Page 52 of Midnight and Mine

Vanessa says, “Don’t worry, our boys will protect her.”

I start to tear up. “What would I have done without all of you? Not just during the amnesia but my life wouldn’t be the same without all of you.” Everyone, even the guys, go silent. “My memories came back. I think all of them.”

My girlfriends scream and hug me, and the guys shake Scott’s hand and slap his back.

“We’re so happy for us!” Ali says as she dances around the room. Ali is pure sunshine all the time. She doesn’t let things get her down. Always looking forward. But then she turns to Major. “No, we need to get Major married off, and Maverick and Jess need to have some kids so we can all have playdates, and our kids can go to school together.”

“Oh no. I am not a one-woman man. Too much trouble,” Major laughs but sounds like he means it.

Maverick looks at Major. “I promise you when you find the right woman it;s better than a hundred groupies.” Maverick is a billionaire, but you would never know it.

“Not for me, man. But I do love kids.”

Scott picks Brianna out of the crib, handing her to Major. “Speaking of which, will you be her Godfather?”

Major’s eyes round and his mouth parts for a bit. His finger skims Brianna’s tiny arm and then she curls her fingers around his. It’s so stinking cute the way he’s looking at her with bright eyes and tenderness. “Me? I guess I can sing her to sleep.”

He starts humming, walking around the room, then he sings, “I Hope You Dance,” by Lee Ann Womack. That rolls into “There Goes My Life,” by Kenny Chesney.

We’re all mesmerized by his voice. He’s one of those guys who you know is a gentle soul but acts like a badass. Inwardly, I smile to myself because Scott has said the same thing about me. I can’t wait for Major to realize, much like me, that there is more happiness when you fall in love with someone rather than being with random women.

Dr. Laura enters the room and I catch her zoned in on Major and Brianna—with a smile that conveys something I can’t quite put my finger on.

Longing?

Sadness?

When Major finishes the song, he seems surprised to see Dr. Laura and immediately kisses Brianna’s little fingers then hands her to Vanessa.

What the heck is going on? I don’t have any memories of Major and Dr. Laura together, and I don’t believe that Scott would keep that from me, but there is definitely something between them.

Adding to the tension, Nancy, my old nurse and now my good friend, peeks her head in and says, “Drake’s here with me. Is that okay?”

Scott nods, agreeing. None of us are back to being the best of friends, but he came over a couple of weeks after I moved home and apologized to both of us. For putting me in the position to be upset and run off. And to Scott for everything. He’s been dating Nancy for a month or so and that has eased Scott’s mind.

The fairly new couple admires Briann while Vanessa smiles.

“She’s so tiny,” Drake says.

“Didn’t seem tiny when I was pushing out the equivalent of an eight-pound bowling ball.”

Everyone chuckles as Nancy asks to take Brianna from Vanessa and rocks her in her arms. Drake hands me a gift bag filled with crinkling toys, pacifiers, and a onesie that says, “Heartbreaker.”

“Thank you.”

They both smile. “We just wanted to pop in and congratulate you. She’ll have the best parents.” She hands the baby to Scott. “Let us know if you need anything.”

“We have everything we need—each other. But thank you, Drake. It means the world to both of us that this is behind us, and Wynter recalls her entire life now. Youmean a lot to her,” Scott admits.

I reach my hand out for Drake’s, and he hesitates before he takes hold. “You do. Just like I had to take baby steps to get my memory back, we have to take it slow to get our friendships back to where we all want it.”

Drake gives us a tight-lipped smile. “I know. I was a mess but I’m happy now.” He slips his arm around Nancy, pecking her lips.

Scott hands the baby to me and extends his hand. For a moment, Drake looks puzzled. “Thanks for stopping by. It takes a man to admit his mistakes. I’d love for you to coach middle school football with me this year.”

They already coach baseball together but Scott couldn’t this season because of me. Scott never told me that he was going to ask Drake to coach football, so this is a huge step forward.

“You would?”

“Yeah. Beau’s going to be the offensive coordinator. I want you to be the defensive coordinator.” Scott slaps his shoulder.

“I’d love to. Nancy has to work so we’re going to grab a bite to eat first. Congrats again.”

When they leave, the rest of our crew gives Scott ear-splitting grins. “You’re a good man, Scotty Wilson,” Jessica says.

He is.

He’s mine.

And I’ve always been his, even if I was too stubborn to admit it.

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