It's Our Time (Carolina Rebels 3)

I leave it be for a few minutes. “You can’t spend her entire bath in here. Someone has to be out there.”

He takes a deep breath and leaves. We’re only going to be in here for ten more minutes anyway. I let Savannah play before getting on to the actual bathing portion of the bath and by that time, more than ten minutes have passed and it’s nearly her bedtime.

“Read to me, Grandad!” Savannah demands.

“Hey, where are your manners, little Miss?” Ian asks her with the slight touch of sternness in his voice.

“Please?” she adds.

Jimmy seems surprised, but he lets Savannah take his hand and lead him to her room where he can tuck her in and read her a bedtime story. We told him that he could sleep in Savannah’s room, but he insisted that he’d be fine on the couch.

Ian is sitting on the couch, so I sit next to him, resting a hand on his thigh.

“What happened?”

“Things got a little heated is all. He thinks I need to go ahead and get her last name changed, and he made some other comments to butt in where he has no right. I reminded him that he was to keep his opinions to himself. I also reminded him that had he told me you were pregnant like he said he did, then she would already have my last name.” Ian shrugs. “I just needed to get away from him.”

“Did he apologize when you came back?”

“Yeah. We’re fine now.” He turns his head, which is leaning against the back of the couch. “Can she have my last name?” he asks softly.

My eyes tear up immediately. “Yeah, Ian, she can. She should’ve had it all along. I want her to have it.”

He grins and kisses me hard before changing the subject into something not as great to discuss. “What happened with Carey?”

I sigh. “I don’t know. We knew she was being super secret about who she was seeing, and then she shows up with him. They were only together for a little over six months, but Carey was head over heels for him. Then, come to find out, he cheated on her.” At this, Ian’s face pales a little. “But it wasn’t just that he was cheating on her. As if that wasn’t bad enough, it was like he’s a serial cheater. There were like five other girls that he was with while also with Carey.”

“Damn.”

“Yeah. So, that’s why we’re confused why she’d get back together with him.”

He nods. “You never answered Logan’s question,” he points out.

“I’m fine. She was angry and what happened with us is that you were an idiot. I like to think that you’ve grown up since then.”

Ian smiles. “Yeah, babe. I’ve grown up and learned my lesson.” He leans over to kiss me. “Love you so much,” he whispers.

“Love you too.”

Overall, it’s been a good day. The best part is that I’ve spent it with Savannah and Ian and I’m ending it on the couch, next to my man, hearing him sigh with contentment as he holds me in his arms. This is what I’ve been waiting for since I met Ian. To be this happy and to have him all to myself. To truly have him.

Later, we’re lying in bed. I’m on clo

ud nine as I realize my life is exactly where I want it where Ian is concerned. I didn’t think it was possible to be this happy. Ha. I didn’t think it was possible for him to be what I needed him to be, but he surprised me. All I had to do was give him a chance.

“Babe?”

“Hmm?”

“Want to know when I realized I loved you?”

I quickly prop myself up on one elbow. “Tell me.”

“When I came down to take you to prom, I realized it. Knew I was crazy about you after you came to visit at Christmas, but I don’t know. Coming for prom was when it hit me just how crazy. Even then, I was worried about what I would do if you were in love with me because I knew the timing wasn’t right for me. But it all worked out, didn’t it?”

“Yeah,” I whisper. “We’re here.” I lie back down and rest my head on his shoulder.

“I don’t know what your actual plans for the future are since you decided to test me, but I do know what I want.”