Crushed (Breaking the Rules Series Book 5) (14 page)

“Wake up, Mommy,” I yawn sleepily.

The morning sun isn’t even up yet, but our Tyler is. His wide eyes are intent on staring me down. After I changed him and fed him this morning, we were ready for some family time.

I crawl into bed with him and lay him between us. Andi peeks an eye open and smiles when she sees Tyler. Her smiles are golden—perfect.

“Good morning, boys,” she murmurs and reaches over to touch Tyler.

Seeing her accept him has been such a fucking joy. I know that it’s hard for her. The sadness always lingers in her eyes, but happiness shines there too. He makes her happy

He makes us both happy.

“Jackson?” Andi suddenly questions with tears in her eyes.

Reaching over, I stroke her hair. “Yes, gorgeous?”

“What if . . . What if . . .” she trails off tearfully.

I frown, worried she’s somehow relapsing.

“What if we can’t have any more kids?”

My lips curve into a half-cocked grin. “Don’t you worry about that, baby. This little guy is going to keep us quite busy.”

Her lip quivers. “But what if he wants to play with someone? And we can’t give that to him?”

I lean over him to kiss her forehead. “Then we’ll get him a puppy.”

She rolls her eyes in exaggeration.

Grinning, I press my lips to hers before speaking. “Andi, don’t stress. He has plenty of cousins to get into trouble with. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

This time, she seems semi convinced.

“Besides,” I say softly, “Tyler came into our lives when all hope was lost. In our darkest hour, when our hearts were crushed, he came to us and glued all the broken pieces back together again. As long as we have each other, we can handle anything.”

Her eyes glisten with happy tears. She likes my answer. And it’s a good thing, because it’s the damn truth.

“A puppy. And cousins,” she murmurs as if she’s now convincing herself that it will be okay if we never have another child.

“Yep. And me. The kid is going to have the coolest friend of all—me. Like, seriously . . . have you seen my Harry Potter collection? It’s epic. Tyler is going to have a heyday when he gets older.”

She giggles and playfully swats at me.

We’re going to be just fine.

As we move on to chatting about simpler topics and thus beginning what will become a lifetime routine of family morning pillow talk, I know something without a shadow of a doubt.

We’re going to be more than just fine—we’re going to be fucking perfect.

Six years later . . .

Holy shit. My back aches so damn bad. Whose idea was it to come to this godforsaken, huge-ass theme park in the middle of August?

My husband—that’s who.

I want to get angry or whine or cuss, but I don’t. I don’t because everything he does is for us—all of us. Like this entire vacation, for instance. He planned it very carefully, down to the matching shirts we’re all wearing. Of course, this vacation centered around the Harry Potter Theme Park in Orlando, but I had to throw him a bone.

Besides . . . that’s his and Tyler’s thing.

My sweet boy has all of the books memorized by heart, just like Daddy.

“My feet hurt,” Tatum whines.

I swipe a stray bead of sweat from my brow before putting the brakes on the stroller and looking down at my daughter. Shoes are
her
thing. Just like Mommy.

“Want to put your tennis shoes on? Good thing I brought them,” I chide as I dig around in the diaper bag for her shoes.

When I stand back up with them, I can’t help but smile at her. Tatum, with her shoulder-length, dark hair, is a spitting image of Jackson. She resembled Thomas so much when she was born that it was almost too painful to look at her at first, but at the same time, I couldn’t look away.

Tatum slips her princess shoes off and chucks them at me. Her one-year-old little sister in the stroller, Tegan, throws her juice cup back at her.

“Mom! Tegan threw her juice at me,” she whines. Her dark brows are furrowed angrily as she points in accusation at her sister.

I bite my lip to keep from laughing. “Tegan,” I warn. “Be nice.” Then I pull the shade of the stroller back and peer down at her.

She is tilting her blond, pigtailed self backwards and grinning the goofiest toothy smile I’ve ever seen. God, she’s so damn cute!

Six years ago, when I was drowning in a sea of despair, I would have laughed in your face if you would have told me that this is how it would all turn out. That, just months after we lost Thomas and welcomed Tyler into the family, we’d become pregnant with Tatum against Dr. Ellis’s wishes because it was so soon. That, nine months after that, we’d bring a healthy little girl into the world. And then, a few years later, do the same with Tegan.

I.

Would.

Have.

Laughed.

But now, as I watch my two daughters bicker in the blistering heat of the August sun in the middle of a Harry Potter fan’s dream, I just smile.

This life is perfect.

I’m about to see if we can find my boys when two skinny arms hug me from behind.

My Tyler.

“Mom, we brought you a present!” he chirps lovingly against my sweaty back.

This boy is my saving grace. He’s one hundred percent mine just like my girls are.

“What’s that, Ty?” I ask when he peels himself from me.

I turn and see Jackson holding a drink carrier full of cherry Icees. My boys know me well. When they both grin at me with proud-as-punch smiles, I want to melt—right here in the middle of this theme park. Not because I’m hot, but because my family warms my heart like nothing in this world can.

“I thought my baby might be thirsty,” Jackson grins with one eyebrow cocked. His arm circles my waist and he pulls me in for a quick kiss.

“You’re squishing your thirsty baby,” I whine, but it’s all in fun. I’ll never tire of his arms around me—of his intoxicating kisses.

He steps back and his eyes peruse my body. “Tell him Daddy’s sorry,” he chuckles as he lovingly pats my belly.

This.

Jackson.

My babies.

All of it—even the Harry Potter background.

I finally have my happily ever after.

THE END

A big thank you goes out to my husband, Matt. This story is especially close to my heart as we dealt with miscarriage like poor Andi did. My husband was my shoulder to cry on and kept me going when I didn’t have the heart in me to go any more. Jackson’s character was modeled after my real life hunky, super husband. Honey, my heart will always be yours!

I want to thank the beta readers on this book, whom are also my friends. Nikki McCrae, Anne Jolin, Wendy Colby, Dena Marie, Elizabeth Thiele, Lori Christensen, Michelle Ramirez, Shannon Martin, Amy Bosica, Holly Sparks, Sian Davies, and Elizabeth Clinton, you guys provided AMAZING feedback. You all gave helpful ideas to make the story better and gave me incredible encouragement. I appreciate all of your comments and suggestions.

I’m especially thankful for the Breaking the Rules Babes. You ladies are amazing with your support and friendship. When I hear about catty and nasty street teams, I chuckle. I know our group is nothing but sweet, loving women that care for one another. I’m truly blessed to have you all in my life!

Mickey, my fabulous editor from I’m a Book Shark, thank you for once again being the bomb at what you do. I can’t thank you enough for how awesome you are! Love ya!

Thank you Stacey Blake for working your gorgeous magic and for being such a great wino friend. Love you!

Lastly but certainly not least of all, thank you to all of the wonderful readers out there that are willing to hear my story and enjoy my characters like I do. It means the world to me!

I’m a thirty three year old self-proclaimed book nerd. Married to my husband for eleven years, we enjoy spending time with our two lovely children. Writing is a newly acquired fun hobby for me that has now turned into a livelihood over the past year. In the past, I’ve enjoyed the role as a reader. However, I have learned I absolutely love taking on the creative role as the writer. Something about determining how the story will play out intrigues me to no end.

This writing experience has been a blast and I’ve met some really fabulous people along the way. I hope my readers enjoy reading my stories as much as I do writing them. I look forward to connecting with you all!