Page 38 of My Girl to Use

Her eyes fill, but she doesn’t look away this time.

“I meant it,” I add quietly. “Every time I told you I wasn’t going anywhere.”

Her breath shakes slightly. “Even after what I said?”

“I know you didn’t mean it.”

“I said I didn’t love you.”

“And I didn’t believe you,” I reply simply. “Still don’t.”

A tear slips down her cheek.

“I do,” she whispers.

The words hit me hard.

“I know,” I breathe, closing the last bit of space between us.

Her hand comes up slowly, resting against my chest like she needs to feel that I’m real, that I’m still here.

“I love you,” she says again, stronger this time.

Everything in me goes quiet. “Yeah,” I breathe, pulling her into me. “I love you too.”

She presses into me, holding on tightly, like she’s afraid I might disappear if she doesn’t.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “For everything.”

“You don’t have to be,” I rasp, my hand steady against her back. “I’m the one who should be sorry.”

Levi lets out a soft sound from the bassinet, and we both glance over, the tension breaking just slightly.

“Our family,” I say quietly, looking back at her.

Her lips tremble into a small smile. “Our family.”

Epilogue

Two years later

Zora

The roar of the crowd is deafening, but I barely hear it. My eyes are locked on the track. On my husband.

Jax’s car cuts through the final turn with precision, fast and controlled, like he was born for this. As if this is exactly where he’s meant to be. My heart pounds in rhythm with the race, my fingers tightening slightly around Levi’s small hand as he bounces beside me, his excitement spilling over.

“Daddy!” he shouts, pointing toward the track, his voice full of pride.

I smile, brushing my hand over his soft curls. “Yeah, baby…that’s Daddy.”

It’s been two years since everything almost fell apart. And now, I have this life. This family. My free hand drifts unconsciously to my stomach. A soft breath leaves me as something warm moves through me. I haven’t told Jax yet. I wanted to wait. Wanted this moment to be perfect.

And somehow, it already is.

As Jax crosses the finish line, the crowd erupts. The sound crashes over me as I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. He did it. Again. Levi cheers loudly beside me, clapping his tiny hands. I laugh softly, pulling him closer as I press a kiss to his head.

“We should go find him.”