Page 111 of Pregnant By the Playboy

Marissa and I love him dearly, even though we’re both exhausted.

When Lucas shuts his eyes, Marissa curls up on the couch and does the same, and I wrap my arms around her.

“You know,” I say, “this might be the anniversary of the day Lucas was conceived.”

“Oh, is it? I’ve completely lost track of time.”

“It’s the one-year anniversary of the day I met you, yeah.”

“I’m glad I walked up and kissed you.”

“Me, too.” I touch the rings on her finger.

We’ve been living together since we got married, a few months before Lucas arrived. I’ve been teaching kids how to code a couple afternoons a week since September. I never thought I’d enjoy teaching before, but I do.

My life is so different from what it was like a year ago. I don’t miss my old world, though I do miss Brian a little. I haven’t seen him in a few months, and from what I hear, his life is quite different now, too.

But I don’t regret my past. It led me to Marissa, and now I feel more content and fulfilled. And balanced.

Okay, that’s a bit of a lie. It’s hard for your life to be truly balanced when you have a three-month-old baby, but I feel good about where I am now.

And I get to do it all with Marissa.

I knew what I wanted the minute she told me she was pregnant, but back then, I couldn’t truly envision what it would be like, couldn’t comprehend the love I would grow to have for her and Lucas.

Lucas opens his eyes briefly to give me a little smile.

Don’t tell Julian, but I think he’s cuter than Evie, though she’s pretty cute, too.

My son closes his eyes again and quickly falls asleep. Perhaps by the time we get home, he’ll be wide awake and crying, but for now, it’s peaceful.

Marissa is asleep as well, her head resting on my shoulder, her hand feeling up my bicep. I’ll let her sleep for a while before we head home, where I have a gift in honor of our anniversary. We’ve already had dessert at my parents’ house, but I bought a little chestnut cake for her, along with a necklace.

Then afterward...

Well, I have some ideas, though if she prefers to snuggle up against my side and sleep, that’s okay, too.

My father approaches the little room near the back of the house. He looks at the sleeping baby in the car seat and my sleeping wife draped all over me, and he smiles.

When he leaves, Marissa presses the side of her face against my nose.

“I love you,” I murmur, stroking her hair.

She replies with a snore, but that’s okay.

I know she loves me and trusts me, and we’re going to have a great life together. It won’t go exactly as we plan, but it’ll be with her, and that’s what matters.

Yes, I’m in love, and it’s the most wonderful thing in the world.