if she remembers having an awful cake that was lopsided with gunky frosting? I could never live with myself.
Meanwhile, my little girl reaches for the pastry from her daddy’s arms.
“Not yet, sweet pea. We have to wait for Auntie Cammie to get here.”
“Cam!” she mouths happily. “Cam-Cam!” We both laugh because Peony loves her godmother, even if she can’t speak yet. Our daughter’s face always goes bright upon seeing Cammie, eager for attention. Plus, Peony has been developing her vocabulary a lot over the last few months. She can almost make full sentences, although she prefers to randomly shout out whichever word she likes best.
Then, my daughter buries her face in Travis’s shirt. He’s wearing one of my designs today, and it looks flawless. It’s made from upcycled denim, and the material is a worn-in, faded blue, emphasizing his hard chest and bulging muscles. I’m glad Get Pressed has been doing well because I consider it my second baby, after Peony.
But the path hasn’t been easy. After the confrontation with Fiona, Travis had a restraining order taken out against my ex-stepmother. She is no longer permitted to be within a hundred feet of me, Travis, or our child. He let her keep the fifty thousand he’d already paid, but wouldn’t fork over any more cash. After all, it was never hush money to begin with. He just wanted her out of his hair as he got to know me.
But now, Travis and I are together, and he has our daughter too. As a result, Fiona’s been banished from our life, and we never see her anymore. Last I heard, my stepmother’s flitting about New York City, living on the last of the money Travis gave her. Once that runs out, I have no idea what will happen. Hopefully, she doesn’t come around here again.
The doorbell rings and I practically run to answer it. As soon as I open the door, Cammie tackles me with a hug.
“Hey lady, I’ve missed you!”
“Me too! How are you? How is your graphic design business?”
Cammie grins. “It’s going really well, actually. This never would have happened without your help. Thank you again for hiring me to make business cards and promotional materials for Get Pressed. I hope you’re getting a lot of customers as a result.”
I hug her again. “Yes, we have been, and you are uber-talented. Thank you, Cams.”
Then, I drag her into the living room and my friend looks around with awe.
“Oh, wow, you’ve redecorated since I was last here! It’s gorgeous!” she compliments.
“Yes, it is, isn’t it? Oh by the way, Travis is here, and so is his brother. Troy’s visiting for just a bit to say hello to his favorite niece.”
My friend spins around because she didn’t see the two men upon entering. Both Travis and Troy get up from the couch, but Cammie only has eyes for one of the alpha males. I get it. Troy looks just like his brother, except he’s a tiny bit taller with huge shoulders. Whereas Travis is more toned and athletic, Troy is downright huge.
“Heyyyy,” my friend sings with interest in her eyes.
I laugh.
“Cammie, meet Troy. Troy, Cammie.”
That’s all I have to say, and they’re off to the races. Soon, Cammie and Troy are talking animatedly in the corner about something or other. I drag my boyfriend to the kitchen to give them some privacy.
“Oh my God, my matchmaking worked!” I squeal under my breath. “This is so great!”
Travis merely laughs.
“I have to warn you though, Troy is no gentleman. He’s a hound dog, so tell your friend to be careful.”
I scoff.
“Oh Cammie can handle herself, don’t you worry. Besides, she grew up in a houseful of boys. If anything, Troy should watch out.”
We laugh together, but in the next moment, Travis is on one knee in front of me.
“Wait, what are you doing?” I ask, although my heart’s already beginning to thump. To my surprise, my handsome boyfriend has tears in his eyes as he holds forth a velvet box.
“Caitlin, I have waited far too long to tell you this. You have been with me through thick and thin, through some of the most soap opera-ish moments of my life. Yet we made it through and every moment of every day, I am reminded of how lucky I am to have someone so incredible. Will you marry me, sweetheart? With you make this poor wretch a happy man?”
I open and close my mouth a few times, tears glimmering in my eyes. At that moment, baby Peony squeals from her high chair, jolting me back to the present.
“Yes! Of course, I’ll marry you! I’d love to.”
I kiss Travis with my heart full and our daughter claps her hands with excitement, even though she has no idea what just happened.
Travis slips the ring on my finger and I sigh with contentment. It’s a gorgeous princess-cut diamond on a silver band, so big that the rock almost reaches my first knuckle. I can’t believe I get to wear it for the rest of my life.
“Travis, it’s huge,” I whisper.
“No,” he growls in my ear while pulling me close. “It’s perfect, just like you.”
But then, I pull back and shoot him a watery smile.
“You know, I have a surprise too,” I begin.
He leans forward, nibbling at my earlobe.
“Is it to tell me where I can put that diamond later tonight? You know I love playing with toys in bed.”
I swat at him, shocked yet scandalized too.
“Get your mind out of the gutter! No, Travis. I’m pregnant again. You’re going to be a daddy to Baby Number Two.”
This time, he pulls back with shock, his blue eyes astonished.
“Are you serious?”
I nod.
“Oh yes. We have so much fun in the sack, it was just a matter of time. You keep me pumped full,” I say wickedly. And it’s true because even though I started out as a vagabond living on this man’s dime, our story has come full circle. I’m no longer a homeless wretch; I’m no longer living on his charity; and in fact, I’ve already given Travis a child and I’m giving him another one soon. It seems that the little girl lost has made something of herself, and with my husband and our children, I will be happy forever.
THE END
Next in the series
If you’re intrigued by the sparks between Cammie and Troy, then you’ll love The Baddest Bad Boy, available here!
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