Page 168 of Wild Tangled Hearts

“You always say that.” I chuckle, leaning back into his embrace.

“Cause it’s true,” he insists, his voice low and tender.

“Just wait another three months, and I’ll be the sexiest whale in the room.”

“But you’ll be my whale.” He laughs softly, his fingers tracing circles on my belly.

“You’re terrible.” I mock huff at him and playfully swat his arm.

He nuzzles his face into my neck, planting a sweet kiss there. “And you love it.”

I can’t deny it. I do love it — I love our playful banter, and I love him and our crazy, hectic family. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Today is one of those chaotic, frenzied days that I cherish. It started with Matthew waking up early, jumping on our bed, and declaring, “It’s a beautiful day, Mom and Dad! Let’s make it awesome!”

And it is. Even when the milk spills, and the twins have runny noses, even when Alex and I argue about silly things that don’t matter, even in the chaos that has become my life — it is in Matthew’s words, “Awesome.”

Matthew is currently running in circles, pretending to be a superhero, with a bedsheet cape flapping behind him. He shouts, “Captain Matthew to the rescue!” and crashes onto the couch. The twins join the chase, but Tristan falls with a holler. Matthew rushes to help, and they resume their adventures with laughter echoing through the room.

Alex takes one look at me, grinning, and says, “Our living room has become a war zone, Commander Bella. Permission to join the fray?”

“Permission granted, Captain.” I salute him.

We dive into the mess, pretending to be superheroes too, and the laughter in our house reaches epic levels.

“Mom, Dad, watch me fly!” Matthew declares, jumping off the couch with all the grace of a superhero, which is to say, none. He lands on the cushions with a dramatic thud.

Alex helps him up, playfully scolding, “Remember, superheroes always stick the landing.”

Breakfast is a spectacle. Matthew insists on wearing his superhero costume — a mismatched ensemble of pajama pants and a t-shirt. He spills milk all over the table, but his giggles are infectious, so I can’t help but laugh along.

Once I’ve cleared the breakfast battlefield, it’s time for a family outing. We pack the kids into the car, and Matthew demands that we play his favorite song, and we sing along as we drive to the local park.

At the playground, chaos reigns supreme. Matthew runs around like a whirlwind, with the twins wobbling behind him. Alex chases after them, trying to keep up.

“Dad, can we go on the swings?” Matthew asks, breathless from all his running.

“Sure thing, buddy,” Alex replies, lifting him onto the swing with a grin.

As Matthew swings higher and higher, he shouts, “I’m flying, Dad! Just like a superhero!”

I watch with a smile, sitting on a nearby bench with Tristan and Owen in a double stroller. Owen babbles something that sounds like his own version of “superhero,” and Tristan giggles in agreement.

By the time we head home, we’re all exhausted, but it’s a happy exhaustion. We tuck the kids into bed, read them their favorite stories, and give them goodnight kisses.

Finally, Alex and I collapse on the couch, holding hands and sharing a moment of peace. The house is quiet, and it’s just the two of us.

As I rest my head on his chest, I can’t help but think about the choices I could have made, the paths I could have taken. I think about the pivotal moment when I first chose Alex, not just that fateful day at the coffee shop, but every day since then.

I remember our first date, and the warmth in his eyes when he smiled at me across that crowded cafe, the way our conversation flowed effortlessly as we shared stories and dreams. In that moment, I made a choice to give love a chance, to embrace the unknown. And there have been so many choices since then. The choice to trust my heart, to love Alex, to spend my life with him, to start a family.

Together, we’ve chosen to face sleepless nights, messy diaper changes, and endless giggles because we know that every moment is a gift.

“I love you,” Alex whispers, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

As I lay there with Alex, feeling the rise and fall of his chest with each breath, I wouldn’t change any of my choices. Our love, our family, and our adventures are the most precious things in my life, and I am grateful for every single choice that led me to this moment.

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