Three Month’s Later
from the dressing room.
“Stupid thing!”
I lean against the doorframe as I watch Megan drop the dress onto the floor and give it a kick across the room.
“Need a hand, Princess?” I smile.
Her gaze rounds onto me.
“It was your hands that got me into this situation in the first place,” she huffs as she grabs another dress off a hanger.
I walk over and slip my arms around her from behind. She lets out a sigh and leans her head back against my shoulder.
The last three months have been heaven since she agreed to start again and move in with me. I’ve made every moment count. She jokes that I’m overprotective of her and the baby, but I can see in her eyes that with each day, any lingering doubts she had are disappearing. I’m gaining her trust back, and I won’t ever break it again.
I‘ve been given another chance—not just by Megan but by life.
A chance I’m clutching to my chest and never taking for granted.
“You are so beautiful.” I breathe, inhaling the berry scent in her hair as my hands stroke her growing bump.
“That dress fitted last week. And now I can’t even get it over my boobs.”
My eyes drop to her breasts, round and full, her nipples straining against the sheer fabric of her bra.
“Maybe you could just stay naked? I know I’d like that.” I press the erection in my boxers against her to prove it.
“You’re insatiable,” she tuts, but her voice gives away the smile I know is on her face.
“Who can blame me? I have the most beautiful girlfriend. One who is currently looking incredibly sexy and beautiful with our baby inside her.”
Megan lets out a soft laugh and tilts her head so I can kiss the side of her neck.
“A girlfriend who’s starting to resemble a beach ball.”
“You’re perfect,” I whisper, my hand sliding inside her panties. She’s wet already, and the feel of her arousal soaking my fingers has me letting out a deep growl.
“You’ve got ten minutes. Then we have to leave,” she giggles.
I push my boxers down and guide her hand back. She wraps it straight around my cock and gives it a gentle squeeze.
I dip my mouth to her ear.
“God, Princess. Keep doing that, and we won’t even need five.”
“This place looks amazing!” Abigail grins, gazing around Calvin’s restaurant.
“It should! It’s not every day our lovely friend has such exciting news,” Megan says as she wraps her arms around Abigail.
“Hey, it’s not just about me. This is a joint party, you know.”
Megan shrugs. “I know. But I’m just so excited for you!”
I look around at all the balloons and decorations. Lydia really went to town. The place looks incredible. Pastel balloon arches are over the entryway. The ceiling is completely covered by more balloons with their ribbons hanging down over our heads. There’s a large table with a giant cake and a growing pile of gifts on.
It’s like walking into a photo shoot for the world’s most extravagant baby shower.
“Hey, babe. We’re going to go get another drink. Do you want one?” Megan turns to me, her face lit up.
“I’m good, Princess.” I lean down, pressing a kiss to her lips.
The two of them walk off together towards Lydia, standing at the bar with her arms around Tim’s neck, whispering something in his ear. He pushes his glasses back up his nose and grins at her.
“I bet she eats him alive.” Martin chuckles, coming to stand next to me.
“I’m pretty sure he likes it. Been eating him for a few months now.” I laugh. “Megan says they’re saving up to go travelling together next year.”
“Cool,” Martin says.
“How are you feeling, soon-to-be daddy?” I ask, eyeing him sideways.
He grins as he watches the girls giggling and hugging each other across the room.
“Same as you, I imagine… scared shitless.”
I throw my head back and laugh. “Yep, sounds about right. It’s all worth it, though.”
“Yeah, I know.” He grins at me.
“Have you got an official date for the adoption yet?”
Martin shakes his head. “Not yet. But it’ll be before Christmas. All the paperwork takes so long. But we can’t wait. Archie’s grown more every time we see him. We’re just so pleased that he should be with us before his first birthday. Then we can throw another party like this.” I raise my eyebrows at him, and he laughs. “Come on. Look how happy it makes the girls.”
I look over at them again. Lydia is bent down talking to Megan’s bump through her dress, clinking her champagne glass against it in a mini ‘cheers’. She’s going to be the crazy friend slash auntie. But seeing how protective she was over Megan and how much she loves her has resulted in us being close.
She’s even helped me plan a little surprise for later.
“I’m happy for you.” I place my hand on Martin’s shoulder.
“Thanks, Jax. You too.”
Now when he says my name, I don’t wince. I still miss Dad. But I’m putting my energy into Megan and the baby.
I’ve been given a second chance—something he never had.
And I owe it to him to make the most of it. He’s up there somewhere. I know it. And I’m going to tell the baby all about their grandad.
He will never be forgotten.
“Looks like more guests have arrived.” Martin cocks his head towards the entrance as Christopher walks in with Mum, Penelope, and her partner, Pierce. Megan’s over there like a shot, hugging everyone and welcoming them in. Penelope rests her hand on Megan’s bump, and the two of them laugh about something.
Megan’s eyes light up again as her mum, dad, and older brother, Zack, arrive.
After some long, honest talks with her parents, they’ve accepted me. I didn’t expect it to be easy. It wasn’t. But it’s what I deserved.
Her brother raked me over hot coals before he forgave me. I wouldn’t have it any other way, though. They love Megan, just like I do. Like I will do every day for the rest of my life. I don’t know how long that will be. I will do whatever I can to make sure it’s as long as possible. But I’ve made my peace with it.
Worrying about something that may never happen is no way to live.
Megan’s laugh carries across the room as more friends arrive. I watch her chat excitedly with her old housemate, Rachel and her new husband, and another friend, Matt, who I recall she used to fly with at Atlantic Airways.
My heart swells as I gaze at her.
I intend on living, and if I ever feel doubt creeping in, all I need to do is look at her to remember why.
“Now I know why you’ve got that smug bastard look on your face every day.” Martin laughs. “You lot are like the fucking Brady Bunch!”
I laugh. What can I say? He’s not wrong. Our family is unique. I’m blessed to have such supportive people in my life who put love above all else.
I chuckle and wrap an arm around his shoulders. “Come on, let’s go say hello.”
“My feet are killing me,” Megan moans as she walks out of the lift. “You didn’t have to book a hotel, you know?”
I smile and pull her to a stop outside the door to our room.
“It seemed fitting, coming back to the place we first met.” I drop my hand to her bump and rub it. Her eyes glisten as she looks up at me. I will never tire of her looking at me like this. “I’ll rub your feet for you when we get inside.”
I tilt my head towards the door, and Megan looks over to it, her eyes lighting up.
“You booked the penthouse?”
“Of course.” I smile, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. “It holds special memories for me. It’s where I was first captivated by a beautiful redhead.”
“Oh really?” She giggles as I lift her hand and kiss her wrist.
“Yes. And it’s where our baby was conceived. It’s very special to me.”
“Me too,” she whispers.
“Now, in you go. Before I make love to you in the hallway.” I wink as I unlock the door and hold it open for her, my eyes dropping down the curves of her body in her dress as she walks inside.
“Jaxon! What’s all this?” She gasps.
The entire living area is lit by fairy lights, petals scattered over every surface.
I took the long route on the drive here, so Rachel, Lydia and Abigail got in and out before we arrived.
“It’s for you.”
“But I’ve already had the baby shower.” Megan’s brow wrinkles as she looks around the room and then back at me.
“Yes. But most of the gifts were for the baby. This one’s for you.”
“What are you talking about, Mr King?” She smirks, turning to me.
I walk over to a table and pick up a bouquet.
“Gypsophila for everlasting love. Dahlias for commitment,” I state.
She takes them from me, and her eyes close as she leans down and inhales.
“Thank you.”
“There’s one more thing.”
My heart hammers in my chest as I lift her sketchbook from the table and hold it out to her. Her brow furrows in confusion as she reaches out for it.
“That day I came to your office to apologise… I looked inside,” I confess.
Her eyes widen as she looks back at me.
“You looked at them all?”
I nod. “Every single one. Of me. Of us. Of the baby.” Her eyes drop to the pages as she opens it. “I can see your soul in there, Megan. And I’m so sorry it took me so long to realise that mine belongs with you. It always has. Since the day we met.”
She smiles. “I forgive you. Old age can slow the mind sometimes.”
I grin at her, shaking my head. “Turn to the last page, Princess.”
“Why?” she asks. But she does it. “Jaxon?” She looks at me as her hand flies to her mouth.
The sketchbook falls to the floor next to where I’m down on one knee.
“That first night we met, I told you I wasn’t very good at words. Turns out, I’m not very good at drawing either.” I chuckle as my eyes dart to the sketchbook lying open on the last page.
My stick man down on one knee in front of a stick woman with a circle tummy drawn on her front glows proudly on the paper.
“But I can tell you this, Megan. I will spend every day of the rest of my life loving you. And helping you fill new pages with more and more dreams, which we can chase together. As a family.” My heart races as I reach into my pocket and pull out the small box. “Marry me, Megan Curtis. Please marry me. I can’t live without you.”
I lift the lid and show her the two-carat princess cut diamond ring inside.
“Jaxon,” Megan whispers, her eyes glittering. I search her face, the drumming in my chest growing. “Yes.” She pulls me to my feet, tears spilling from her eyes. “Yes!”
I take the ring out of the box and place it on her left hand, and she gazes at it before looking back up at me.
Her bump, our baby, is nestled between our bodies as she wraps her arms around me.
“Whatever life brings us, Jaxon. We handle it together.”
I lower my lips to hers, repeating her words, “yes. Together. Always.”
