Page 175 of Safe and Sound

Epilogue: Dare

Two Years Later

“What do you think about this one?” Ava asked.

Glancing up from my phone, I eyed the paint swatch in her hand. I furrowed my brows. “Isn’t that the same color you just showed me?”

With a roll of her eyes, Ava said, “That wasFrenchSilver. This isClassicSilver.”

“They’re the same.”

“No, they’re not. This one is a lighter grey than the other.”

“Like I said a thousand times before, I’ll love whatever you pick out.”

Ava huffed out a frustrated breath. “Fine. I’ll go over to your mother’s and get her opinion.”

Two months ago, we’d closed on a house next door to my mother’s. Ava didn’t think our penthouse could survive baby-proofing. She was constantly worrying that Piper was somehow going to take an accidental leap off the balcony. God forbid what could happen when a baby started crawling.

I never thought I’d see the day I would be so fucking domesticated in a four bedroom, two bath house with a swing-set in the backyard.

But here I was.

Happily married with a daughter and a new baby due in two weeks.

With a smirk, I said, “Is this what the baby books call the nesting period?”

My remark earned me a death glare from Ava. “I’m so done being pregnant,” she grumbled.

Despite her feelings on the subject, I had enjoyed the hell out of her pregnancy. The hormones that made her ridiculously horny and her swelling curves were magical. Throw in the fact I got to feel my child move within her, and I’d hit the jackpot. I also knew I had to enjoy every moment because this would be our last child.

Originally, Ava and I had wanted to be one and done. But then I wanted to experience what I had missed in the three years I’d been separated from Piper. All those aspects of pregnancy and babyhood that I enjoyed with my nieces and nephews.

So, I’d already gone under the knife and joined Callum as the second Kavanaugh to have a vasectomy.

When Ava started past me, I grabbed her by the waist and dragged her over into my lap. “Oomph.” she muttered.

“Did I hurt you?”

With a grimace, she shook her head. “No. My stupid lower back has been hurting since yesterday.”

“Is that why you were tossing and turning so much last night?” When Ava nodded, I said, “You should’ve taken some medicine.”

“I hate to risk it.”

Grinning, I said, “There goes your stubbornness again.”

She playfully smacked my arm. As I started kissing my way up her neck, Ava sighed. “You’re distracting me.”

Flicking my tongue against her ear, I replied, “Is is working?”

She laughed. “A little.”

As my hand came to knead her breast, she groaned. “I need to pick a paint color for the dining room.”

“You need to relax. Stress isn’t good for my son.”

“Who says it’s a boy?”

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