“I do,” I rasp.
Cooper grins and kisses my knuckles. “Don’t sound too excited, stubborn.”
A laugh bursts out of me, and the nerves all but disappear. He keeps me grounded.
Vows are shared, and the pastor finally says, “You may now kiss the bride.”
Cooper doesn’t hesitate pulling me into his strong frame and kissing me breathless. His light moan slides through my lungs, making a home in my belly, and I hold on tighter as the kiss goes from desperate to soft and slow, until he pulls away, eyes still locked, lungs still catching up.
I smile so wide my cheeks hurt as I stare up at the man who fought for me, who took the hope I struggled to carry because we were never meant to hold it alone.
Epilogue
Mae
5 Years Later
“Daddy,Daddy!”Isabellascreamsas the screen door slams behind Cooper. She looks like half of each of us. She has his green eyes, my curly hair, and nose. Leo, on the other hand, is all Cooper. He’s the dark hair version of his father through and through.
I sigh and lean against the kitchen counter. Dinner is almost done. The kids have been giving me a run for my money today, and Naomi is in a mood. She’s a teenager. I don’t hold it against her. … too much, but I know it won’t get easier. Yet I wouldn’t change it for anything.
“Hey there, sweetheart,” he grins picking her up and kicking off his boots.
In her three years of age, she’s more talkative than Cooper and can’t wait for her dad to get home every single day.
He kisses her all over her face, and she giggles from his mustache tickling her.
“Put me down!” she yells.
He sets her on her feet and she goes over to the play corner. Where it’s been since Naomi was little.
Naomi comes stomping out of her room with attitude and gets the napkins and silverware to set the table.
“Hey princess, what crawled up your butt and died?” he asks her before kissing her head. He ruffles her hair.
“Dad, stop,” she whines, fixing it.
“Jeez,” he grumbles and rounds the counter to me. He presses his hips against mine, pinning me to the edge, and grabs my chin.
“Hey, stubborn,” he rasps.
We’ve been married for five years, and it never gets old. He kisses me briefly, and I grab his shirt, hauling him back for more. I’ve wondered over the years if we would get tired of each other, especially with two young kids and a growing teenager, but we haven’t.
I suspect we never will.
He grunts softly, and his mustache brushes my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Ugh, Mom, Dad, get a room!” Naomi groans.
Cooper pulls away on a chuckle. “That can be arranged,” he whispers across my lips.
“Maybe we can make another baby,” he says.
I push him away, shaking my head. “Nope, nope, done.” I tell him.
After I had Leo, named after my uncle, I told my amazing husband I was done. We have three kids. Three is a lot. Three is great, perfect in fact.
“I’m going to puke,” Naomi grumbles, scrolling on her phone.
