“I think a newborn would’ve been easier,” I say around a yawn. “At least they stop crying when you pop a boob in its mouth.”
She snorts.
Chase comes barreling in from playing with Sassy outside. We watch as the two wrestle and bark at each other. So much for our quiet mornings together.
I don’t regret it, though.
Seeing Everleigh’s face light up when she first saw him and catching them snuggling together last night is worth the sleepless nights. I know it’ll get easier and we’ll adjust.
“He really is so dang cute,” Everleigh says as Chase sleeps on his dog bed.
“Yeah, when he’s not awake,” I quip.
“Uncle Archer!” Sadie shouts, and we quickly shush her, but it’s too late. Chase’s head pops up. “Oops, sorry.”
“It’s okay. What do you need, sweetie?”
“Chase was chewing on this. Should I throw it away?” she asks, coming closer with something in her hand.
“What is it?” I narrow my eyes.
She hands it over, and when I realize it’s a pregnancy test, I look at Everleigh, who’s as white as a ghost. I swallow hard as I read the word PREGNANT on the small screen.
“Sadie, can you give us a minute, please?” I ask, and she nods, walking back to Everleigh’s bedroom.
“I guess that’s my Christmas gift to you,” she says softly. “I was gonna tell you tonight over a romantic dinner.”
I blink hard in disbelief. “Come here.”
She moves closer, and I immediately pull her onto my lap. When she wraps her arm around my shoulders, I place a palm over her stomach. “We’re having a baby.”
“Are you happy about that?”
I cup her face, bringing her mouth to mine, and passionately kiss her. “I don’t think I’ve ever been more happy in my life, sweetheart. Since we weren’t trying, I’m surprised but not at all disappointed.”
When tears spill out, she wipes her cheeks, and I hold her tighter. “I haven’t had much time to process it, but as soon as I read the test, I was beaming with excitement.”
“Since this was our first Christmas as husband and wife, I wanted it to be perfect. One you’d never forget, but I think you’ve just made this the best one for me.”
She presses her mouth to mine. “For both of us.”
“I love you.” I slide my tongue between her lips.
“I love you too,” she murmurs.
“Do we still get to use the anal lube?” I ask, waggling my brows.
She bursts out laughing, then smacks my arm. “I’ll be surprised if we ever have sex again with Chase, the cock blocker.”
“Thank God we’ve decided to crate train him. He’ll get used to it soon and won’t whine all night long. I hope.” I blow out a breath.
“At least we’ll be ready for those sleepless nights. That right there is our baby in training. By the time ours is here, we’ll be pros.”
I laugh. “That’s one way to look at it.”
She kisses me softly. “Don’t worry, daddy. We’ve got this.”
I arch a brow, already loving how that sounds. “Daddy? Can you use that in bed from now on?”
“Tell me where you hid my vibrator, and I’ll scream it all night long,” she taunts in a seductive tone.
The corners of my lips tilt up. “He’s in the freezer.”
Her eyes widen in horror. “Archer! I’m not gonna be able to use it now.”
I snake my arm around her waist and smack her ass. “Exactly. You made a vow to give me all your orgasms. I’m just making you keep your promise.”
She narrows her eyes. “Does this mean no jerking off in the shower?”
“Haven’t done that since the day I got you, baby.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re insatiable.” I wink. “And I only wanted to experience it with you.”
She shakes her head in disbelief. “You are way too damn sweet for your own good.”
I brush a finger along her face, sweeping away the flyaway hairs. “Nah, only for you.”
Epilogue
EVERLEIGH
Dear Everleigh,
I didn’t write you a special letter on our wedding day ten years ago, so for our vow renewal, I wanted to give you something you could keep forever. Besides my heart, of course. You’ll have that till death parts us. But according to you, we have to die together so neither of us has to be without the other. Well, I’m still on board. I can’t imagine living a single day without your love. The highlight of my days is seeing you in the mornings with your coffee, wearing a messy top bun and baby spit-up on your shirt from the night before. I’d never be able to survive without your witty comebacks, spontaneity that gets us lost in the middle of nowhere, or hearing you scream my name into a pillow so the kids don’t hear us. I lived thirty-three years before I knew the real definition of happiness, and that wasn’t until I met you. You and the girls are my whole world.