Epilogue

OWEN

Three weeks later…

"What am I looking at here?"

A noodle hangs from my mouth as I peer over at Addie, who leans against my kitchen counter. I gather the noodle the rest of the way into my mouth to chew it and set the pot into the sink. "Don't worry. I waited until the pasta cooled off before I dove in."

"That's exactly what I was worried about and not the fact that you're slurping noodles right out of the pot." She shakes her head as she sashays the rest of the way into the kitchen.

I turn to face her, drinking in the way her green dress dips into the valley of her breasts. Her cleavage is extra naughty these days. That, or I just fall harder every fucking day. Could be both.

The hem of her dress flows right above her knee, and the heeled booties she wears adds two inches to her height. She doesn't need to stand on her tiptoes to kiss me with those on.

She's been coming to my house frequently over the last two weeks, ever since the Halloween party, and she just… fits here.

This place is more complete with her in it than any of the furniture or dishes.

We filled out the paperwork as soon as we got to school on the Monday morning following the Halloween party. We signed it all and forged our love in ink, and "the earth still spins on its axis along the same path it's been on for billions of years," as Addie put it. She also followed it up with the fact that she could feel a little pep in the earth's spinning, though.

She's right about that.

And tonight, we're hosting our first dinner party. When I'd asked her why she wanted to do this, she answered, "Just because."

I couldn't think of a better reason.

Plus, with some of our friends traveling for Thanksgiving next week, it'll be nice to get together to see everyone in one place before they disperse for holiday chaos.

I wipe my chin with the back of my hand, and she thrusts a paper towel at me. "You feeling okay tonight? You've been in the bathroom for a while."

"I'm fine. Really fine, actually." The blush in her cheeks matches the red tips of her ears as she steps into my embrace and rests her temple on my chest.

"What's going on?" I angle her face up so I'm able to see all of it. She's hiding something in the oceans of her eyes.

"It's just that I was… well, I am…"

"What?" I study her expression, and although she's smiling, I can't help but be on guard. I hate being out of the loop.

"Owen, I'm late."

"That's not true." I point to the spread of food on the counter, all wrapped and ready to be served. "We're done in here, with a few minutes to spare. Everyone should be arriving in the next?—"

"Not that kind of late." She laughs, and tears well in her eyes.

"What?" I freeze.

"I took a test—a few, actually—and… I'm pregnant."

My lungs shrivel as those two words and all the possibilities suck the oxygen from my body.

"I need to make an appointment with the doctor, of course, but four positive tests don't lie." She bites her smiling lip and rubs her hands up and down my back.

"You're… we're… going to have a baby," I whisper like I'm testing the fact on my tongue.

And it's amazingly awesome in a sense I can't wrap my fucking head around.

"I'm going to be a dad," I say, but it's more of a question, as if I still don't wholly grasp what she's saying. Can it be?

Could I be so damn lucky to be having a baby with the girl of my wildest dreams?

"You're going to be a dad, and I'm going to be a mom." She laughs into her palms, and tears stream down her cheeks, her mascara staining her complexion.

I tighten my arms around her and spin her around once, twice, and three times, my laughter bursting from me in hysterical fashion.

Her own giggles ring out with an echo, mixing with mine in a manic celebration, until I rest my chin on her forehead.

My heart rate slows as the pieces of my life continue floating right into place.

"This is the best news I've ever gotten." My brain short-circuits and switches on my fight-or-flight reaction. "Wait. How are you feeling? Do you need anything? You shouldn't be on your feet. You should be sitting with a glass of cold water and snacks. I definitely shouldn't spin you around like a psycho."

She squeezes my hands. "We have guests coming any second."

"Guests?" Oh, right. The dinner party. "We'll have to cancel. We can't crowd you and stress you out. You need rest."

"Owen." She cups my cheek in her small, delicate hand. "There will be plenty of time to take care of me over the next few months, but right now, we're going to enjoy a night with our family and friends."

My breaths are suddenly labored.

"We should probably wait to tell them, if you don't mind. I'd like to keep this just for us for a little bit longer."

This eases the abrupt tension pulling at my muscles. "I'd like that. Just our little secret."

She winks. "We're good at keeping secrets."

"Damn right."

With the ring of the doorbell, she tears herself away from me and stops on the other side of the counter. "Catch," she jokes as she blows me a kiss from her palm.

I raise my hand and exaggerate catching it, after which I tuck it into my pocket.

"That's why you're my favorite," she says.

Thirty minutes later, many of our friends and two of my sisters mill about my dining room, laughing and swapping stories. They have no idea just how much we're celebrating tonight and what this day means to Addie and me.

On my way to grab more drinks, Addie emerges from the opposite direction. I catch her by the waist and whisper, "I can't wait to get you alone later to properly ring in this new chapter for us."

"I'm going to hold you to it, Mr. Conrad."

A low growl vibrates from my chest, but it gets caught in my throat. "Wait. Is sex a good idea when you're, you know? I need to Google it. Or I'll call Laurel. She'll be happy to talk medical shit."

With everyone out of view, Addie cups me by the balls and says, "Sex is definitely a good idea."

I throw my head back with a groan. "Can I toss everyone out now?"

"Not before dessert. Mama wants dessert."

Mama .

I fucking love the sound of that.

"I love you." I kiss her cheek and use an ungodly amount of strength to walk away for more napkins, forks, or drinks—I can't remember.

Thankfully, Nate is in the kitchen filling a pitcher with ice water. He's on top of it.

"I still can't believe you and Addie, man." My old friend chuckles as the water runs. "Didn't she threaten to sue the school when you two were voted The Cutest Couple Who Never Was ?"

"She did. Isn't she adorable?" I snort and lean on the counter for support until he's done, after which we walk out together.

I'm empty-handed, because again, I have no clue what I'm supposed to be doing.

My head and heart are both absolute puddles of bliss. People shouldn't be allowed to be this happy, right? It's too good to be true, but when I look across the dining room and find Addie's eyes glimmering under the light fixture above, I know it's very real.

And it's ours .

Thanks for reading!