Page 106 of Claimed by my Bestie's Dad

His words fill me with excitement, but it’s immediately tempered by nerves as to how Aurora is going to feel about this little arrangement. She looks down at her lap but doesn’t say anything. That’s all the encouragement I need.

I lean toward Ethan and give him a quick peck on the lips. “I would love that. As long as…”

Everyone looks up, wanting to hear my condition.

“… Samson is invited too.”

“Ofcoursehe’s invited. I just don’t promise the other dogs are welcome. But Samson is welcome any time he wants.”

I smile and squeeze Ethan’s hand. This is the best Christmas Eve yet, and suddenly, the idea of moving in with Ethan makes the future unfold in front of me. I love all the happy thoughts filling my head as I share the specially cooked Christmas Eve dinner with my loved ones. There are only good things ahead of us now.

51

EPILOGUE

Ethan

The sun hangslow in the spring sky as I sit in a beach chair. While the waves are beautiful, that’s not what I’m watching. Madison glides effortlessly across the sand as she gives a group of eight to ten-year-olds their first lesson on the surfboard.

Even with her stomach growing larger every day, she’s as agile as ever. Her belly makes it clear now that she’s pregnant. She’s nearly six months along, but she doesn’t let our little daughter stop her from doing what she loves.

Madison’s surf school is officially up and running, and I can’t remember a time when I’ve seen her this happy. She’s in her element, and watching her makes me feel like the luckiest man in the world.

I glance over at Aurora, who is sitting beside me under the shade of an umbrella, tapping away on her phone. Every now and then, she looks up and watches Madison with a small smile, a sign of just how far things have come between them. Even though things were awkward at first, now we’relike a real family, doing things together and enjoying each other’s company.

“Dad, do you think Maddie’s going to surf until the day she gives birth?”

I chuckle, glancing over at Madison, who is gesturing dramatically to her students. She’s clearly explaining something important based on the serious expression on her face, but then, one hand comes to rest on her stomach, like a reminder to the baby that she hasn’t forgotten about her.

“She might. I’m starting to think nothing can slow her down.”

Aurora laughs. “I like seeing her this happy. You know, I never thought I would say this, but she’s… good for you. You’re different now. It’s like even though you’re dating someone full-time, you’re more available than ever.”

I turn my attention back to Madison, who is now demonstrating how to paddle on a longboard, her students watching her with wide-eyed attention. She is glowing, and it’s hard to take my eyes off her.

“I guess I have changed. She’s changed me.”

Aurora doesn’t say anything for a moment, but we’ve always been comfortable in our own silence.

When the lesson moves out into the water, I move my chair a little closer, just so I can see. Madison catches my eye a few times. Finally, she makes a gesture that lets me know she’s almost done, and then she gathers students and brings them, shivering and cold, back up onto the beach. She gives them a quick pep talk, then lets them go to their parents, gathering up the leftover surfboards and storing them in her shop.

When she’s done, she walks right over to us and plops into the sand at my feet, the sand clinging to her wet legs.

“Well, that was fun. Those kids were amazing today.”

“They had a good teacher.” I wink at her, trying to keep some of the enthusiasm out of my voice so I don’t scare Aurora off.

Madison smiles at me, squeezing my hand before resting it on her belly. “I think she likes watching me teach, too. She’s been kicking up a storm this last hour.”

Aurora leans forward, her eyes lighting up. “Can I feel?”

Madison grins and nods, and Aurora carefully places her hand on Madison’s belly. A moment later, her face breaks into a wide smile.

“Whoa! That’s so cool. She’s really moving in there.”

“She’s going to be a wild one. Just like her dad.” Madison makes eye contact with me, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

I raise an eyebrow, pretending to be offended. “Wild? Me? I’m the calm one in this relationship.”

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