Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 98524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
A laugh bubbled out of me. “No, baby. You’re doing great.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes. I promise.”
“You’ve got this, Valdez,” Deke called.
A boyish smile took over him. “Octavia Klein, you are an amazing woman with a very beautiful heart. Not only do I want you in my life forever, but I want you to be in Aleesa’s as well. So . . . will you marry me?”
“Hell, yes!” I breathed, throwing my arms around his neck.
A deep chuckle filled his throat as he hugged me below the ribs.
Deke whooped. “That’s my boy!”
“Aww, my sweet baby girl!” Mama sang. “Let me get the champagne!”
“Yay, sis!” Davina cheered, clapping her hands.
I pulled away, and Javier did, too, but only so he could remove the engagement ring from the box and slide it onto my finger.
“My mother and Cat helped me pick it out,” he said. “They are upset that they could not be here, but they want to FaceTime with us later.”
I couldn’t stop the big, goofy smile from spreading wider across my face. “We’ll definitely FaceTime them.” I studied the ring, almost going breathless. “Are you sure about this?” I asked, swooping my gaze up to his again.
Javier gave my chin a squeeze, his eyes softening and locking onto mine with intention. He then kissed me so deeply and passionately that I was left with no choice but to sigh.
“I have never been more certain about anything in my life,” he murmured on my lips. “I want to marry you. I want you to be my wife. No one else. Okay?”
“Okay.” I sniffled. “I love you. I love you so much.” I pressed my lips to his, another tear skidding down my cheek.
“Te amo mucho, mi amor,” he whispered in my ear.
Epilogue
Javier
Two and a Half Years Later
“Daddy.” A hand gripped my arm and gave it a hard shake. “Daddy, get up! Ballet camp starts today!”
I groaned, peeling one eye open and spotting Aleesa’s big green eyes. Her curly hair framed her face, and with a slight glance down, I noticed she was fully dressed in a black leotard and white tights.
“Where is Tava? I want a ponytail braid, and she does it really good.”
Her question was a good one. I looked to my right, only to see Octavia wasn’t in the bed. “Did you check the kitchen?” I asked. Most mornings my wife loved being in the kitchen.
“Yes. She’s not there.”
I sat up and rubbed my eyes. Footsteps thumped through the hallway, and before I knew it, Octavia appeared. But she wasn’t alone. In her arms she had Remi, our six-month-old son and one of my three brightest lights.
“Good news is he slept through the night,” my wife said, walking deeper into the room and placing Remi belly down on the center of the bed. “Bad news is he woke up, decided to poop, and pretty much had a bomb go off in his diaper. I’m talking baby poop everywhere.”
“Ew.” Aleesa scrunched her nose. “Good thing I didn’t smell it.”
Octavia laughed. “Good thing, indeed.”
“Give me that big boy.” I reached for my son and held him close. He looked at me with a slight scowl. “Okay, I am serious when I say this, Octavia. Our baby does not like me.”
“Oh my goodness, stop it,” she said. “Yes he does. He loves you.”
“Well, why does he only frown at me when I hold him?”
“He just has to get used to you being around. That’s all. Now that summer has started and you won’t be on the road as much, you two can bond more.”
“I guess so.”
“Leesa, ready for camp?” Octavia asked.
“Yes! I can’t wait to go! I’ve been practicing so much! Oh, and the paper thingy you had said they are giving us ice cream when we’re finished today.” Aleesa climbed onto the bed to sit beside Octavia. “Can you do my hair and put a ribbon like last time?”
“Of course I can, my love. What color ribbon?”
“Hmm . . . purple,” she answered.
“Purple it is.” She gave Aleesa a wink, then turned her attention to me. “I can drop her off. Will you be okay with Remi?”
“Of course I will be okay,” I confirmed. “He is my son.”
“Well, I’m just asking. I don’t want him frowning you to death.”
“Ha ha,” I deadpanned. “Very funny.”
She giggled, walking around the bed and placing a kiss on my lips. Then she dropped a kiss on Remi’s forehead. When she did, Remi started bouncing, kicking his feet, and even reaching for her.
“You’re Mama’s sweet boy, aren’t you?” she cooed to him, and I couldn’t believe it, but he smiled for her. Just like that. She made it seem like such an easy thing to pull out of him.
“What about your daddy?” I asked, lifting Remi up so he could look at me too. Once again, Remi lost the smile and stared me down. “See, Aleesa was not like this. He is so . . . serious.”