“Guess I’ve got even more reason to get through surgery,” I say quietly.
Her brows pinch together. “West—”
“I’m serious.” I take her hands again, squeezing them gently. “I was already planning to fight like hell to get back outthere. But now?” I shake my head, letting out a breath that feels bigger than my lungs can hold. “Now I’ve got someone new to show up for.”
Blue’s smile softens, and something in my chest tightens.
“You were already enough,” she says. “You don’t have to prove anything.”
“Honestly, I think I’m finally starting to get that,” I tell her, brushing a thumb over the back of her hand. “But I’m choosing to be someone our kid can count on.”
My gaze drifts once more to the sign above the storefront, and the reality of it hits me all over again.
We’re having a baby.
A laugh escapes me, half disbelief, the other half straight-up elation.
“Well,” I say, tugging her gently toward the door, “guess we better get used to this.”
She looks up at me. “Used to what?”
I pull the door open and grin down at her. “Spending a ridiculous amount of money on tiny furniture.”
She laughs as we step inside together, her hand still wrapped in mine. There’s this feeling I haven’t felt in so long, and I cling to it for dear life.
For once, the future feels solid under my feet.
Chapter Thirty-Seven…Epilogue (Three Months Later)
Blue
Several times today, I’ve had to remind myself that this is real. Not just some dream that’s lived inside my head since I was a kid.
Every local news outlet is here, and so are my family and friends. The community was so excited that we even prepared the open lot beside the center to host vendors who wanted to help celebrate the day.
The center’s long-awaited grand opening.
Someone squeezes my shoulders from behind, and I turn, smiling the second I realize it’s Jules.
“I’m still in shock,” she says, and I squeeze her hand when she reaches for mine.
“About what? The fact that you just lost a potato sack race to a seven-year-old?”
She rolls her eyes with a small laugh. “No, I mean yeah, but… I’m talking about all of this.”
We both scan the property, all the people who came out to support. Scar managing the snow cone machine, Hunter and firefighters from the nearby station giving tours of a fire truck, my dad handing out goodie bags to all the neighborhood kids,Coach Wells and about ten members from the team handing out free Cypress Pointe Emperors swag. Then, we both take in the sight of the building I fought tooth and nail to finish to provide the kids with a place to hang out, to learn, to be safe. This place was all those things to me and more growing up. I’m just grateful we were able to bring it back to life.
“You did a good thing here, BJ.”
Now I’m the one rolling my eyes. She knows I’ve always hated that nickname, but I’ll let it slide since I’m in such a good mood.
But just this once.
Joss, Dez, and Lexi make their way over, but Jax is clearly the leader of the pack. Judging by the number of stuffed animals his mom’s carrying, I’m guessing they’ve hit all the game booths pretty hard.
“Aunt Blue! Look what I won!” Jax shouts, holding up a neon green frog that’s almost the size of his entire torso.
West appears beside me just in time to see Jax showing off.
