Shallow River

He smiles wide, showcasing his white straight teeth and causing the skin to crinkle around his eyes. Mako has the most beautiful fucking smile I’ve ever seen. It’s so goddamn genuine. Every time I see it, it feels like staring straight at the sun. It’s beautiful.

I like that word now. Mako has put a new meaning to it. Just like he’s put a new meaning to life.

My eyes settle on the scar from his gunshot wound. It’s a constant reminder how much Mako has done for me. Sacrificed for me. From showing up in my life and trying to get me to see the light and help me, from covering up his brother’s murder for me, and then coming to save me from Billy and getting shot in the process.

Mako owed me absolutely nothing when we first met. I was just another fly in his brother’s spider web. Just like Alison had been. He was the only one who knew the true nature of Ryan Fitzgerald. And instead of letting the flies be eaten alive, Mako went out of his way to untangle the web we were weaved in and help us get away. I owe my life to this man. To this day, Alison shares the same sentiment.

“Do you think I’ll be a good mother?”

“I think you were shown the perfect example of what a mother shouldn’t be. I think you’ll be perfect.”

My shoulders drop with relief. Mako’s right. Barbie did everything wrong with me. Which is exactly why I haven’t seen her since I gifted her the house in Shallow River. Barbie didn’t deserve any part of the gift, but I wanted to cut all ties with her. What happens to her and that house is no longer a concern to me.

Mako admitted he went to see her when Billy first took me. He never said what he told her, but by the way Barbie looked at Mako with reluctant respect, and maybe a little bitterness, I imagine he did the equivalent of running her through with a truck and then reversing back over her.

“You’re going to be such a great dad, too. If we have a girl, I know she’ll be a virgin until she’s thirty.”

He laughs. The sound fills me with so much happiness. “Nah. I refuse to be one of those dads that try to control their daughter’s sex life. I always thought it was creepy when guys do that. The only thing I have the right to do is show her the right way a man treats his woman, and she’ll learn that from watching us together. And I can only hope she’ll be honest with us, so we can make sure she knows if she’s being treated right.”

Unexpected tears spring to my eyes. I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear what type of parent Mako plans to be. But knowing that he’ll be so fucking good to our kid is causing all types of emotions to rise within me. So much fucking love and happiness. And definitely a whole lot of horniness.

He smiles at my reaction. My cheeks flush red with embarrassment. I’m not usually a crier.

“Hormones,” I mumble.

I stifle his laugh with a kiss, shutting him up quickly. I’m so ready to live the rest of my life with this man. And the best part is we’re only just getting started. I pull away and rub a hand across my stomach.

“I already know what I want to name her if it’s a girl.”

“What’s that, baby?”

I smile, looking down at my flat stomach. I’m already excited to see my belly grow.

“Camilla. I want to name her Camilla.”

He gives me a wide smile. “That’s beautiful.”

THE END