“That’s true.”
“Our moms are going to alternate watching him. I start back to work tomorrow.”
“If that’s what you want, of course, I’ll support you,” he says.
“Thanks,” I say.
“I mean it. I didn’t mean to belittle the choice. If you want to work, you definitely should.”
“I know. It’s fine. I love you,” I say, rolling over.
“I love you too. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to be.”
“But I am,” he says. I feel him move behind me, his chest against my back. He kisses my neck.
“All right, I forgive you,” I moan. His fingers reach down around my hip and find my wet pussy.
Falling in love with him was easy. So is staying in love with him. My sexy pitcher shows me how much I mean to him every day. The family we’ve started means everything to me, but I won’t survive another day cooped up in this house. I know my limits. Thankfully, he understands mine too. I can’t wait to see what the rest of our lives are like.
epilogue
Javier
ten years later
Ten years and four sons later, I’m retired from baseball. I’m currently the head coach at the local high school now, and I gotta say, being home with Carnie and kids at the end of every day is so rewarding. My team has won the state championship twice in the three years I’ve been coaching.
“I'm home,” I shout, coming into the chaos that is our house. The kids are shouting as per usual. While they don’t actually fight, they do everything loudly. Walking into the living room, I see that they are playing some kind of video game. It's loud and obnoxious—something with skateboards. I didn't know skateboards were still popular. Video games were never my thing, and I don’t get the fascination with them, but it keeps all the boys occupied for hours at a time.
“Where’s mama, Ryan?” I ask my youngest son. He’s patiently waiting his turn. He flips through his comic book.
“She’s taking a bath or something like that,” he says, gesturing to our bedroom.
“Okay. Abuelo is picking you guys in twenty minutes. Shoes on,” I tell them. My dad is taking the boys out to dinner so that I can take Carnie out for our anniversary.
“Yeah, Mama read us the riot act already. We’re ready,” Junior says, not looking up from his game.
“Alright. Give me hugs. We’ll pick you up in the morning,” I tell them as they pile around me.
“Bye Dad,” Jason says. He’s the second oldest, but he might as well be thirty.
“Have a good time with your grandparents,” I tell them just as my dad knocks on the door then opens it.
“Abuelo,” they shout and are gone before I have a chance to say anything to my dad.
Chuckling, I make my way down the hallway to our bedroom. Carnie is sitting on the edge of the bed, putting lotion on. Fuck, she has gotten more beautiful as the years have gone on. She’s still naked from her bath, her hair damp.
“Hey, baby. Happy anniversary,” I say, leaning down to kiss her.
“Happy anniversary to you too,” she replies, smiling up at me.
“I had the whole night planned, but seeing you like this, makes me want to stay in and order pizza like the first night we were together.”
“That sounds nice. Did the boys leave?” she asks, still rubbing lotion on her skin.
“Yeah, just now.” She nods, and I grin at her.
“Well, come here, husband,” she says, moving backward on the bed until she is in the center of it. Stripping down, I join her.
“I love you,” I tell her as I kiss down her body.
“I love you too,” she moans.
Life with Carnie has been amazing, and honestly, it’s just beginning. We have the rest of our lives together. Every day is better than the last, and I can’t see what happens tomorrow.