Page 112 of Fateful Hearts

The smile that touches my face is so strong my cheeks hurt as I stare into her eyes. “Holy shit, I’m going to be a dad?”

She nods, tears forming in her eyes, and I lean in, pick her up and swing her around. My lips crash to hers in a strong, passionate kiss as everyone around us cheers as I feel a tugging at my shirt. I pull back from Zoey, placing her down to see Hailee looking up at us with a bright smile on her face.

“Am I going to be a big sister?”

I glance at Zoey, letting her take the lead on this one. “Yeah, Starshine, you’re going to be a big sister. Is that okay?”

Hailee smiles so wide, slamming her little body into both our legs and hugging tight. “Now we’re a real family. I can’t wait to play dress-up with my little sister.”

I can’t help but smirk. “What if it’s a little brother?”

Hailee purses her lips like she is thinking hard. “That’s okay… we can’t all be perfect.”

We burst out laughing as I caress either side of Zoey’s face with my hands. I lean in and kiss her, feeling so much joy at this moment because now, I honestly couldn’t be any happier. There is nothing that could beat this feeling.

I’m a husband.

A stepfather.

And a soon-to-be father.

I thought maybe it was my fateful heart that brought me to Zoey and Hailee, but I think maybe now it’s simply fate.

And if fate is like a shooting star—only lucky if you can catch a glimpse—then not only did I see the star, I saw the whole damn galaxy. Because Zoey, Hailee, and our baby are not only the best thing to happen to me, but they’re the shining stars in my universe.

And I would move heaven and earth for my family.

My family.

My entire reason for living.

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