My Bestie's Dad

“I want this more than anything in the world, Brent. You?”

I nod, pulling her tight against my strong form before resting my chin on her head.

“I’m so grateful to be a dad again, I can’t find the words to express it. This is a dream come true for me, and you’re going to be a wonderful mommy, Jane. We’re going to have the best kids, and –”

She stops me.

“Kids, plural?”

I press a soft kiss to that plush pout.

“Absolutely plural,” I whisper against her lips. “I want you Jane Cuesta, over and over again. And I’ll have you because you are mine, the same way that I am yours.”

With that vow, our fate is sealed and love blossoms again, encompassing us both. Who would have guessed this could happen? After all, Jane is my daughter’s best friend, but now she’s my partner for life and the mother of my unborn child. I never thought I could get so lucky, but somehow against all odds, the curvy girl has become mine.EpilogueJane* * *Two years later.

Harlow and Gray have come over for dinner, along with their three children. We sit around the table, while Fannie and Freddie run around the playroom, too energetic from their ice cream to hold still. Harlow’s youngest, Frankie, is on her lap, and my daughter, Candace, is on mine. Harlow says, “You know, Candy looks just like the old pictures of Dad.”

“Strong genetics on that side of the family, I imagine,” I smile at my little girl. Her brown eyes and hair remind me of him, but her toothless grin reminds me of my grandmother. “More ice cream?”

Harlow shakes her head.

“No, thank you. Can you believe we ended up pregnant at the same time? Unreal, right? But now little Frankie and Candy can play together.”

I smile.

“Yes, it’s awesome. And honestly, it’s been the best time of my life.”

“Me, too,” Harlow smiles. “It’s a dream come true for me. The other playgroup moms never understand about me and Gray when it comes to the age thing. They always think he’s some disgusting lech who hooked up with a teen girl, which is just not true! I was young, but I wanted it. They’re so judgmental and it pisses me off,” she rolls her eyes.

I shrug. “It’s their loss. Don’t even worry yourself about it.”

Then, my handsome man strolls over, and presses a kiss to my forehead. He’s followed by Gray.

“What are you ladies talking about?”

“What, Daddy?” Harlow asks innocently. “Oh, Jane was just telling me her news,” she says with a meaningful look my way.

I gasp.

“Harlow!”

My friend just shrugs and bobbles little Frankie on her knee.

“Go ahead, tell him.”

I turn and look into the hazel eyes of my handsome boyfriend.

“Brent,” I say slowly. “You’re going to be a father again! I’m expecting.”

Gray shouts with glee behind us and claps Brent on the back in congratulations.

“Father and grandfather at once,” he chuckles. “Only my best friend could have accomplished it.”

Brent looks stunned for a moment, but then he swoops down to capture my mouth in a demanding kiss.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” he rasps. “I’ve wanted this for a long time, and you’ve made my dream come true again. I can’t say thank you enough.”

With that, he gets down on bended knee, and pulls a diamond ring from his pocket. I gasp, tears filling my eyes as little Candy coos upon seeing the sparkling gem.

“Will you marry me?” Brent asks, his own eyes tearing as well. “I love you so much, Janie, and you’ve made me a real man. You’ve given me a daughter, and now we have another child on the way too. I love you, Janie. Please, marry me.”

I lean forward to kiss him and whisper, “Yes. Of course, yes!”

Behind us, Gray and Harlow cheer as Brent slips the ring onto my finger. It looks beautiful, and Candy gurgles a bit, her brown curls bouncing. But then Brent kisses me again and gazes into my eyes.

“I love you, Mrs. Marshall,” he whispers for only me to hear. “Always and forever.”

I kiss him back.

“I love you too,” I whisper, and once again, our hearts are joined as one.* * *THE END