Oh, the way he hums makes me willing to try right in the exam room. I move out of his embrace and fix the rest of my clothes before I get banned from Dr. Delgado’s practice.
“Why do I have a feeling my free time is nonexistent for the next couple days?”
He laces our fingers and drags me out of the office. “Because you know your husband so well.”
The way Jagger drives used to be terrifying but I’m used to it now. I’m just so happy to see him relaxed, carefree, and enjoying one of the things he loves to do - scare the shit out of people with his speeding. It doesn’t take us long to make it back home. He pulls me into a kiss the moment we enter the elevator, pressing me against the wall and hooking my leg at his hip.
“Jagger, cameras.” I sigh, although I do nothing to stop him.
“I own the fucking building,” is his response but he removes his lips from my neck to look me in the face. “Do you want to marry me?”
“What? Didn’t we do that already?”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “I mean if you want to get married again, on your own terms and not against your will, I’ll do it again just for you.”
Damn, he knows how to melt my heart but I shake my head. “Duress may have gotten me there but I damn near ran down the aisle to get to the wedding night. So you, my husband, are the reason I went through with it.”
“I think that’s being called dickmatized,” he teases.
“Maybe, but either way the first time stuck. I’m Mrs. Hanlon.”
“And that’s not fucking changing.”
The conviction in his voice has me leaning in for another kiss when the doors open. Jagger pulls me into our home and studies me like he’s seeing me for the first time.
“You’re going to be such a good mother, Karebear.”
“We’llbe such good parents,” I agree. “You have such a big heart and love with everything in you. They’re going to have you wrapped around their fingers.”
His smile deepens. “They? Fuck, your sexiness just keeps increasing.”
Epilogue
Jagger
I’ve never felt extreme happiness and great fear living simultaneously in my body until this very moment. Getting a text from Karessa telling me she’s in labor is the true definition of terrific. Being filled with terror may sound extreme but my boy forcing his way into the world means the scary part is just starting.
Her sisters are with her but if her mom is anything like I’ve heard, she’s about to enforce the LeClaire baby ban. The LeClaires have a rule that people cannot meet a new baby until the baby's first round of shots. Luckily, technology makes virtual meetings possible because I would have a cagey godfather on my hands.
My phone rings just as I get off the elevator in the hospital. “Hello?”
“Liam? I hear Karessa is in labor!”
My mom’s excitement to be a grandmother is not hard to miss. We patched things up after the honeymoon because I learned two things. One, people cannot make things right without a second chance. Two, even with the lies, I’d be devastated if I lost her while being stubborn. Arthur on the other hand still is on his bullshit and I’ve already given him several chances. My mom did something fucked up because she cared but he didn’t.
“She is and I’m on the way to her room now.”
“I’m so excited. Let me know. I remember Karessa’s birth enough to know you two will be the only ones with the baby for a couple of months. I can’t wait to hold him.”
“Me too, Mom. Love you,” I tell her before I drop the phone in my pocket.
Karessa’s scream guides me the rest of the way and Oran video calls me right before I enter.
“Hey man. Let’s go see the damage.”
I push the door open to find Mellie coaching my wife while Esme is in the corner looking like she’s about to pass out. The ever-studious Imala is practically next to Delgado while he checks the progress. Moving near them, I try to see what they are looking for under there.
“Whoa,” Oran says and Karessa’s eyes snap to me like emerald daggers.
