“Parker is no longer your concern. She will be well cared for and looked after for the rest of her life. And if she chooses to have a relationship with you, I won’t stand in her way. But I will show her every single day what it means to care for someone. I’ll be a reminder that what she had before me was worthless.”
“How dare you?—”
“I dare,” I cut in, feeling heat and anger rise up my neck. “She is the best thing in this world and you treated her like cattle. She might not know what she deserves because you gave her scraps her whole life, but I will make sure she feasts from now on.” I feel Parker’s hand on my chest and it calms me. “You have a chance at this moment to fix what you’ve broken. To choose your daughter and to choose to be a man worth holding the title of father. It’s up to you.”
There’s a long moment where Louis looks at me and then quickly glances at Parker before turning away and walking out of my office without another word. I want to tell him he’s making a mistake and that he’ll regret it for the rest of his life, but I can’t make that choice for him.
“I can’t believe he left.” She sniffs, and I pull her against me and kiss the top of her head.
“Don’t give up hope yet, sweet girl.” I have no idea what will happen with Louis and her mom, but I know that I’ll be here to protect her.
“Thank you, Sammy.” She leans her head back to look up at me, and it’s then I notice she’s smiling. “I love you.”
Hearing her say the words is like a shot of something warm and pure to my heart.
“I should have said it sooner, but I didn’t know how.”
“It doesn’t matter.” I shake my head. “I love you, and that’s all we need.”
Epilogue
PARKER
A few months later
“Who knew buying a dildo online would end with a happily ever after?” Lexi teases as she comes waltzing into the bathroom. I’ve been trying to give my groom the slip since we said our vows, but he isn’t making it easy. The man isn’t letting me out of his sight.
“Did you get it?” I ask.
Lexi nods as she holds up the pregnancy test. It’s not often I see her in a dress, and I haven’t missed the number of men checking her out tonight. She has no idea the attention she draws, but my best friend is so beautiful.
The wedding wasn’t giant, but it wasn’t small either. I think there were around seventy-five guests in all, but Sammy went all out. The man gave me a wedding that fairy tales are made of.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t come through?”
“I knew you would.” She’s right; Lexi always follows through if she says she’s going to do something. I take the test from her and start to read over the instructions.
“I never thought I’d be able to get you alone.”
“You’re not kidding. He tried to come to the bathroom with me. He said that I might need help peeing since my dress is so big.” Lexi bursts into laughter, though I think he was teasing me. “I told him you were coming with me.” I shake my head as Lexi starts undoing a few of the buttons for me in the back.
“It’s going to be weird not seeing you around campus next semester.” I can hear the sadness in her voice, though she’s trying to hide it as I turn around to face her.
Sammy told me he would support whatever I wanted and that if I wanted to stay in college or try something else, I could. I’ve decided to take a semester off after finishing the last one. It’s why we held the wedding off for a few months so we could go on a honeymoon and I wouldn’t have to worry about missing classes. I wasn’t going into another semester not knowing what I wanted to do with my life, so I’m spending some time doing what feels good.
“You’re not only my best friend, Lexi. You’re family,” I tell her. She was the first person to love me for who I am. “Me not going to school with you changes nothing. In fact, I’ll have more free time to work around your schedule.”
She’s been a bit excited about having her own space for the first time in her life. Having grown up in the foster system, she bounced from home to home and was always cramped into a room with other people.
“Promise?”
“I promise. If you hate the dorm next year or can’t get a single one, then you’re more than welcome to come and stay with Sammy and me.” She lifts a brow. “I swear! I already told him this when he asked me to marry him. He knows we’re a package deal.”
“You two and packages.” I snort a laugh at her terrible joke. “Take the test. You’re killing me here.”
“All right.”
Lexi helps me with my dress, holding it for me while I use the bathroom. Afterward, I set the test on the counter, and we wait. I think I already know what it’s going to say, but I want to be sure before I tell Sammy.
