Epilogue

 

 

 

3 Months Later

 

 

Luke

 

 

“Did you kiss Auggie goodbye for me?” Afton asks as soon as she steps into our home.

Nodding, I set down the knife in my hand. “His mom picked him up fifteen minutes ago. He said to tell you he loves you.”

Her eyes shine. “I hope you told him that I love him too.”

I did.

I do that every chance I get. Right now, that’s every Wednesday and second weekend. I’m still going through the process to adopt August, but Brooklyn has been working with me to guarantee I get time with my son.

She understands the value I bring to Auggie’s life, and she admitted today that she likes Afton. I’m grateful for that.

The three of us put Auggie first.

I cherish every moment I have with him. After I moved in with Afton, we cleared out her small second bedroom and bought him a bed and a toy chest. Afton went the extra mile and had a poster created from one of the stories I’ve written and illustrated for him. It’s hanging in his room next to the window.

Last night, for the first time, I read him a story that included my fiancée. Auggie loved it and fell asleep with a smile on his face.

“Whatever you’re cooking smells delicious.” Afton slides the cardigan she’s wearing off to reveal a white blouse.

I pat the front of my Eat My Meat apron. “I had a sample taste, and you’re going to love it.”

“The food or your meat?” She tilts her head. “I’m partial to the latter, but I’m open to the former because I’m starving.”

“You’ll eat what I’m cooking for dinner, and then later, you’ll enjoy the meat.” I cock a brow.

“If a long, hard, slow fuck follows the blow job I’ll give you, I’m in.”

I drop my head. “Afton.”

“Luke,” she mimics the need in my tone. “Dinner first, puzzle next, and then we’ll savor each other.”

“No puzzle.” I point to the completed puzzle on the dining room table. “I finished it. It’s a mountain scene with a goat on one of the peaks.”

Nearing where I’m standing, she laughs. “My dad needs to change up his puzzle choosing game. I brought you a puzzle.”

She sets a plain white box on the island.

“You got me a puzzle?” I question.

Opening the box, she tilts it so the pieces tumble out. There can’t be more than two dozen of them. I immediately recognize letters.

Wiping my hands on the front of the apron, I let curiosity lead me. “This looks simple. How about I do it now, we push dinner back an hour, and I fuck you before you blow me?”

“Hey now.” Her hands dart into the air. “That’s a complete change-up of the scheduled programming.”

I don’t wait for another word from her before I start flipping puzzle pieces over so I can get my eyes on everything I’m working with.

“Did Joel and Nelson tell you the big news?” She leans both elbows on the island.

“What news?” I keep my gaze on the puzzle, fitting a piece with aYon it next to one with anO.

“They picked a name for the baby.”

I stop to look at her because this is huge. The two of them have been volleying names back and forth for weeks.

“What is it?”

“Guess,” she counters.

“You’re kidding.” I laugh. “They’ve thrown hundreds of names at me, Afton. There’s no way in hell I’m going to know which one they chose.”

She sighs. “Try.”

“Luke?”

Laughing, she shakes her head. “Nope.”

“Aftonio?”

“That’s what I’d vote for, but that’s a no.”

I drop my gaze back to the puzzle, fitting more pieces together until the wordYOU’REappears.

“I know.” I glance up to catch her staring at me. “Calvetti Walton-Neal.”

“Marti would love that.” She smiles.

I keep moving on with the puzzle, fitting aGnext to anO.

“Give me a hint, Afton.”

“It’s a boy’s name.”

I stop again to lean forward to kiss her. “That’s not a hint.”

“Think of when the baby will be born.”

“December,” I blurt out. “I’m sure August will appreciate that his cousin is rocking a name inspired by the calendar too, but that’s a hell of a burden to put on any kid.”

She laughs.

“What are we supposed to call him for a nickname?” I question as I complete the wordGOINGon the puzzle.

“Ember?” She giggles. “Dec? Ber?”

I move the pieces quickly now.

There’s no fucking way. This can’t say what I think it does.

“If month names are a trend, then our baby will be named June. It’s too early to know if it’s a boy or a girl.”

Those words leave her lips the very same second I realize what the puzzle says. I shout it out becausefuck, this is everything. “You’re going to be a dad again!”

“You’re going to be a dad again,” she whispers. “In June.”

I round the island to take my fiancée in my arms. I spin her around. “We’re going to have a baby. August is going to be a brother.”

“And Noel will be a cousin.”

I bury my face in her neck. “I’m so fucking happy. Marry me tomorrow.”

Her lips find mine. “Make it next month, and you have a deal, but let’s do it here in the garden. We don’t need a church or a fancy dress or tuxedo.”

I nod as I lower her to her feet. Placing my hand over her still flat stomach, I grin. “We have everything we’ll ever need right here.”

We do.

I never thought to dream of a life like this because I didn’t realize it could be my reality. But it is, and I’ll never take it for granted, as long as we both shall live.