Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 106(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 106(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
“Well, some of you might’ve noticed the first one.” Hailey lifts our hands and shows the ring I put on her finger. Picked it out myself, wanting it to encapsulate her perfection. But realizing I’d never choose anything if that was my criteria, I picked this one out instead. A nice, big diamond, matching the sparkle in her eyes. Rose gold, like her cheeks.
“What about the second one?” Now I’m the overeager one.
“Well, you see, that one’s just for us.” Hailey leans in close to my ear, sucking the lobe between her lips and biting playfully. And as she moves away, she whispers. “I’m pregnant.”
“Pregnant?” I roar. She giggles at my outburst, and something tells me that was the exact response she was looking for. “I’m gonna be a dad?” Her friends sporadically cheer, applaud and high-five.
“You are,” she goes quieter again, then whispers “And I’m gonna be jealous sharing the title daddy.”
My turn to whisper, because it maybe six months in but that word still does unexplainable things to me. Barely out of her mouth and my manhood’s stirring eagerly.
“If you’re not careful with what you say, I might be putting a second one in you sooner than you think.”
“Gosh, you’re cute,” Hailey says, wriggling her hips over my lap.
“I think you meant to say manly and tough.” I make my voice deeper to add playful flair.
“Too bad we’re inside the house, my big, fluffy teddy-bear,” she snickers. “You know the rules.”
“I thought I was the rule maker.”
“Of course you are,” she looks at me with a cute, devious smirk. “But I’m the rule breaker.”
“Fuck, I love you.” I nuzzle against the back of her neck and wrap my hands over her belly. It’s definitely too soon, but somewhere inside there, my child waits for me.
“I love you, too, handsome,” Hailey says.
And with a final round of congratulations from her friends, Hailey and I say goodbye to them and head inside to discuss our future.
And after the bombshell she dropped, it’s never been brighter.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I must be the luckiest man alive.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
Hailey
Five Years Later
It took two years and two children to find the strength to move out of my dad’s place. We bought a house long before that, but Rex never pushed me to leave. For a long time, I didn’t want to let go of it. It was the last thing I had to hold onto his memory.
But as time went on, I realized it was time to make new memories. And as our family grew, it couldn’t be there. It had to be in our home. And like everything Rex does, he made sure it was perfect. A big garden, pool, five bedrooms and so much more that our family would need and never go wanting.
And it’s on lazy Sunday’s like today, that I appreciate it most. Watching him and the kids splashing around in the pool, while our dogs chase each other around the yard in playful excitement.
Life’s good.
“I’m coming to get you,” Rex puts on a funny, villainous voice before laughing maniacally. It sets the kids off.
Our daughter, Sammy, squeals giddily, before screaming at the top of her lungs and swimming away from him. Our son, Ben, isn’t paying as much attention to their game, more focused on flapping his arms in the water and staying afloat, even though the floaties keep him up.
After a few minutes of chasing Sammy around, I see her motion to Rex, gesturing that he come in close. She whispers something in his ear, and the two of them get out of the pool together. They walk over to me, both wearing the same nervous smile.
“Mommy,” Sammy starts. “Do you wanna—” She turns to Rex and her face lights up. “Daddy wants to ask you something.”
“Wait, you’re supposed to ask,” Rex says, looking at her dumbfounded. Sammy laughs and starts running back to the pool, diving in before he can get her to stop.
“What’s it you wanted to ask me, young man.” Even though Sammy’s gone, I still play along with their joke.
“If you’d join us in the pool,” Rex says cooly, now that it’s just us. “God knows I’d love to see your tight body in one of those skimpy bikini’s again.”
“Is that so?” I raise a brow. “Well, what daddy wants, daddy gets.”
As soon as the word leaves my lips, Rex’s perky demeanor shifts to pure astonishment.
“Now, you know you can’t say that to me,” he gulps down a swallow.
“Why not?” I ask. “Afraid I might wake something up?”
I gesture subtly to his crotch with my head.
“It’s too late to be afraid,” he says. “You’ve done it now. And he won’t be satisfied until he’s had a dip of his own.”
“I’m sure that can be arranged,” I tease. “Best part is, we’ll have to wait for the kids to be in bed. I get to tease you all day, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”