Chapter 27

Twenty-Seven

Merc

Six Months Later

Thanksgiving

As I lookedaround the dining room, I was truly a proud and content man.

My family, Neo's family, and our friends were in attendance for Thanksgiving dinner. I loved that our parents got along so well.

A lot had changed, and a lot of things remained the same.

Aries had given birth to a beautiful baby girl who she named Ariel, and Marz was obsessed with his little sister. He was adjusting to being in first grade and was still locked in with Kiana.

They were cute.

Aries did move out, and the house was about a mile away. She'd allowed me to purchase it for her, and Marz loved it because it had a pool.

I'd found a building for my training academy and planned to start accepting students at the start of the new year. Bully and Innvy were engaged and going strong. Her little round belly was cute. I thought it was dope that she and Neo were pregnant at the same time. Not only would our kids be able to grow up with Marz, but Bully, Asylum, and I would all have babies to raise together.

Neo had been staying in the apartment at the top of the building while she and her associate, Moriah, got the store together. When we found out she was pregnant with my little lady, she agreed to move in. Steven had reached out to her when word began to spread about her new store. He was shocked taking the first one didn't make her stay, and even more shocked when I had Toe pay him a visit. After that, Neo didn't have any more problems out of him. Apparently, he and his baby mama still hadn't officially gotten back together, but they were still living with each other. More power to them with that toxic, cliché ass shit.

Rey was still a heavy presence in Neo's life. She spent a day or two with him every week, playing the keyboard for him while he continued to teach her Chess. He'd joined us for dinner this evening, and I was grateful for that.

All in all, all was well in my life. The only thing that was going to make it better was Neo agreeing to be my wife. I planned to take her back to the cabin before Christmas to do that, and there was no doubt in my mind that she would say yes. As if she felt herself on my mind and in my heart, she made her way over to me with tired eyes and a wide smile. Though the women insisted she and Innvy didn't have to do anything, they along with Dauterive acted like they just couldn't sit still.

As she made herself comfortable on my lap, I wrapped my arms around her.

"You look happy," she noticed.

"I'm happier than I ever thought was possible, and you have a hell of a lot to do with that."

My hand went to her stomach. As if my little lady knew my touch, she instantly started to move.

"Look at her showing out for Daddy."

"You gon' show out for Daddy later too?"

As I placed kisses along her neck, she giggled. "You know I'm always down for that."

Neo lifted my face by my chin and covered my lips with hers. I moaned against them, willing my dick not to get hard, but that was always hard to do. I loved everything about this woman and was so attracted to her she could get me painfully hard with the slightest touch. And it wasn't just on some sexual shit. It was the fact that my body and my heart wanted to make sure I knew she was the only woman they wanted me to ever connect with.

Christmas Eve

"You know what would be crazy?"Neo said as I pulled into the driveway of the cabin. "If we got snowed in again."

"Yeah, that would be crazy as hell. I wouldn't mind it, but Marz would lose his shit if we weren't back by Christmas."

"Boy, please. Marz won't care about you not being there. He still gon' open his gifts."

I laughed because she was absolutely right. "I know. That's why he can't do it without me. I let him believe in Santa, but I still like to see him open his things, even though he immediately forgets about me to go play for the rest of the day."

She laughed as I got out and grabbed our bags then opened the door for her. Her stomach had gotten even bigger over the last month. It was crazy that she'd gotten pregnant while on birth control. I had no complaints about it. Our little lady was made in love, and I was going to be just as present with her as I was with Marz. Neo and Aries were sure I'd spoil my little lady more, and I wouldn't deny that. She was going to soften me and Marz and be spoiled by us just like Ariel was.

As soon as we walked into the cabin, Neo gasped and whimpered. I'd had an event planner to come and set everything up on my behalf. I could have waited until we got here and did it myself, but I would have been too anxious. As far as I was concerned, I'd waited long enough to make Neo my fiancée.

I wanted to take her to another country to propose, but since she was so far along in her pregnancy, I decided to bring her back to the place where things changed for us.

Neo looked back at me, twisting her mouth to the side as her eyes watered. I took her hand and led her down the aisle of white rose petals. Instead of red, I requested white—white roses, white balloons and candles, white garland and banner—white everything.

"Baby," she whispered, gripping my hand.

Kneeling, I turned her slightly so that she was facing me. For a moment, I got lost in her beauty. She'd been wearing a lot of dresses because they were most comfortable against her belly. The white sweater dress she had on with white heels and gold accessories made her look ethereal. Her locs were pulled into a petal crown. Golden makeup accented her natural beauty.

Damn.

I was a lucky… blessed… man.

Pulling the ring I'd gotten from her father out of my pocket, I told her, "Your mother and father gave me this with their approval. I had it upgraded and resized to fit you." Pausing, I pulled in a deep breath. All my confidence flew out the window momentarily. For a split second, I got nervous as hell. Chuckling, I shook away my nerves. "I love you, Neo. You're not just a great addition to my life and family; you're the crown. On top of your presence, you're gifting me with a precious princess that I can't wait to welcome into this world and fill with so much love.

"But I dare not do that before making her mother my wife. So will you do me the greatest honor of marrying me? Will you be my wife?"

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she nodded. Giggling, she wiped her face with her free hand.

"Yes, Mercury! Of course!"

My grin spread as I slid the ring on her finger. With a moan, I felt weightless as I stood. Taking her into my arms, I kissed her deeply. I didn't think it would ever happen… but Neo tamed the gangsta and made me her forever gentleman.