Page 85 of The Boy I Once Loved

Epilogue

Six years later.

I wake up to the sun beaming in through the gap in the curtains. I can hear noise from the kitchen, and I hope that there is a coffee waiting for me. I climb out of bed and slip my slippers on my feet. I pause in the doorway to the kitchen at the picture before me. My sexy as sin husband, wearing nothing but those tight boxers that hug his bottom just perfectly, is singing away to the song radio as he cooks us breakfast. I take a minute just to watch him and I thank my lucky stars that he belongs to me. He must feel my presence as he turns around and he gives me that sexy smile and a wink that has me forgetting my thoughts.

“Morning beautiful. You sleep okay?”

I make my way over to him and he pulls me against him and places a kiss on my lips.

“Not bad. This one was having a party for one last night in my tummy.” I rub my swollen belly and give it a gentle pat.

Dylan places his hands on my bump and a look of love crosses his face. "Our little party animal. Bet he's going to be a handful like you."

I cock a brow, placing a hand on my hip. "Oh, really? Well, if I was a handful, it was because I was easily influenced by my best friend who was a real bad influence, and it might be a girl."

Dylan chuckles. “You loved being led astray by me and it’s a boy, I just know it. Anyway, sit down and let me feed you both.”

I take a seat at the kitchen island and watch him cook. I cup my coffee in my hands, savouring its warmth. Quiet mornings like this will be a thing of the past soon. In just a couple of weeks, we will be a family of three. My pregnancy had been a complete surprise, but we'd both been thrilled. I mean, is there ever really a right time to have a child?

Dylan and I got married just over twelve months ago. Some said we were too young at twenty-three but we'd been loving each other since before we were teenagers and well, when you know, you know. It had been six years since we had finally confessed our feeling for each other. Honestly, being together felt as right as breathing. We both graduated from university last year. Dylan studied for a degree in accountancy. Yeah, my boy was a whizz at numbers. I'd been undecided about what I wanted to do with my future, so I decided to study something I was passionate about and I now have a degree in Sports Science and Nutrition. I worked for a large gym chain as a personal trainer, and I loved it.

Today it was my mum’s birthday, and we were going over to Dylan’s mum’s house for a birthday barbeque. Our mums were still good friends and our two families had become even closer once we finally got our act together and became a couple. Dylan’s sister would tease him endlessly about how he pined for me for years.

I choose a pale pink summer dress that accommodates my baby bump and white pumps. Dylan comes into our bedroom whilst I’m putting on some blusher. He comes up behind me, cupping my bump and nuzzles into my neck.

“Mmm, baby, you smell good, and you look pretty in this dress. I can’t wait to get you out of it later.”

I chuckle, leaning against his chest. My man had an insatiable appetite for me, but to be fair I was the same with him.

“You ready to go?”

I give myself a quick once over in the mirror and I nod my head. I pick Dotty, our miniature Yorkie, from her bed where she is snoozing and I tuck her under my arm, and we make our way over to the James' house.

We head straight through the side gate to the back of the house and the place is already a hive of activity. Leila is yelling at her girls, Paige and Harper, who are running around the garden chasing each other with water pistols. Jason, Dylan’s stepdad is manning the barbeque and chatting away with Dylan’s dad who holds a beer in his hand.

“Dylan!” Yells, his half-brother, Leo from across the garden. He comes tearing over and throws himself at his big brother. Dylan sweeps him up into his arms and tips him upside down and starts tickling him.

“Ah, here you are.” Stacey places the bowl of fresh fruit down on the table and comes over to embrace me in a hug. She places a hand on my bump. “How’s my grandchild doing?”

I chuckle. “Keeping me awake whilst he or she has a party in there.”

“Sounds just like Dylan. He was the same when I was pregnant, always lively at night, and then he slept during the day. Come on, let’s get you a comfortable seat.” She guides me over to a table sheltered under a parasol.

“Is mum not here yet?”

Stacey shakes her head. “No, she should be here any minute though. I think Gary finished work a little later than expected.”

Gary was my mum's boyfriend. They had been dating about two years now after I convinced my mum to try online dating. It was nice to see her happy and making a future with someone. Gary had his own place over in the next town but to be honest he spent most of his time at my mum's place. Gary's house was bigger, but I don't think my mum would ever move. The house held so many memories of Liam there that it would be too hard to leave.

Stacey places a cool drink of flavoured water in front of me before she rushes off to bring out more food.

My mum arrives some five minutes later carrying a cheesecake and some of Dylan’s favourite cookies. She still spoils him even to this day. I sometimes wondered who she loved more, me or her son-in-law. She greets all our family with kisses and hugs as she slowly makes her way over to me. Gary gives me a quick wave, heading over to where the men are congregated, no doubt talking about the boxing match that Dylan had stayed up late to watch last night.

"Hey, honey. Don't you look glowing." She leans in and drops a kiss on my cheek, taking the vacant seat beside me.

"Thanks, mum. I don't feel glowing. I feel like a beached whale." I grin, patting my bump. "I hope I don't get too much bigger over the next two weeks."

My mum bats away my comment with my hand. “Your bump is tiny compared to the one I had with your brother. He was a bruiser!”

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