SWNOVELS Chapter 26
Two Months Later…
“How long is she going to jail for?” Millie asks as we put cookies from Jackie’s bakery on a platter. Ryan and I are hosting a party at our house today, and everyone thinks it’s just a pre-holiday thing. They don’t know that we’re going to announce that we’re pregnant.
I’m so excited.
“Ten years,” I reply.
“Not long enough,” Erin says, scowling. “She should never get out.”
“I don’t make those rules,” I reply and finish with the cookies. Ryan and I didn’t attend Claudia’s trial, but our attorney kept us informed every day of what was happening, and since she pled guilty, it wasn’t a long one.
“I love your closet,” Summer says as she samples a cookie. “Seriously, Ryan is good at hiring people for renovations. And, given that he added about five thousand square feet to this already massive house, it happened really quickly.”
“Ryan may claim to be patient, but he gets things done fast,” I agree with a laugh, just as the man himself walks into the kitchen.
“What is going on in here?” he asks. “Everyone’s here.”
“We’re just talking,” Abbi tells him. “Getting dessert ready.”
“We’re good to go,” I assure him, kiss him quickly, and then carry a tray to the living room, where our parents, siblings, and friends are all gathered, laughing and having a good time. Even London and Drew have flown in for this, and Caleb is hanging out with the kids.
Jake has Russ here. He wanted his best friend to hear the news with everyone else, and we had no problem with that. And Katie finally asked Jake out on a date about a month ago, and they’ve been seeing each other ever since. She’s here, too, sitting with the guys.
“Mommy!” Daisy says, running over to Abbi. “I asked Brady to be my date for the father-daughter dance, and he said yes! He’s taking me!”
“Oh, uh…” Abbi smiles, but I can see the uncertainty in her eyes as she looks up at Brady, who is blushing. I’ve never seen that man blush before. “You don’t have to—”
“Yes, he does,” Daisy insists. “He said he would.”
“I’m happy to go,” Brady says and smiles sweetly at the little girl. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“You’re welcome. I’m going to wear a pretty dress.”
“I can’t wait.” Brady winks at her and then smiles at Abbi, who looks a little flummoxed. I swear, they’ve been dancing around each other for months.
I wish they’d just go out on a date, for fuck’s sake.
“Hey, Polly, do you mind coming outside for just a minute?” Ryan asks me, and suddenly, everyone in the room is smiling. He wraps a coat around my shoulders, leading me to the glass doors off of the kitchen.
“What’s…going on?”
“I just have to speak to you alone really quick,” he says, taking my hand and leading me outside.
It’s already been a snowy season. We must have three feet on the ground, and it’s not even officially winter quite yet.
Ryan closes the door behind us, takes my hand, and guides me on a freshly shoveled path that leads to a clearing under a big evergreen tree, where candles hang in glass mason jars from the limbs above, casting everything in a pretty, yellow glow.
When we get closer, I see that there are pink rose petals on the ground, and my heart starts to pick up speed.
“Ryan.”
“I’m excited to finally tell our families and friends about our little secret,” he begins as we slowly walk closer to the candles. “But first, I have to admit that we’ve been keeping a secret from you. I’ve wanted to do this since that night on the roof when I told you that I loved you for the first time.”
I turn and gaze up at him, my heart already so full I’m surprised it can hold all the love I feel for this amazing man.
“I worried that it might scare you off, so I decided to wait. I feel like saying the words I love you just isn’t enough to fully convey how I feel about you. It’s not big enough. Not bold enough. I thought I had everything I needed before you came into my life. I’m a wealthy man, and I have a gorgeous kid and a great family, and then you came into the picture and knocked me on my ass.”
I grin, loving this beautiful speech. I wish I was recording it because I’m full of so much excitement right now that I’m afraid I’ll forget something.
“You are funny and sweet and so fucking smart. Much smarter than me.”
“Well, yeah.”
He grins down at me. “Nothing’s better than being with you. You make me a better person. You make me want to be a better person, Polly. I am committed to making sure that every day is the best day of your life. We will have adventures and fights and fun and struggles.”
“And makeup sex.”
“That’s a given.” He clears his throat and lowers to one knee, pulling something out of his pocket as he does.
In his fingers is a beautiful oval diamond the size of a baby’s fist, glinting in the candlelight.
“I love you, and I’m asking you here and now if you’ll do me the honor of being my wife. Marry me, babe.”
I sit on his knee so I can kiss the hell out of him, and then I tip my forehead to his.
“Yes. A million times, yes.”
He slips the ring onto my finger, and I stare down at it in awe.
“I’m going to be terrified to wear this in public. I’ll probably get mugged for it.”
“We have security,” he says before kissing me again.
When we walk into the house, everyone stands and cheers, and someone offers me a flute of champagne, but I shake my head and look up at my fiancé.
“Tell them,” he says as Jake moves over to stand on the other side of me.
With my men surrounding me, I smile at our loved ones as they quiet, wondering what’s going on.
“We have another surprise for you,” I begin, and feel Jake shift in excitement. I look up at him and grin. “You tell them, buddy.”
“Me?”
“Someone tell us,” Chase calls out.
“We’re having a baby,” Jake says. “Well, she’s having it. You know what I mean.”
The room erupts in more applause, and we’re all surrounded by hugs and love. I’m a little surprised when Remington embraces Ryan and says, “I’m proud of you. You’re a damn good father. I’m sorry for being an asshole.”
Ryan blinks, nods, and then hugs Remington back, and it brings tears to my eyes.
“Thank God everyone knows and I don’t have to keep it a secret anymore,” Summer says as she hugs me. “I’m so happy for you, friend.”
“Thank you.” I hug her back. “Holy shit, we have to plan a wedding.”
“Hell yes, we do.”
“Wait!” Ryan calls out, quieting the room once more. “We have another announcement!”
“Shit, you’ve been busy,” Brady says with a laugh.
“You’re not kidding,” Ryan replies and pulls Jake to his side. “As of last week, Jake is officially Jacob Remington Wild. It even says so on his birth certificate.”
My eyes fly to Remington, whose throat works with emotion.
“You’re kidding,” Joy says, clapping her hands. “Well, isn’t this just one of the best days of our lives?”
“I’m a Wild,” Jake says, his hands in the air. “And it’s legit.”
We all laugh, and there are more hugs passed around, more excitement and love.
I overhear my dad asking Jake how he feels about the new baby coming.
“It’s the best,” Jake says in reply. “I finally get to be a big brother.”
I glance down at the flashy ring on my finger, then to where Ryan is talking with Remington and Brady, and over to where Jake, Katie, and Russ are laughing. I take in my girlfriends, laughing and chatting, and all the kids, playing and running around.
It’s a busy, chaotic, amazing life.
And it’s mine.