“We’re having our man time.”
“Man time, huh?”
“Yeah, I’m teaching him about all the ways of the world.”
“Oh, are you going to teach him everything you know?”
“You mean how to make a woman beg for his coc—”
“Christian!”
He chuckled. “Your mom doesn’t have to know about our man chats. It can just stay with us.”
“That’s not fair. I want to know too.”
“You know your mom is the only woman I’ve ever loved?”
I beamed.
“She’s had me by the balls since I was fifteen-years-old.”
“Oh my God!”
“There was just something about your momma I couldn’t get enough of. We’ve been together for twenty-one years. That’s a very long time, little man. One day when you’re older, I’ll tell you all about how I was her first kiss, her first touch, the only man she’s ever been with.”
“Christian! Why don’t you tell him about all the girls you’ve been with before me? Huh? How much you got around?”
We locked eyes.
“I don’t remember anything before you, sweetness.”
“Charmer.”
“Let’s see, what else can I tell you? Well, your mom is the love of my life. She has been since I first laid eyes on her, and you’ve seen your momma—she’s a fucking stunner.”
I shook my head, giggling.
“She’s my everything. I protected her like I’ll protect you. You are so loved, Asher. You’re our miracle, son.”
My eyes rimmed with tears.
“You’re everything we ever wanted, and I can’t wait to start making more memories with you. But first, let’s talk about this pain in the ass named Jax.”
I laughed, throwing my head back.
“I won’t be upset if you don’t like him.”
“Wah!”
“Yeah, see, you get it. He’s your mom’s best friend.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re my best friend, Christian.”
“Is that right?”
“Mmm hmm...”
“And what does that make Jax?”
“My other best friend. I can have two, you know?”
He looked back at our son. “I think when you meet him for the first time, you should take a giant shit and throw up on him.”
I laughed so hard, my stomach began hurting. “You’re horrible.”
“Wah!”
“I think he’s hungry now. Bring him over to me so I can feed him.”
“Fine. When do you think I can have your mom’s tits again? Because they were mine first, little man.”
I shook my head. “The things you say to him.”
“What? It’s our man chats.”
He placed him in my arms, and for the next thirty minutes we just laid there in awe of him.
Christian was the first to break the silence. “I love you, Kinley.”
I smiled, looking over at him. “I love you too.”
“After all these years, I can’t believe we’re finally here. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve dreamt of this moment? Seeing you holding our baby?”
“Probably about the same number of times I did.”
“This would have never happened if you didn’t come over that night.”
He confidently nodded. “Yes, it would have.”
“Christian, we were going before the judge.”
“Yeah, but I was never going to let you go. I might have signed those papers just to appease you, but I would have dragged you out of that courthouse kicking and screaming.”
“Why is it that I believe you?”
“Because you know how much I mean it.”
“So what you’re saying is you would have kidnapped me?”
“Amongst other things.”
“And what other things are you implying?”
“I would have locked you in our home until you came to your senses.”
“Wow. That sounds so romantic.”
“I do what I can.”
“And what else?”
“You would have been my sex slave, and I would have been coming inside you, day and night, trying to knock you up until I did.”
“Hmm … interesting.”
“But you know what, sweetness?”
“What?”
He gazed deep into my eyes and spoke with conviction, “You wouldn’t have gone through with our divorce either.”
“How do you know?”
“Because, baby, you’ve always been mine, and there was no way you were going to forget how deep our love goes.”
“I think you’re right.”
“I know I am.”
I took a deep breath, peering at the two loves of my life. My husband and our son.
Who we made out of pure desperation when we were saying goodbye to each other.
Only to wind up pregnant…
With our new beginning.
Epilogue
Christian
“You look good holding that baby,” Kinley’s mom stated, suddenly standing beside me.
It had been a month since Asher was born, and we were having our first family barbeque at our house. Everyone who mattered was there.
Including fucking Jax.
I kissed his head, smiling at her.
“Christian, now that we’re alone for a minute, I just want to thank you again for what you did for me back then.”
“My pleasure.”
“I know I have said this to you so many times already, but you truly saved my life. I know without a shadow of a doubt I wouldn’t be standing here if you didn’t help me get into that facility.”
“I love your daughter. I’d do anything for her.”
“I hope one day, you can learn to love me too.”
“Wah!” Asher cried out, squirming in my arms.