Page 108 of Everlasting Love

“I don’t care how old the kid is. He hurt our girl’s heart or did you forget?”

“Of course I didn’t forget, but she’s moved on and so should we.”

He grunts and turns his attention back to the road. As crazy as it is, my heart flips at how protective he is of our daughter. And I know he’ll always keep her safe but I dread to think how he’ll be when boys start coming around when she’s older.

Shane pulls into the parking lot down the street from the ice cream shop and Jas cheers. “I knew it was ice cream. Thank you!”

“How do you know we’re having ice cream?” he teases.

“We always park here when we go toBrain Freeze. You can’t trick me.”

We climb out of the car. “She’s too smart for us.” Shane nods solemnly as he helps Jas out of the car and positions her on his shoulders. He takes my hand in his and we wander down the busy street toward our favorite ice cream shop. I love coming here because it holds great memories for us. I squeeze his hand in mine. “Life’s pretty great, you know.”

“It really is.” With his soft gaze on me, he carefully leans down and kisses my temple, and I swoon, just as I always do.

I almost feel like I need to pinch myself. I’m so deeply happy; I almost feel as though I’m glowing. This life I’ve created with Shane is like a fairytale, and it’s made me realize that I needed to go through all of the shit I went through to get to this point. I could almost kiss Allen for being such an asshole the day I walked away from my marriage. If he hadn’t exploded so epically—as unbelievable as it is to think—I would have probably still been stuck in a miserable marriage with a cheating husband anddisinterested father. I would have missed out onthis. I grin up at Shane and Jas.

“Violet?”

I freeze and glance forward to find the owner of the familiar voice. Like I conjured him with my thoughts, my ex-husband stands before me. He’s clutching the hand of a beautiful woman standing next to him and I wonder if she’s the woman he moved into our home. Shane tenses and squeezes my hand as my gaze takes in the couple before me, pausing on the woman’s very pregnant belly covered in a delicate sun dress. I snap my eyes up to Allen’s face to find him openly staring at Shane, and when I raise my eyes to my husband, he’s glowering down at my ex like he could kill him with laser beams. The glaring difference between the two men is almost comical. Allen isn’t much taller than me which means he looks positively pitiful next to the man I now call mine.

“Allen.” Shane tugs me in closer, wraps his arm around my shoulder, and presses a reassuring kiss to the top of my head. He’s letting me know that he’ll let me deal with my ex but he’s ready to step in at any moment to defend my honor and I love him even more for his faith and steady support. I know I can do anything with him by my side. “I was just thinking about you.”

He stands taller, a smirk touching his lips. “Yeah?”

“Daddy?” Jas’s voice is small and uncertain.

I glance up at her as Shane squeezes her leg and says, “Yeah, Angel?”

At the same time, Allen’s head snaps up to her and he says, “Yeah, kid?”

She grips each side of Shane’s face and tips his head backward as she bends down to ensure they have eye contact. “Daddy, can we get our ice cream now?” The look on Allen’s face is priceless, and I don’t know how he could expect anythingdifferent.Thisis what he wanted, and I wouldn’t change a single thing.

Shane grins at her. “Sure. Mommy just needs to talk to these people for a minute. Okay?”

She nods down at him. “Okay.”

“I won’t be long, JJ. Promise.” I turn my attention back to my ex. “As I said, I was just thinking about you.” I release Shane’s hand and step forward, then briefly press my lips to Allen’s cheek. Growling, Shane takes a step forward and grips my hip, pulling me back against him, and I soak in the warmth of his big body behind me. “Thank you. If it weren’t for you being such a huge …” I lean as close as I can to his ear and whisper, “asshole.” I pull away and smile sweetly at him. “I wouldn’t have the beautiful life I have now. I wouldn’t have a loving husband who dotes on Jas and me like we’re the only people in his world. I would never have known what it was like to have a husband who supports and encourages me in every single thing I do. Jasmine would never have had a father who is one hundred percent devoted to her and ensuring she feels happy and loved every moment of the day.” I spare a glance at the woman obviously carrying Allen’s baby. “I owe you a world of gratitude.” I lean in close again. “Oh, and I would never have experienced the mind-blowing sex I have every single day with my amazing husband.” I move back into my husband, taking his hand in mine. “So … thank you.” I glance between Allen and the pregnant woman by his side. “I only wish you the life you deserve.”

For the first time in all the years I’ve known Al, he appears to be lost for words. A red tinge makes its way up his neck, and I smile because I know exactly what that means. He’s pissed. And I’m glad. Without giving him another moment of my time, I step around him, pulling Shane along with me. I feel so fucking powerful and mighty as we walk intoBrain Freezeand order our ice creams.

As Jas tells the girl behind the counter her order, Shane tugs me into his body, wrapping his arm around my neck and kissing my forehead. “You’re so fucking brave, and I’m so damn proud of you, Blue.” He kisses me again as I bask in his praise. “But don’t you ever put your mouth on another man again. Do you hear me?”

I look up at my husband with a grin. “Never.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

His eyes flick between mine, studying me, and I know he’s checking to see if I’m okay. “You know our love is everlasting, right?”

I nod and press up on my toes to kiss his cheek. “Everlasting. Always and forever.”

40

SHANE

“Tellme again why I agreed to wear this.” I study the brown pants and black boots as I adjust the elastic straps digging into my armpits.

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