Page 84 of Enemy Ex's Secret Baby

“You have done an incredible job raising Stella. All on your own, too. I’m terrified all I’ll do is get in the way and mess her up.”

I grab the lapels of his jacket. “You won’t. I promise you won’t.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do. I do know it.”

His eyes widen and the corners of his mouth lift.

“You might not believe it, but I do. Beyond a shadow of a doubt.” I press my hands to his chest. “She needs you. I need you.”

Axel beams. “I need you both too.”

I gasp happily, contentment spread across my face.

“I know it’ll take work, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes to give us a fair shake, Gillian.”

“Me too.”

The Ferris wheel lurches forward again. It doesn’t matter. I’m trapped in his gaze. “You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met,” Axel whispers.

For some reason, that’s the thing that pushes me over the edge. I close the gap between us, planting my lips on his. Axel pulls me into his chest as if we could somehow be even closer. It feels like one of those old Hollywood kisses. Deep, necessary, unyielding. Because it is all those things. We have pushed each other away for so long that this inevitable coming back together is an explosion.

I need Axel. I need to know if we can do this.

Because I really believe that we can.

Our kiss is interrupted by whoops and hollers. We break apart, noticing that the Ferris wheel is slowing to a stop at the bottom and a bunch of our family and friends are standing around, reveling in our happiness.

Axel helps me off the Ferris wheel and we are met with hugs and kisses. My sisters all crowd around me, namely Harley, who looks completely dazed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Trust me, Harley, I wouldn’t have even known what to say,” I exclaim. I’ve a lot of explaining to do but my sisters need to be sitting down for that one.

I’m passed off to my dad who is eyeing me with playful suspicion. “What?” I ask.

“Nothing, just…hm. I knew there was something you weren’t telling me,” he says and then glances over at Stella.

I punch him on the shoulder. “You don’t know anything.”

“I’m your dad, Gillian.” He wraps his arm around me and kisses my cheek. “I know everything.”

Axel and I meet again after being passed around from person to person. We look at each other with breathless smiles. “That was quite the reception, huh?” he asks.

“You could say that again.”

“Hey you two.”

We both turn to find Lola, Stella beside her, holding her hand. The two most important people in all of this, really. Stella is bashfully teetering from foot to foot, smiling in a way I’ve never had the privilege of seeing.

“Someone has a request for you,” Lola says, holding up Stella’s hand.

I step forward and get down on my knees, holding my arms out to her. “Are you confused, honey?”

“Go ahead,” Lola encourages Stella.

Stella comes toward me and nods. “A little.” She takes my hands, looking down at the ground, nibbling on her lower lip. “But it’s okay.”

I grin. “You’re so brave, Stella.” I wish you never had to be. “Can we explain it to you?”

---