Epilogue

A Year and Some Months Later

I pick up my daughter and place her in the baby carrier that's strapped to my chest. I can tell Montana doesn't really want to leave Aubrey with Aliyah and King, and I'm not going to force her to take that step. I'm also not opposed to having my daughter attached to me. I planned this dinner for Montana. I wanted to spend some time with her. Away from everyone else. Just the two of us. Or the three of us.

Aubrey is perfect, though. She doesn't even stir as I tighten the straps. She snuggles against me and falls right back to sleep. I remember the day Montana told me she was pregnant. We'd been trying for a few months. Actively trying . Something I was more than willing to participate in.

I loved a pregnant Montana, and I can't wait to get her knocked up again. In exactly two years.

"Hey, I thought we were leaving her?" Montana says, walking out of the bathroom and taking my fucking breath away. She's wearing a white sundress that reaches her ankles and hangs low across her chest.

I inhale as my eyes rake up and down her body. My wife is a goddamn siren. "I changed my mind." I note her instant relief. Her whole body relaxes, which tells me I made the right call. "You ready?" I ask while holding out a hand.

"Always." Montana places her palm in mine and we walk out of the bedroom together.

"Hey, guys. I've had a change of heart. I'm keeping my daughter, and you two are going to have to work on getting your own kid," I tell Aliyah and King.

"No fucking way!" Gray grunts from the kitchen. Everyone shares a laugh, except my best friend, who's staring daggers at the back of his brother-in-law's head.

I turn to Montana. "Let's get out of here before World War III breaks out when Monroe notices his little sister is actually a married woman," I whisper.

"Sounds like a good idea," she says.

I guide Montana out through the back door, where I had the garden set up with an intimate dinner. There are lights and flowers everywhere. Okay, I might not have done it all myself. Aliyah and Liliana helped out a lot. I'm still taking the credit, though.

"This is so beautiful, Luke," Montana says, her wide eyes trying to take it all in.

"Not nearly half as beautiful as my two girls," I reply before pulling out her chair. "Come on, sit down."

"I love you," Montana tells me over the table as I take the seat opposite her.

"I love you."

"Thank you for doing this. "

"I know we haven't really had a lot of date nights lately and I'm sorry for that, babe."

"It's not your fault, Luke. We're just busy. We have a baby and you had the playoffs."

"It's not okay. I love our date nights, Tanna. I'm not giving them up. We're just going to have to be more creative when it comes to scheduling time for us. Because nothing is more important than us. You, Aubrey, and me. This life and the next, right?"

"This life and the next," Montana repeats.