Page 40 of Right Side of Paradise

Heart and Soul

Chris:

Tell Harlow and Soul to come downstairs. I’m about to start the show

Rico:

Why you texting me? Text them

Chris:

I did, no answer

A minute later, I walked out on my balcony and understood why.

They were both on the couch knocked out.

Harlow’s head was in Soul’s lap, facing his torso with her legs up and feet kicked over the back of the couch.

Soul had his hand splayed across her stomach, his other elbow resting on the arm of the couch and supporting his head.

Their chests rose and fell with synchronized breaths, and the rhythm held me in place.

For a while, the only sound I could hear was muffled music coming from the wired headphones they were sharing.

The left side was tucked in Harlow’s ear and Soul had the right.

I could’ve woken them up, but I liked this view too much.

And when the clock hit midnight and it was my birthday, this would still be mine. They weren’t going anywhere.

Peace settled over me.

I was walking into my thirties with everything I wanted.

My career was thriving.

My family was healthy.

And the three people I adored were under my roof, loving me and letting me love them back.

The longer I thought about it, the more contented laughter rumbled in my chest.

I didn’t know life would look like this when I could truly say I was happy, but I wasn’t complaining. Just because it didn’t look how I expected didn’t mean it wasn’t meant to be.

All it took was some patience mixed with a little delusion, and I got what I craved three times over.

The plot twist I didn’t see coming in Chris.

My Soul.

And my baby.

Twelve years later and I was finally living in the dream I was too scared to want. And it was better than I ever fucking imagined.