Before Now (Sometimes Never) (35 page)

Even though she’s only been in the world for seven months, it feels like Emari has always been a part of my life. And I can’t fathom anything different now.
   

“So did you go natural or did you get an epidural?” Annie asks
and every single one of us loses it. Emari looks around with wide eyes and an unsure half smile, startled by the outburst.

“Yes, Lulu,” Bree sings, batting her eyelashes. “How long did you last Miss I’m-Having-A-Natural-Childbirth?”

“I blame Park for that,” she says, jetting her chin out stubbornly.

I lean toward Annie, gaining her full attention. “Okay, this is how it went down. Lucy made me promise that no matter what she said—no matter how much she begged—I wouldn’t let her get an epidural.”
             

Annie nods, resting her chin on her interlocked fingers.

“Her water broke around five in the morning. By noon, there’s still no baby, but Lucy’s been in labor for seven hours. I’ve watched her, laying there in pain, listened to her cuss and cry for hours—”

“I was cussing because it was
only the second time I had met your mom. The first time you were unconscious in the hospital and the second I was in the hospital having your child,” Lucy mutters. “That was awkward to say the least.”

“So,” I continue, ignoring that because I honestly have no defense, “I didn’t stop her from getting the damn epidural.” I shrug as I pick up my glass of water and take a drink. “But she was so sweet after the drugs kicked in.”

“The first time I said I wanted it, he caved,” Lucy adds. “He didn’t even try to stop me. And I wasn’t sweet. I was high.”

“He caved because he likes his vital organs attached to his body,” Bree says.

“You threaten to rip off one appendage in the heat of the moment and nobody ever forgets,” Lucy sighs.

Hope nods, flinging her hands in the air. “I know, right?”

Guy chuckles. “Lucy Lu, you were pretty damn scary.”

She
narrows her eyes. “There was a
person
coming out of my
vagina
. Until you can say the same, no judgment.”

I have nothing to say to that because seriously, she has a valid point, but Guy cringes and Bree makes a strangled sound deep in her throat.

“So,” Annie says, looking for a subject change. “I heard a rumor about you, Park.”

“Yeah, I want to see it,” Jessie says, leaning into my view.

“What?”

“The tattoo. I have to see it with my own eyes.”

Oh, that. I smirk at Jessie and start unbuttoning my shirt.

“I have to get a picture to document this. Park Reed permanently inked his body with not one, but
two
girls’ names.”

“Me too,” Annie seconds.

I slip out of the dress shirt and lift my tee, exposing my chest. “Document away,” I say as they each snap a photo of Lucy and Emari’s names displayed proudly over my heart.

Lucy stands with Emari held snugly to her chest. Before she can move away,
I drop my shirt and pull her into my lap, lacing my fingers through hers.

She looks over at
Chase, inclining toward Annie. All of his attention is focused on her every word. “I can’t figure out if they’re together or not.”

“Chase and Annie?” I laugh dryly. “They’re like brother and sister. They usually hate one another.”

Lucy shoots me a doubtful look. “They don’t look at each other like siblings.”

“Boys are so clueless,” Bree sighs.

“Completely blind,” Hope adds.

I glance back and forth, from Annie to Chase. They haven’t heard a word we’ve said about them. I chuckle, squeezing Lucy’s hand, and drawing her attention back to me. “I see you.”

She grins, bringing her lips to my ear. “I love you,” she whispers.

I kiss her neck, letting my lips linger. And then I nod as I inhale her scent. “
I love you, Lucy. You don’t even know how much. You make happy. I was miserable before you. Since we’ve been together, before now, everything has been incredible. But
now
—now that you’re my wife, I’m pretty damn blissful.”

“Blissful is good.”

“Hell yeah. It’s perfect.”

The End

Playlist for Before Now

Kiss Me by Ed Sheeran

Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds by The Beetles

Locked Out of Heaven by Bruno Mars

Arms by Christina Perri

I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons

I Walk the Line by Johnny Cash

Stay by Rihanna (featuring Mikkay Ekko)

Hurts So Good by John Mellencamp

Little Lion Man by Mumford and Sons

One and Only by Adele

About the author

Cheryl McIntyre is a mother, author, and insomniac, as well as a reader, movie critic, and incredibly bad singer. She’s lived in the same area of Ohio her whole life, though she secretly has dreams of moving somewhere a little warmer—preferably near a beach.

Her life revolves around four things: family, music, books, and really bad scary movies. If she doesn’t have a kid on her hip, an iPod in her hand or a laptop in front of her face, it’s one of those rare moments when she’s actually sleeping.

You can follow her author page on Facebook where she lives part time. On Goodreads—which is like crack for avid readers. Or on Twitter, though it’s rumored she has yet to master the art of tweeting.

Find Cheryl at:

www.CherylMcIntyrebooks.com

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/CherylMcIntyreauthor

Twitt
er:

www.twitter.com/Chery
lHMcIntyre

Goodreads:

www.goodreads.com/author/show/6431156.Cheryl_McIntyre

Acknowledgements

I want to say thank you to my family. Mom, you’ve been so helpful taking Mini-Me off my hands so I could actually get my thoughts out of my head and into print. To my big sis, Tammy, for losing sleep to create my website. You’ve done a wonderful job and I appreciate it so much. To my step-dad, Daryl, for designing my swag, and not making one, not two, not even three covers, but seventy-two on my last count. Your patience with me matches that of a saint. To my oldest sister, Dawn, thank you, thank you, thank you for not only all the encouragement, but for your diligent editing. For creating all my swag, which has turned out awesome, and for everything else you’ve done and continue to do for me on a daily basis. And to Sean, thank you for believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself, and for the countless dinners you made while I was off writing. You have all been so supportive. I love you.

I want to acknowledge my Wonder Woman of an agent, Rebecca Friedman. Thank you for holding my hand through this process. You’ve lead the way and I couldn’t have done any of this without your enthusiasm and priceless advice.

I’ve made some great author friends along the way, but two have gone above and beyond when it comes to support and encouragement. To Beth Michele, thank you for our many conversations. I smile every time I see a new message from you because I know you’ll have a funny story about hot-boy pictures or incredibly nice words of wisdom. And to my good friend, Tex. Sometimes people just click and I clicked loudly (as you would say) with you. Thank you for your ever-present ear and advice, and for random conversations about books, movies, music, and Anime. I appreciate it more than you will ever know.

And last, but not least, THANK YOU to my readers
, and to all the awesome bloggers out there. I love each and every single one of you. I wouldn’t have anyone to tell my stories to if it weren’t for you. You guys rock!