I never imagined having a one-night stand would change my life in the most unimaginable and greatest of ways. I can’t imagine my life without April in it. She’s my world. My reason to get up every morning. The woman has given me purpose. Every day with her is better than the last.

I’m always eager to come home to her. Before, I couldn’t imagine coming home every night to one woman, but April keeps me on my toes. I never know what the hell I will walk into. She’s made herself at home now in my apartment. Her love of design has spilled over into every room.

It started when Lisa offered to help her with the nursery.

Once they had painted clouds and animals on the walls, they moved on to redoing the spare bedroom, and now mine.

I like Lisa, but she’s eating up every minute of my woman’s time these days. The renovations on their store are almost complete and they have a warehouse of goods ready to stock the racks and shelves.

The two of them do make a great team. A great team who loves to spend my money. I have no doubt that their business will take off. Karma has several of her friends from New York flying in for the grand opening. If this store does well, there’s talk of them opening a second location in New York.

I warned Lisa that she isn’t sending April to New York if that comes to fruition. I don’t need her cutting in on my time any more than she already does. She’ll have to handle that shit.

When I walk in the door I expect to see my woman lounging with her feet up, but instead, she’s standing in the kitchen, hunched over the counter with Klaire and Brooke rubbing her lower back.

“Is she okay? What’s going on?” Worry etches over my face. Our due date is still two weeks away.

“Just some contractions. We’ve already called the doctor. Could be false labor, so we’re monitoring her.”

My heart jumps to my throat. I could be a father soon.

I go over and see if there’s anything I can do but they all shoo me away, telling me to make sure the hospital bag is by the door and ready to go in case we end up taking her in.

Eventually, Weston comes to my apartment when he doesn’t find Brooke upstairs waiting for him. He calls me pussy whipped, but he’s just as bad as me. It’s the kryptonite pussy. I don’t even look at other women these days. None of them hold a candle to April, the soon-to-be mother of my child. I’ve fallen in love with her.

I haven’t told her those three little words that keep getting caught in my throat. The timing never seems right, and I can’t seem to get her alone for long these days. Everyone loves her and always wants to be around her. I’m glad they all adore her, but I’m ready to have her to myself again.

I don’t know if that day will ever come now because Brooke yells for me to call for the car. It’s really happening. I’m going to be a dad.

Holy fucking shitcake.

Our party makes it to the hospital and only myself and Brooke are allowed in with her. Weston doesn’t seem to mind. I wouldn’t either. The whole birthing scene isn’t really his thing. Brooke’s bursting to have a baby now. She’s got the fever now that she’s been spending so much time with April. It makes me grin, knowing I can give Weston a bunch of shit about it.

April’s contractions are coming minutes apart and there isn’t time to give her an epidural.

She squeezes my hand so goddamn tight I may leave with broken fingers.

Brooke is being her cheerleader, wiping her brow and feeding her ice chips as needed. All I can do is stand here in a stupor as the shock that I’m about to meet my child settles in.

As I stare at April, laying there in so much pain but determined to be brave, the love I feel for her hits me square in the chest.

Everything is happening so fast.

The doctor tells her to push but something is wrong, and the baby isn’t moving like they’d hope. Fear grips me tight as the doctor barks orders and Brooke is ordered from the room.

They need to take April back for an emergency C-section. The cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck and they have to move now.

April squeezes my hand. Her grip is weaker than before. Leaning down to her I brush my lips over hers, hoping she feels the love I have for her.

A nurse escorts me to a surgical prep room where I scrub down and wait to go into the room with April to witness the birth of my child. I’m terrified and nervous.

They keep saying everything is okay, but the way they’re scrambling around. Fucking hell. What if I lose one of them, or both of them? I have to be strong. It’s my job. I’m the goddamn leader of our family.

I shake my head to rid myself of any insecurity. April needs to know that I’m a man who will be there no matter what. I have to be an oak.

When I get into the room April is on a table with a curtain separating her chest and stomach.

I’m positioned behind the top of her head, where I’m able to talk to her and hold her hand.

She grits her teeth and smiles at me just as beautiful as ever but even more so now. Seeing what she’s going through to bring my son into this world has guilt slamming into me. Making me feel like an utter tool for not telling her that I love her. There are no perfect moments. There is no such thing as perfect timing, there’s only life and the moments we live in as we experience them. My timing may be terrible, but we aren’t about perfect timing. The way we met can testify to that.

Looking into her eyes as she stares at me full of hope and determination I tell her what I have been too scared to admit. Because saying the words aloud makes them real. They aren’t words I say lightly.

“Brodie, I’m scared.”

I take her hand and lean down to her ear. “Listen to me. You’re a warrior. A goddess. You are strong and you’re a mother. We can do this together. I’ve got your back. There’s nothing to be afraid of, because I will never let anything happen to you. I love you. And as soon as I get you two home, I’m marrying you.”

Tears stream down her face. Before she can say anything the sound of our son crying fills the air. Happy tears fill my eyes the second I lay eyes on him. He’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

Once he’s been weighed and taken care of, I don’t leave his side while they take April back to sew her up. My eyes don’t leave his body. Not for a second. He’s my responsibility. Everyone stares at us through the glass. I give everybody a thumbs up.

Finally, they take us to a room and everyone spills in. It’s fine for now. They all want to see my boy. But once April is here, I’m chasing them all away. He needs alone time with his mom.

Maxwell sits with Weston and Brooke along with Jenny. My brother’s face lights up when he sees his nephew up close for the first time. I knew he was a softy for kids. Just doesn’t know it yet. I can tell he wants to hold him, but nobody is touching him until April has held him.

Jaxson comes rushing down the hall with some woman following closely behind him. “Who’s that?” Brooke questions Weston.

Weston turns to her and smirks. “His client.”

I don’t even want to know. The nurse comes in and takes my boy to test his hearing and do some other things. She has to practically pry him out of my arms.

* * *

A little while later they bring Charlie back and roll April into the room. I shoo everyone away, promising them they can come back in a bit.

I watch her as she sleeps.

A short while later she wakes up asking to see Charlie.

Charlie. My son.

We decided to name him after my father.

“Was I dreaming, or did you ask me to marry you as our son was being born?” She smiles lazily at me, and she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

“Not a dream.” I take her hand in mine while she clutches our naked son to her bare chest. “I promise to always love and cherish you. So, I will ask you again. Will you marry me?”

“Come here.” She uses all her strength to pull me closer.

I lean down with her hand in mine against her heart, our son on the other side of her chest.

She smiles. “Yes, I will marry you.”