Love's Unexpected Gift

by Toby Wise

  My lips spread out into a wide smile as the words fully hit me. “You’re pregnant?”

  “Yeah,” she says, nodding. She digs into one of the gift bags, pulling out a sonogram picture, handing it to me. I lean over so Hayden can look at it too.

  “Oh my gosh,” I whisper, my entire being filing with wonder. “God. I wish Tristen and Jeff were here to see this.”

  “Me too,” Hayden whispers. “They’d be so fucking proud.”

  My fingers lace with Hayden’s as we both turn to our girl, pulling her into a hug. “We love you so much,” I say, my voice almost breaking with emotion. “We’re so proud of you.”

  “I love you, too. You’ve always been the best dads and now it’s time for you to also be the best grandpas.”

  I wrinkle my nose. “I hate that word. Makes me feel so old.”

  Hayden lets out a laugh. “Maybe you can be Papa,” he suggests.

  “Yeah. That works for me.”

  Looking around at everyone’s happy faces, our family growing a little more, I can’t help but feel like the luckiest man alive. I have my mate by my side, my baby girl glowing with joy, my best friends walking through life with me. If Jeff and Tristen were around, they’d be happy for me, I think.

  I stand up from the couch, walking over to our mantle. I gently set the sonogram picture down. On the left, there’s a picture of Jeff and Tristen in the hospital, baby Emma having just been born. Then there’s a picture of the five of us, all smiling at the camera. Next to that is the photo from the day we officially adopted Emma, all of our faces bright and happy. The story of our life, all catalogued right here in front of me. My heart has never felt so full.

  I’m so lost in thought, I don’t even notice everyone moving to the dining room until Hayden nudges me. “Penny for your thoughts?”

  I smile at him, running my thumb over his mating bite, loving the way it makes him shiver even after all these years. “Just thinking about how lucky I am. There was a time I never thought I’d get all of this, didn’t think I’d get you.”

  “Well I’m here. And I’m here to stay.”

  I snort. “I figured that already. It’s been over twenty years. If you were gonna run away I’m sure you would have by now.”

  “True,” he says, pursing his lips. “Especially when you started going grey and your knot stopped popping every time we slept together.”

  “Oh my god!” I cry as Hayden lets out a loud belly laugh. He runs towards the kitchen, laughing as he goes. I’ll think of a way to get him back tonight after everyone’s left. Although, it’s more likely that everyone but Emma will drink too much wine and end up crashing here. In the morning, Hayden will make everyone a huge breakfast, forever loving to be the hostess with the mostest. And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  Twenty two years of being mated down. Hopefully many, many more to come.

  -The End-

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you so much to Kirk for your beta readings! I couldn’t do this without you finding my plot holes and your encouraging words. Thank you to Charlie. You’re my sounding board, my cheerleader, and the one who reminds me I can do this when I feel like hitting my head against the wall.

  And especially thank you to my readers. I literally couldn’t do this without you all. You allow me to do what I love and for that I’m forever grateful.

  More From Toby Wise

  A Collection of Strays Series

  Before Fate: A Collection of Strays Prequel

  Ageless Fate: A Collection of Strays Book One

  Touching Fate: A Collection of Strays Book Two

  Fate’s Perfect Timing: A Collection of Strays Book Three

  About the Author

  Toby Wise is a stay at home parent who hails from a small town in Wisconsin. They grew up loving to write but fell away from their passion once they became an adult. Thankfully, the world of fanfiction drew them back, forcing them to write about a pair of idiots falling in love (and sometimes engaging in acts of debauchery). As they started up their journey of writing once more, they realized there were a plethora of characters in their head that needed their story told, birthing ‘A Collection of Strays’.

  When Toby isn’t writing fanfiction or original books, they’re likely chugging coffee and shaking their head at their kiddo.

  Come Find Me

  Facebook: Toby Wise

  Twitter: @tobywisewrites

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  Facebook Group: Toby’s Wiseasses