Changing Forever (37 page)

“I love you, too,” I say, wrapping my arms around him.

W
HEN
I
LOOK
BACK
AT
EVERYTHING
that has changed over the last five years, it’s like I was thrown into a dream. Not everything has been perfect, but I’ve learned the more you struggle, the more you appreciate what you have when everything falls into place.

Drake is the total package for me, but when I look at him on paper, he’s everything I always thought I’d avoid. I
didn’t want to meet anyone in college. I was never going to let anyone step in my path, especially an arrogant, stubborn guy from Iowa. He’s not a big city guy. He’ll never be a doctor or a lawyer, but he loves me in a way that makes me a better person. He’s shown me that every day is worth something,
no matter what I do for a career or what zip code I’m in.

He changed my forever. He showed me a rose garden can grow anywhere if it has
the right conditions.

And little Michael completes our perfect picture. Time has gone so fast, and it’s hard to believe he starts kindergarten in a few short months. With his dad’s athletic talent and his mom’s brains, he makes
us both incredibly proud. We’ve been working really hard to not push him too hard because we want him to build his own dreams.

“Em, are you about done in there? I need to get ready for work.”

Looking down at the timer on my phone, I yell back, “Give me two more minutes.”

“You better hurry, or I’m going to make sure we’re both late for work,” he teases through the door. We both work in the same school in one of the smaller towns outside Des Moines—me as a school counselor and Drake as a physical education teacher. Not quite what we set out to do, but we’re happy.

The little beeper on my phone goes off, and I pick up the familiar white plastic stick ... much like the one that changed my life almost six years ago. Drake and I have been talking about having another baby for months now, but we wanted nature to take its course.

“Em, come on.”

I unlock the door, aware that if I don’t, he’ll find another way in. Drake usually gets what he wants.

As soon as it opens, he steps in, walking toward me like a crazed cat on the prowl. He looks sexy with his bare, muscular chest and lounge pants hanging low on his waist. He may not play football anymore, but he still stays in shape. When my back hits the counter, I know I’m in trouble. There’s this little game he likes to play.

“Where’s Michael?”

“He’s still sleeping,” he says, pushing my hair behind my back. His lips press to my neck as I grip his shoulders.

“Drake.”

“Hmmm,” he moans, sliding my shirt down to expose my shoulder, giving his lips better access.

“Aren’t we going to be late for work?”

He raises his head, his eyes searing into mine as his hands squeeze my thighs and slowly work my nightgown up my legs. “I just need a few minutes,” he whispers, kissing the corners of my lips.

I
wrap my arms around his neck as he unties his pajama pants and lets them fall down his legs. His fingers slide between my thighs, massaging the sensitive skin between them.

“No panties again, huh?” he whispers, entering me with two fingers.

“I like to make things easy for you, Mr. Chambers.”

“So thoughtful,” he says, replacing his fingers with his cock. “Always ready for me, aren’t you, Mrs. Chambers.”

I moan in his ear, feeling the pressure building quickly. His hands know every inch of my body, where I like to be touched and teased, and how to drive me over the top.

He pauses, lifting the nightgown over my head. He thrusts into me again as his hands press to my back, allowing me to lean against them. His mouth teases my nipples, his tongue lapping the sensitive skin.

“Drake.”

“Yeah?” he asks, bringing his head back up.

“Harder, I’m so close.”

He complies, pounding into me until my body goes into overdrive. He fills me perfectly, creating the right amount of friction.

“Come for me, Em. Let go for me, baby.”

The feeling of complete euphoria sweeps over me almost immediately. Amazing. Soon after, Drake pumps into me one last time, finding his release.

I love that, after all these years, we still share these little moments on a regular basis. Maybe we’ll be one of those lucky couples, and every day will feel like a honeymoon.

“You’re not still mad at me for hogging the bathroom, are you?” I ask, burying my face in his neck.

“No, I think that anger has been erased now.”

He runs his fingers up and down my bare back.

“Good, because I have to tell you something.”

“Did you buy something online again?”

“No, it’s bigger than that.” Reaching behind my back, I pull up the white stick and wave it between our bodies.

His eyebrows draw in as he studies it. “You’re pregnant?”

I nod, my eyes welling with tears. This is how I always imagined announcing a pregnancy. Being married to the man I love, having a home and a steady job ... last time wasn’t ideal.

“Oh my God, Em,” he says, wrapping me up in his muscular arms. “Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you just now did I?”

Smiling, I comb my fingers through his hair. “No, you didn’t hurt me. In fact, I remember being really freaking horny the first few months of my last pregnancy.”

He pulls back, cupping my cheeks in his hands. “You know how sorry I am that I missed that.” He kisses the tip of my nose, brushing his thumbs along my cheekbones.

“I’ll make sure you make it up to me.”

“That will be my pleasure.”

“Mommy!”

“Shit,” Drake mutters under his breath. “I hope I locked the door.”

Grabbing my nightgown from the counter, I pull it over my head while Drake pulls out of me and quickly slides his pants back on.

“Coming, Michael.”

“Not anymore you’re not,” Drake whispers, a crazy ass grin forming on his face. I hop off the counter and smack his shoulder, turning his smile into a grimace.

“Hurry, Mommy, I need to go potty.” I hate to say it, but we live in the same one-bathroom type house I grew up in. It’s okay, though, because I love the people who share it with me. I like the closeness.

Drake unlocks the door, and our little monkey comes running in. “Why do you guys always lock the bathroom? What if I really need to go?”

I rub the back of my neck, waiting for Drake to come in and save us both with the answer. “Daddy just likes to spend time with Mommy before she goes to work.”

“Yeah, me too,” Michael answers. “I can’t wait until I go to her school.”

“I’m excited too, baby,” I answer, scrubbing my fingers through his sandy blond hair. He looks a lot like his daddy right now, but his hair is getting darker with every passing year. I love this little boy something fierce, but I’d like a little girl, too.

As soon as he’s done, he runs right out of the room. I’d bet money that cartoons will be on in less than sixty seconds, followed by demands for fruity cereal.

Drake leans in to kiss my cheek, resting his hand across my stomach. “I’ll take care of him while you finish getting ready for work, Mommy.”

“I promise not to take too long.” He winks before leaving me to finish. Looking in the mirror, I finger the locket that still hangs around my neck every day. Although, now one side has my mom and me, while the other has a picture of Drake, Michael, and me. It’s truly my past, present, and future.

While there are things I wish hadn’t happened in my life, there are plenty of things I’m glad did. My dad has been excellent, taking Michael for a weekend here and there to give Drake and me a break. Kate and Rachel are still in my life, and even though we live in different parts of the state, we get together a few times a year.

Drake and Michael are the reasons I wake up in the morning. They’re my forever, and that’s never going to change.

They say you should dream like you’ll live forever, and live like you’ll die tomorrow. This is my life and my dream … it just took a while for me to see that in order to have them both, I had to change my idea of forever.

Coming late Summer 2014:

Rachel’s Story …
Living With Regret

Also coming this fall:

Always Imperfect
, the first book in the Imperfect Series

F
IRST
,
AND
FOREMOST
, I have to thank my husband and kids for being so patient with me when I need my time with my imaginary friends. Your continued support is what allows me to do what I do.

I’d also like to thank my family and friends who have been more than understanding and supportive. I couldn’t have done it without you.

To my beta readers, Autumn, Melissa, Amy, Jennifer and Megan. You feedback helped immensely on this one, and
Thank You
doesn’t seem like enough.

Jessica, you are a rock star. You’ve helped me so much with my writing and became a great friend in the process. Your turn is coming.

To my editor, Madison, thank you for putting up with me, even when I want to use clichés and such. I promise to cause those elusive butterflies with my next project.

To my agent, Jill, without your guidance, Drake and Emery would not exist. Thank you for pushing me to do more.

And last, but not least, to the readers and bloggers who have supported my work, THANK YOU! I never thought I’d be where I am today, and I owe it to you.