Page 117 of Wylder Ranch
I haven’t spenttime with my brothers like this since last year, and I always forget how much fun we have together. The day in and day out of our lives takes over far too much, and when we reconnect like this, even Miles is less fucking annoying than usual.
Hendricks is laughing so hard as he chucks snowballs at him. It’s like the guy in the bakery never existed.
We’ve spent a couple of hours racing down themountain, and now we’re all cheering on Max as he finishes up his ski lesson, doing exactly as the instructor tells him so he can slide over the tiny bumps in the snow without falling over.
“Can’t believe you’re beating me to the altar.” Lando nudges my shoulder. “Mum’s going to have a busy few years of wedding planning.”
“Oh yes, are you trying to tell me something?”
“Not in any official capacity.” He grins, knowingly. “It’s been quite the year, though. It’s good to see you happy again.”
“I was thinking the same thing about you.”
“I’m excited to see the duke in all the hottest arm candy lists.” Miles snorts, as Hendricks goes off to collect Max. “All those red carpets, Your Grace. Hope you’ve started the beauty regimen.”
He rolls his eyes. “Like yours, you mean, Milo?”
“Exactly, speaking of which, I need to get some beauty sleep before tonight. Race you losers to the lifts.”
Lando shakes his head, but I already know that he’s going to take after him. Because, as competitive as Miles is, he’s a terrible loser. Therefore, making him lose is always really fucking funny.
I arrive backin the house full of excitement and ready for a night of celebration. I expect the girls to be here, but it’s equally as likely they’ve left already to get dressed for the party tonight. And when I can’t hear any voices, I assume I’m right.
“Haven, where are you? Babe?” I call out after checking the kitchen and the living room. “Hayve?” Taking the stairs two at a time, I sprint up to the bedrooms where I find Everly lying on her back in her crib mumbling to herself while she stares at the mobile. But I leave her there and continue my search.
I find Haven in the second-to-last place I look—sitting on the edge of the bathtub, staring at her hand.
“Babe? What are you doing in here? I was calling. Are you okay?” I nod down to whatever she’s holding. “What’s that?”
When she looks up at me, it’s as though she’s seen a ghost, and I drop to my knees.
“Haven? What’s wrong?”
“Remember when I said I wanted Everly to grow up with a big family?”
“Yes.”
She opens her hand. Inside is a white stick with two pink lines on it.
“I’m pregnant.”
Epilogue
ALEXANDER
NINE MONTHS LATER
“Aleeexx. ALEX! Where are you?”
Haven’s voice hits every one of my nerve endings.
I’ve been on high alert the past week, thinking I can hear her calling. Only when I sprint to find her, she’s just there watching her television shows or playing with Everly. One time, she was scooping peanut butter from the jar with her finger and looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.
And I have. Ihavelost my mind. If losing my mind is waiting for a baby to come.
The due date is way in the past, and now, we’re on borrowed time.
Honestly, at this point, I’m surprised I’m even on a different floor of the house as her right now because I’m usually glued to her side, but Haven loves her nighttime bath before bed, so that’s what I’m doing. I don’t even question whether I’m imagining her voice as I turn off the taps, sprint along the hallway, then down the three flights of stairs two at a time to the foyer, where I find Haven standing in a puddle.
