We sign off, and I take a few minutes to make a grocery list for dinner tomorrow night. I’ll grill steaks and portabella mushrooms. Freedom loves the mushrooms with loads of grilled vegetables and cheese. She also prefers chopped potatoes in a foil packet over a big baked potato, so I add a few additional ingredients to my list before setting the paper on the counter for tomorrow.
Making sure the doors are locked for a second time tonight, I grab the glass of water and head back to my bedroom. Our bedroom. I set the glass on the nightstand and slip into bed. “Hey,” I whisper, pulling her into my chest.
“What time is it?” she whispers in a sleepy voice.
I run my hand over her head, loving the way the long locks feel sliding between my fingers. “Almost ten thirty. I brought you some more water.”
She yawns. “If I drink that, I’m going to pee for the tenth time since we got home, and I’m tired of peeing.”
I chuckle as she burrows into my side. “You’re tired of peeing?”
“Yes. They pumped me full of a bag of fluids at the hospital, and you’ve made me drink two glasses of water since we’ve been home.”
Home. I love the way she says it.
“How about just part of the glass?” I coax, moving and reaching for the glass. Freedom grumbles but takes the glass from my hand. She ends up gulping more than half the glass. “Jesus, remind me to never challenge you to a chugging contest.”
She exhales loudly as she sets the glass back on the table. “Don’t do that, Sammy. I could chug cheap beer like no other when I was younger.”
We turn on our sides, her back pressed to my front. Freedom yawns again and rests her cheek against my arm. “This is comfy.”
“It’s perfect,” I tell her as I kiss her head. “Go to sleep. We have a big day tomorrow.”
“What’s tomorrow?” she asks.
“Mom is coming over for dinner. We have some big news to share,” I reply, running my hand over her arm.
“Yeah?”
“Yes. Well, you’re okay to tell her, right?” I ask, worrying she isn’t ready to tell people about the baby. I, on the other hand, am ready to scream it from the rooftop.
“Definitely,” she replies through another yawn. “I mean, Harper and Latham know, so it wouldn’t be fair to keep it from everyone else.”
I hug her to my chest. “Good. And I’m going to tell her we’re married, Freedom. I want her to hear it from me, but also that we’re planning a re-do.”
“Well, considering we want to do it on the beach, we should probably let her know,” she teases, but all I heard was do it on the beach.
“Go to sleep, Free. We’ll figure it out tomorrow.”
She sighs. “Okay.” After a few minutes, she asks, “Samuel?”
“Yeah, love?”
“I’m not wearing any panties.”
I groan. “Jesus, Freedom.”
She giggles the sweetest sound. “I’m just saying. It wouldn’t take much to free the willy and slide ‘er home.”
My cock responds immediately, hard and ready to go. “Good night, Freedom.”
“Fine, but I expect to be woken up with your dick between my legs,” she says just as another yawn erupts.
Sighing, I settle in to sleep. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Sammy.”
With a smile on my face, I let myself drift off to sleep, my wife in my arms and our child nestled protectively in her body. This may not be the life I expected, but there’s no other life I’d choose to live.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Freedom
“I’m so glad you called,” Mary Ann says, as Samuel places a kiss on her cheek. “It’s been forever since I’ve enjoyed a meal with you and talked about what’s going on in your world.”
My heart tries to gallop right out of my chest as I think about the bombs he’s about to lay on her.
“And Freedom,” she says when she sees me. Her arms are extended and she immediately pulls me into a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here still.” She glances at her son before adding, “Someone has to keep my oldest in line.”
I chuckle, but it feels awkward. “Well, I appreciate Samuel letting me stay here.” He gives me a look, letting me know he doesn’t really like my answer. Shrugging, I lead the way to the kitchen. “Come on, Mary Ann. Sammy made some delicious dip and crackers.” My stomach growls at the thought of enjoying more dip. He had me taste it this afternoon when he was making it, and I’ve been itching to get more since.
“It smells delicious,” Mary Ann says as she heads to the table.
I dive in right away, but feel bad when I see her looking at me, the slightest hint of a smile on her lips. “Oh, sorry. Guests first,” I mumble over the chip I’m trying to chew.
She waves me off. “Girl, please eat. You’ve always had a hearty appetite when you’d come over as a child.”
If she only knew…
Samuel clears his throat and joins us at the table. He’s wearing a collared polo shirt, a look that’s much more casual than his usual suit and tie, but looks amazing just the same. He’s in a pair of nice Dockers, which make his ass look amazing. He gives me a look, as if he knows I’m objectifying him in my head. I grin as he takes a seat and filling up my small plate with yummy snacks.
“So, there was something I wanted to tell you. A couple of things, actually,” he says to him mom.
“Oh, yes,” she replies, sitting up straight in her chair.
“You know the night before Harper and Latham’s wedding, we all went to the magic show? Well, when you and the Douglases went back to the hotel, we all went to a club and celebrated.” Mary Ann nods her head. “Anyway, Freedom and I, well, we went out. Alone.”
She glances my way and smiles, looking as cool as a cucumber. While I feel
