She laughed and pulled out of my arms. "Oh yeah? Well, you can leave now then. Go get your fish."
"Fuck that. I'm not going anywhere." I stood there, holding my pants in my hands like a goof as I watched her walk down the hall. It was hard to breathe, and I knew what my father had felt for my mother. It was a fearless, reckless feeling. It forced me forward to dance along the edge of the fire and not consider getting burned. No matter what happened. I wanted this time with her, and every day she would give me.
I wanted to raise our son together and try out this fucked up crazy thing called love.
"I get it," I whispered to the emptiness around me. "I see what you meant, and I agree."
My father's voice echoed in my ears from memories past. "I would rather limp across the finish line up above, broken, battered, destroyed by love than dance across never knowing the deepest depths of passion it can provide."
Finally. I agreed.
Ansley and my son were worth it.
Love was worth it.
Epilogue
Eight Months Later
Ansley
"Push, baby. Push." Parks leaned over the top of me, his voice loud and commanding.
"Hush for shit's sake!" I barked at him and glanced down to Jena, my gyno at New York's St. Marks hospital. "Make him get out of here."
"He's always this bossy." She smiled up at both of us and gripped my knees. "Alright. Let's try this again, Ansley. The baby's head is pretty big."
"I wonder why." I panted loudly and gripped Parks’ hand with all of my strength. We hadn't had the baby tested for anything because I didn't want to know if he would have anything wrong until we had him in our arms. I didn't need the stress of worrying that I'd been selfish in wanting him. Nolan's words rolled over me as I squeezed my eyes shut and pushed.
"He's going to be perfect," Parks whispered in my ear as he clung to me. It was as if he knew my deepest fears, but then again of course he did. I'd shared them with him. I shared everything with him. He was my best friend, my partner, my lover.
"I hope so." I clenched my teeth and pushed hard as Jena let out a holler.
"That's it, Ansley. One more. Alright. Push hard for me and we'll have a baby."
I ground down and pushed as pain laced through every part of my body. I collapsed against the bed as the sound of crying filled up the air.
"It's a boy." Jena stood up and held up the little guy as he screamed and thrashed.
"Oh my God." Parks leaned over me, his eyes filled with tears. "A son. You gave us a boy, baby." He kissed me softly several times as his tears ran down his face.
The moment was surreal. We both needed each other so damn bad, but we needed a child as well. A new life to replace some of the old ones we'd lost. A new connector to pull our family together and breathe life into us from then on.
"Come cut the cord, Doctor Parks." Jena smiled over at me. "He's beautiful."
"Looks like his daddy?" I asked and turned a little as Parks moved in to cut the cord. His voice was soft, loving. It wormed its way into my heart and stamped the memory deep inside me forever.
"Hey, little guy. It's your daddy." He turned and laughed as tears rolled down his cheeks. "He fucking looks like Aiden, Ans. We're never going to live this down."
Parks leaned over and kissed the baby's head before walking him over to me and handing him to me. The sweet little thing cooed as I held him in my arms and kissed his face a few times. I cried softly at first and then a little harder.
Jena stepped up and took him from us. "Let me get him weighed and measured. We'll bring him into your recovery room. Good job, mom."
"Thanks." I turned my face toward Parks and reached for him as they finished cleaning me up.
"It's okay, baby." He wrapped his strong arms around me and held me tightly against him.
"I never thought this day would come." I cried against the crook of his neck, feeling so far beyond blessed that I was having trouble comprehending that this was my life.
"You deserve this day and a million more like it, Ans." He moved back a little and kissed my cheeks, collecting my tears on his lips. "I love you so much."
"I love you too." I pulled him back down and held on tightly. My life would be forever changed, and it wasn't because of anything I'd done to deserve it.
It was all thanks to the strong man above me that didn't give up.
Didn't give up on hope, or a second chance.
He didn't give up on me.
****
"Hey, buddy. Did your momma tell you that we're going to name you after my dad? Hmm?" Parks' voice was soft as he walked around my hospital room with our son tucked against his chest.
I'd been nodding off and on all afternoon, my body sore, my mind tattered from the high emotions.
"That's right," he cooed and kissed the baby a few times. "Dillon Raymond Parker. You look like a Dillon. They're always troublemakers. You gonna give the ladies hell when you get older, little man?"
The baby made a few sounds, and I couldn't help but smile. I turned over on my side, and Parks glanced back at me, a smile lifting his lips.
"Hey, baby. How are you feeling?" He walked over and put Dillon in his bed before moving over to me. "Scoot over."
I smiled and moved back, making room for him. "I'm okay. Just really tired."
"You did so good." He got on the bed and pulled me close to him before wrapping his arm around me and kissing me a few times.
"I look like hell, I'm sure."
"You look like my woman. So hot and sexy that I'm getting a hard-on in the fucking recovery room." He smiled and looked like the devil in disguise. "Don't talk about my girl that way."
"Or I'll get a spanking?" I reached up and ran my fingers down the side of his impossibly handsome face.
"You want one, don't you?" He ran his hand down my side and patted my ass. "There. I'll give you a good one once you're healed and ready to start on the next baby."
"What? No way. One is all I need."
"Alright, but we should practice a lot in case you change your mind." He kissed me again in between my giggles.
"You're corrupted." I rested against him and closed my eyes. "We should have gotten married before having Dillon."
"Naw. Too much to squeeze into our lives, but let's do it now?"
I glanced up at the shift in his tone. He smiled and offered me a ring, the large diamond pinched between his thumb and forefinger.
"Jacob." I sat up, almost knocking him off the bed. "You're asking me to marry you?"
"I'm trying to." He laughed and sat up with me. "I want you beside me for the rest of my life, Ans. You were made for me; we just took a long damn time trying to find each other."
I smiled as tears blurred my vision. "I don't want anyone but you."
"Good, cause you are stuck, lady." He reached for my hand. "That a yes on being my wife?"
"Yes." I glanced down to watch him slide the ring on.
He reached for me, and wrapped me in a tight hug, pulling me down to the bed. I growled in pain, but rolled on top of him and kissed him hard. He was everything I wanted in my life, and finally... he was mine.
The door opened, and we both glanced over to see Gwen, Aiden, and Elizabeth stop short of coming in.
"Really?" Aiden shook his head. "Didn't she just give birth? Good God."
"They don't call me Doctor Feelgood for nothing." Parks laughed alongside all of us. He turned and looked up at me, holding me in place. "I love you, Ansley Crawford, and I will forever."
"Yeah, you will." I leaned down and sealed the deal with a kiss.
I had a family that loved me and would support me, but there were missing pieces in the puzzle, holes that left me questioning everything.
Love had a way of overcoming and forcing me to step out into the unknown. And though it was scary as hell, in that place of insecurity and unsureness, I was made complete.
The End…
Age play in a story can be SO much fun. Usually I
see younger females and older men, but we thought this would be fun to switch it around. I hope you fell in love. I know me and Ali did with this book and its characters. I hope you don’t mind me adding in some never before seen stories below for you. We had them sitting around, and I HATE not sharing. So either way… I hope you enjoy.
RAS: We have named my alter ego when I over eat. His name is Trent, and he likes double meat patty bacon cheese burgers with chili fries on the side. He embarrasses me from time to time with his GLUTTONY.
Future Investment - Unpublished Exclusive Story
A Forbidden Fruit Novel
(Co-written and previously published by my sister, Ali Parker)
Dr. Aiden Crawford has reached the pinnacle of his career, but it's come at a steep cost. Three divorces and nothing to show for any of them, he's forced to start considering other possibilities to meet his needs. Being a bachelor forever doesn't sound too bad, but sleeping around isn't a possibility. He needs one woman, who he knows is safe and is willing to be adventurous in his bedroom. He needs a pet.
Elizabeth Jenkins has struggled her whole life. She’s finally through med school and has her residency set up. She’s locked into the low paying gig for the next three years, but couldn’t be more thrilled. The only problem is that she's completely broke, and her student loans have piled up significantly beyond what she's capable of managing.
When Aiden finds out about their newest residence's situation, he's more than happy to accept her offer for a solution. She might be the perfect addition to his life, but secrecy is of the upmost importance. He needs a warm body to snuggle up next to at night, but what he never considered was how quickly she might unravel his desire to stay alone and free forever.
Chapter 1
Elizabeth
"Yes! Yes!" I spun around from the kitchen table where the mail lay strewn about. My fingers shook as they gripped the letter I had been waiting to get for as long as I could remember. "Mom! I got it!"
"Really?" My mom jogged into the kitchen and stopped in front of me. "Oh my God! Let me read it."
I handed her the letter and wrapped my arms around myself as I picked at my lip. I had just graduated a month before after ten long years at NYU. There were only two more steps remaining before I would be a full-fledged doctor. A surgeon.
Chills ran through me as my mother looked up with tears in her eyes.
"Baby, I'm so proud of you. All the sacrifices that you've made and the friendships you've lost. It’s all worth it. Look what you’ve done." She moved toward me and wrapped me in a tight hug as we shared a brief sob session.
I had given up a lot. Far too much.
Being twenty-eight with a deadbeat boyfriend and no prospects of marriage or children were just part of the cost of the path I'd chosen. It was lonely, but made up for in moments of success much like the one I was experiencing. It was far overdue.
"We should celebrate." I moved back and let out a soft chuckle. "I need to call Steph and let her know that I got my residency letter. I'll be working right up the road for the next three years."
"Aren’t you calling Seth? Did you guys break up again?" She put her hand on her hip, and I swore that she thought I was a child.
"No. We're still together. I'll tell him later. I'm going to invite Steph to come with us to dinner. That okay?" I moved toward the guest bedroom in my mom's small house as my heart fluttered. I was one step closer to my dream.
"Yep. Can't do anything without your bestie. I swear you guys will always be inseparable."
We'd never had much money, but we didn't need it. We were laid back and not at all materialistic. Besides, a poor childhood prepared me well for being broke for most of my twenties. Things weren’t going to change much either. My student loan costs were astronomical. They should have named a wing of the medical school after me. The residency wasn't going to pay much, but it would be enough to cover my rent at the apartment with Stephanie. If I needed additional income, I'd get a sugar daddy or another job.
"You wish," I mumbled to myself as I plopped down onto the edge of the bed. Steph's number was at the top of my recent calls, as it should be. I didn't have too many friends in life, but she was all I could handle most days anyway. The girl had more energy than one might consider healthy.
"Hey! Where are you? It's boring as hell here when you're gone." She sounded like she was bouncing around. I just prayed there wasn't a guy beneath her. The woman had no couth.
"I'm at my mom's house. Just picking up my mail."
"Anything good?"
"What are you doing? Do I even want to know?" I pressed my fingers to my forehead and prepared to grimace.
"Trying out a new dance DVD. Get over here and let's boogie-oogie-oogie."
"Right. Not happening." I laughed, unable to help myself. "Get dressed and meet us at the burger place just beside the med building. Mom's taking me to dinner. I figure you might want some food too."
"Yeah, alright. I was getting these moves down far too fast anyway. It's boring when you were made to move."
I rolled my eyes and stood up. "So… I got the letter from St. Mark's Hospital. They've agreed to the matching for my residency."
"What? Oh my God, Liz. That's great news!" Her laugh was full of joy, and it forced a smile onto my face.
"You need to check for yours. It should be in." I walked back toward the kitchen and got a glass of water.
"I'll call my mom when I get in the car. Nothing came here, but nothing ever does. I still don't understand why we had to get an apartment in the worst part of town. We're going to get mugged or kidnapped. That's why we have no mail. The mailman is scared shitless of this neighborhood."
"Alright. Enough out of you, drama major. See you soon.” I dropped the call as she continued to complain about the apartment. We'd been friends since grade school and had no need to be anything other than ourselves around each other.
Stephanie had a million options as to what to study in college, but she'd chosen medicine alongside me. It had always been my dream to save lives in the ER, but some part of me couldn't help but wonder if she simply wanted to be wherever I was, no matter what that meant for her. It was comforting. I was an only child, and Steph was as close as I got to having a sibling.
"You ready?" My mom poked her head into the kitchen.
"Yes. More than ready. I'm thinking that burger place beside the college that I love so much." I walked into the living room and gave her a crooked smile as she groaned.
"I hate that place. Let's go somewhere nice. You deserve a really good dinner. This is big news, so we need a big celebration." She smiled and opened the door, patting my back as I walked through in front of her.
"Mom. Money is tight. We don't need to blow the phone bill on a steak. Seriously." I walked down the dilapidated stairs that needed to be replaced yesterday and turned, making sure to watch her in case the whole damn platform fell.
"Money will always be tight, but one day, my baby girl is going to pay everything off and live the life I've always wanted for her. Right? Give me hope." She winked at me and stopped by her side of the car as her expression tightened. "I'm so proud of you. Your daddy would be too. You know that, right?"
I nodded, not sure I trusted myself to talk around the hot lump of sadness that rose up sharply and lodged itself in my throat. My father should have been there, but the tumor in his head wasn’t caught in time. He was the reason I wanted to become a doctor. No girl should have to bury her father from a misdiagnosis. I would make sure that didn’t happen on my shift, or die trying.
After getting in the car, I buckled up and turned on the radio. I might have only been a few years from thirty, but when I was with my mother it felt like I was fifteen again. I loved it. She did too.
"So a burger for the newest resident of St. Mark's Hospital?" She reached over and squeezed my arm gently before turning on the car and backing out.
"That sounds delicious." I pulled out my phone and let out a sigh. "I should text S
eth."
"You should. He's a great boy, Elizabeth. He's been hanging around you and Stephanie far longer than any man would be expected to. You know he's going to ask you to marry him soon."
"Ugh. No." I ran my fingers through my long chestnut hair and dropped the phone in the cup holder next to me.
"What? Why? He's so good-looking."
"Yes, and he knows it. He's been in love with himself since we were in high school and he lost all that weight. I almost wish he was still patty-jack."
"Elizabeth. Don't call him that. He hated that back in high school and he hates it now." My mom gave me a sideways look as I smirked.
"He's a great guy, but not the guy for me. I should have broken up with him ten years ago, but I'm just not sure I can now. We've been together too long."
"Yeah, but if it's not right, then-"
"Wait. You're confusing me. You just said he was the one for me, and now you're giving me an out? You need meds. I'll examine you when we get to the restaurant, or ask Steph to do it."
"Neither of you is touching me. You might fool all those people at NYU, but I know you both far too well." She pulled into the parking lot of the burger place and turned to look at me. "Honestly; let him go or invite him in. Dating off and on for ten years is a waste of both of your lives."
I nodded and jumped as the car beside us honked loudly. Stephanie waved at me and pointed at Jack before giving me a shit-eating grin. She’d brought him on purpose. I'd have to kick her in the shin later over it.
We got out of the car, and walked to the restaurant as the warm wind of autumn blew across us. Jack reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me back toward him.
"Just a minute." He looked over at my mother and Steph. "We'll be right in. I just want to congratulate my girl."
I pressed my hands to his strong chest as he turned his attention back to me. "I was going to call."
Doctor Feelgood: (A Bad Boy Doctor Novel) Page 16
