Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
At one point, Will wrapped his arms around me and held me close—the way he does when he wants me to know he means every word he’s about to say. He told me he wants to marry me. He said he wants to adopt Mia, to be there for her, not just in the ways he already is, but in every way that truly matters. He talked about building a family, about the life we could have if we keep choosing each other.
For a moment, it felt almost unreal, like something out of a fairy tale, the kind of story you grow up hearing about but never really believe will happen to you. But the difference is this isn’t a story in a book, and it isn’t a dream I’ll wake up from.
This is real life.
This is happening.
And somehow, unbelievably, this is my life.
Will reaches over the console of his SUV and laces his fingers through mine. “You’re trembling.”
“I’m nervous.”
“It’s all going to be okay,” he assures me.
“You don’t know that. She was so angry, and she has a right to be.”
“She’s hurt, but she loves you. It might take some time, but it’s all going to work out.”
“How do you know?”
He pulls into Reid and Bellamy’s driveway, turns off the engine, and turns in his seat to look at me.
“Because you’re impossible not to love, and anyone who has ever been in your orbit knows that. Even that dickhead ex of yours,” he says with a chuckle.
“Will?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I love you.” I watch as a slow, sexy smile tilts his lips.
“I’ll never get tired of hearing you say that.” He leans over the console and pecks my lips with a soft kiss. “I love you, too, Mandy. Let’s go get our girl.”
Together, we exit the car. When he meets me at the sidewalk, he takes my hand. I don’t pull away. I don’t want to flaunt this in Bellamy’s face, but I want to love him openly. Will is the best man I’ve ever known, and he deserves that kind of love. The kind he showers me with every single day.
Will knocks on the door, and a smiling Reid answers with Mia on one hip and Coral on the other. “Come on in. Welcome to the chaos.” Reid laughs. “These little monkeys and I just had a dance party.”
“What? Without me?” Will asks, scooping Coral into his arms.
“Papa, dance.”
“You know I’ve got the moves,” he tells her as we step into the living room. “Hey, sweetheart,” he greets Bellamy, who’s sitting on the couch with a blanket over her lap.
“Bell, your old man’s telling tall tales again.” Reid laughs.
“Dada!” Mia squeals and reaches for Will. Everyone in the room freezes. I’m not sure anyone is breathing. “Da!” Mia says again.
“Come here, baby girl.” Will holds his arm out, and Reid hands her to him. Both girls are now in his arms, and I melt for him.
This man is my future.
“She calls you dad?” Bellamy asks softly.
“Dat’s my daddy,” Coral says, pointing to Reid. She wiggles to be put down, so Will places her on her feet, and she takes off running for Reid, who lifts her onto his lap.
“It’s only happened one other time,” Will explains. “I spend a lot of time with her. It’s only natural, but we should get used to it, because I asked Mandy last night if I could adopt her.”
“Really?” Bellamy asks, sounding surprised. “Are you going to let him?” she asks me.
“She loves him, Bellamy. We both do.”
“Let’s sit. We don’t need you passing out again,” Will says, holding his hand out for me. He guides me to the couch and waits for me to sit before taking the cushion right next to mine. Mia stays snuggled up to his chest, as if it’s the only place she ever wants to be.
I smile at the two of them before turning my gaze to Bellamy. “I’m sorry. Will wanted to tell you weeks ago, but I asked him to give us more time. I’ve been living in a state of fear of losing you, my best friend, and losing him, too. The man I never expected. The man who has shown me what it means to be loved. It’s a feeling unlike anything I’ve ever known. I’ve heard you and the girls talk about it, and I always wondered if I was the problem. Ethan never once looked at me the way Reid looks at you, Knox at Corie, Landry at Rowan, Baker at Sloane, or Foster at Eden. I saw it, though. I knew that kind of love existed because I was witness to it every time I was around any of you.”
Bellamy remains still, staring at me, giving me the time to speak, so I keep going.
“I thought I was just one of those people who never got to find that kind of love. Then, there was Will. I can’t even tell you when or how it happened. It just did. Life kept putting us in situations where we were together, and the next thing I knew, he was all I could think about. He looked at me and saw me. He asked about my day and planned dates for us that Mia could join. Every moment, every gesture had him slipping a little further into my heart.” I pause to collect myself.