Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
She stared at me for a long time, studying me with a depth she’d never displayed before. “You’ve shown me so much love, Theo. Since the moment we met. I see the way you love Axel. The way you love Scarlett and their kids. To say that you’re incapable of love is just untrue. And I think if you had a son or a daughter, you would love more than you ever thought you were capable of.”
“Astrid—”
“I’m not saying these things to make you feel better or push you toward the decision I want. It’s just what I believe. We don’t have to have children right now. We have time to consider it. For you to realize you’re more than you think you are.”
“That’s a big gamble on your part—”
“And if we don’t get there, that’s okay. You’re my family, Theo. We’ll be happy with or without children. You’re the man I want for the rest of my life, regardless of what our future looks like. I just need you in it.”
Epilogue III
Theo
Three Years Later
I sat at my desk in the study, my laptop open with twenty different browser windows. I had shit to do, but my eyes kept returning to the painting on the wall, the painting I’d spotted in that gallery that felt like the story of my life.
But now, I didn’t feel as connected to it.
I would always love it because of how I got it. Because I’d married that woman and she’d made me happier than I’d been before I met her. Though now, I wondered if it was time for it to go, to make room for the new things in life.
I heard footsteps outside the closed door. Then Astrid’s voice a second later. “Killian!”
The door flew open, and a little man walked inside, wearing only a shirt with no bottoms on at all. “Dad!”
The smirk across my face was the widest it’d ever been. “Oh no.”
After he’d turned two, he started to run everywhere, and now he was too fast to catch sometimes. He beelined right for my desk.
Astrid finally caught up. “I’m so sorry. I was changing his diaper, and he just took off.”
“It’s fine,” I said with a chuckle. I came around the desk and took a knee because there was no other way for our eyes to meet. “What are you up to, little man?”
He crashed into my leg, his willy against my knee, and he hurled himself into me. “Mommy boring.”
Astrid rolled her eyes.
“Your mother is not boring.”
“Let’s play.” He grabbed my hand and started to tug.
“Killian.” Astrid came over, stunning in a summer dress, even though her eyes were dead tired. “Daddy has to work right now.”
“It’s fine.” My eyes stayed on him. “I’ll play with you. But first, where’s your diaper?”
He looked down at himself before he raised his hands like he didn’t know.
“Diaper first. Blocks second.” I threw him over my shoulder as I stood up.
He released a squeal of laughter.
Astrid looked at me. “I’m sorry. I’ll take him after we get the diaper on him.”
“Sweetheart, it’s fine.” My arm circled her waist, and I kissed her. “I want to.”
She melted at my kiss like she always did.
“Ew!” Killian said from over my shoulder. “Kissing Mommy gross.”
“Really?” I asked. “I love Mommy’s kisses. Almost as much as I love Mommy.”