Stretched

I’m glad he reminded me I needed to spread my wings and live my life first.

I look down at my hand, at the wedding ring on my finger. It’s bigger and flashier than I ever imagined, and although it isn’t the most expensive thing that is probably out there, it’s perfect because Markus had it custom made just for me.

There’s a small white box on the table, and I look up as I push it toward him. Markus knits his eyebrows and looks from the box to me, and back to the box again.

“What is it?” He looks a little apprehensive, and I can’t help but chuckle.

Here is my big strong protector, my husband, the man I will spend the rest of my life with, but he seems scared of the small white box in front of him.

“Just open it,” I say with the smile still on my face.

I can see the way his throat works as he swallows, and then he’s opening the box, pulling the tissue paper out, and staring inside. For a second he doesn’t move, doesn’t even seem to breathe. But then he reaches in and pulls out the little stick. The pregnancy stick.

He stares at it, not blinking for long seconds, then lifts his gaze to mine. “You’re pregnant?” he asks with shock in his voice.

“I’m pregnant,” I finally say, smiling as I nod, feeling like the world has just finally opened up. My throat is tight, but the happiness I feel is overwhelming and consuming.

I wait for him to respond, to say something, anything.

He looks back down at the test. “A baby?” Markus glances up at me, the shock on his face instant. “A baby?” he asks again, laughing and smiling at the same time.

I feel my smile grow.

“Yeah. Wild, huh?”

He lowers his gaze to my belly even though I’m sitting down and the table is in the way.

“I’m only about six weeks so I’m not showing yet,” I say and laugh.

“Damn, Lily. This is fucking incredible.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty incredible.”

Markus stands and moves so he is hovering over me a second later.

He has me in his arms quickly, cradling me close, keeping me that way. I cup his cheeks, the scruff under my palms tickling my flesh.

“A baby,” he says. “Our baby.”

I nod and rise on my toes to press my lips to his.

He groans, hugging me even tighter, lifting me up so my feet are off the ground. I wrap my arms around his neck, trying to pull him even closer, needing him pressed right to me. He kisses me, finally leaning back, gently setting me on the floor and immediately falling to his knees before me. Markus pushes up my shirt and places his hand on my belly, staying silent for a moment, just staring at me, as if he’s marveling at it all.

“I love you,” he says softly and rests his head on my stomach now. “I love you both.”

I spear my hands in his hair, sliding my fingers through the soft, short strands.

He stands and cups my cheeks, kissing me softly.

I love this man so much. Markus is my rock, it will always be that way, and I’m so lucky to have him in my life. We’re both lucky. I place a hand on my stomach and smile.

“You’re my life, and this little baby growing inside of you, a piece of you and me, is my world.” He pulls me into a hug and I rest my head on his shoulder. “My wife, my partner, and now the mother of my baby.”

Who would have thought I would have married my coach and would be having his baby?

This is what life was about, what being in love feels like.

And God …. it is beautiful.

Epilogue Two

Coach Big

Ten years later

All I can do is smile. Hell, I’ve been perpetually smiling for the past fifteen years, ever since I first saw Lily and knew she’d be mine.

And look at us now.

I was her coach. I probably should have stayed away, but I knew she was the one. The woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, and the future mother of my children. And damn, I had been right.

I spear the fork in the steak I’m grilling, and glance up when I hear the twins arguing with each other. All I can do is shake my head.

Daughters sure do know how to age you pretty damn quickly. Then again, I wouldn’t change it for the world. Lily is by the pool, my girl looking fine as hell in her little red bikini. Even after all these years and having my two kids, Lily is smoking hot.

And she’s all mine.

She stands and stretches, the girls now fighting over the iPad they decided to bring out by the pool.