by Harlow James
“But he’ll get on a schedule and so will you. You just have to be patient.”
“Uh, I don’t have patience,” I counter, which makes Silas laugh. “And I don’t think that’s going to magically change now that I have a kid.”
“It’s okay. Silas likes control and he won’t have that anymore either now that you have a kid,” Valentina says through a chuckle. “You’ll both adjust, or you’ll just feel like you’re going insane for the rest of your life.”
“Ha. Thanks.”
“Don’t worry, babe.” Silas stands from the arm of the chair he was sitting on and walks over to me, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to my lips. “This parenthood gig? We’re just going to make it ours, right?”
And there goes my heart melting even more for him. “Right.”
God, I love him. I don’t know how I ever thought I could do this without him.
And I truly love his family—well, our family, now.
* * *
“Chloe. I am so fucking glad that you and Silas got drunk and had sex,” Shayla says while staring down at Santino in her arms. “He’s the perfect little human. The only baby that could possibly be any more perfect one day is mine and Wes’s.”
“Couldn’t agree more, babe.” Wes kisses her on the temple and then moves into the kitchen to help Silas and Hayes with the food.
“We’ll just see about that, my friend. This kid is going to be handsome as fuck because his dad is, and then have the smart wit of his mother. He’s going to be a double threat.”
Shayla smirks. “God help all of the women that cross paths with Santino Giovanni De Luca.”
It’s been a few weeks since Santino was born, and my best friend was eager to come pay us a visit. She naturally came to see us in the hospital just after the baby was born, but Silas thought it would be fun to have all of our friends over for dinner, for which he insisted all of the guys would be cooking.
“I, of course, will be teaching him how to talk to the ladies,” Hayes declares as he breads chicken breasts for his famous chicken parmigiana. The man swears he’s perfected the recipe right now, and no one can argue with him otherwise.
“You are not going to turn their son into a manwhore like you were before we got married,” Waverly interjects.
“No one said anything about whoring, Wave. I’m just going to help him with the swagger.”
“Dear lord, please don’t say that word and act like you have any,” Waverly retorts.
“It worked on you, babe,” Hayes fires back.
“No, that was the tequila that clouded my judgment.”
“Yeah, but look at what you got out of it.” He waves his hand up and down his body and smirks at his wife.
“I’m going to have to agree with Hayes, Wave,” Silas chimes in. “Look at what tequila got me.” He tosses his chin in my direction and then winks at me. “Best tequila story ever.”
“I agree.” I stare down at the princess cut diamond on my finger, smiling at the reminder that my clit knew Silas was the one for me before my head ever caught up.
Note to you, ladies: Sometimes you have to trust your clit. It may be smarter than your head or your heart.
“I will have to refrain from sharing my tequila stories,” Wes says, as in plural. “Several of mine did not end happily.”
Shayla moves over to him, still holding the baby, but kissing him on the cheek. “It’s okay, babe. I don’t have a happy tequila story either.” Then she turns back to face me. “So when’s the wedding?”
I nearly choke on my water. “We just had a baby and got engaged…can you give my vagina a moment to heal before we start talking weddings, Shayla?”
She shrugs and starts walking back into the room as the baby begins to fuss. “I was only trying to get an idea of where your head is at.”
“Currently it’s focused on the fact that my boobs are burning from my milk coming in as I listen to my son cry. So bring him over here, please.” I wave her to me and reach for my baby with outstretched arms, intercepting him and then reaching for the clasp on my nursing bra, pulling down the strap of my shirt and bra at the same time.
“Uh, Chloe…what are you doing?” Hayes asks, eyes locked on my chest.
“I’m getting ready to feed my son, Hayes. If giant, swollen tits make you nervous, look away, man.” He lowers his head back down to his precious chicken as I shove my boob in Santino’s mouth and the little guy starts to feast, relief and contentment rushing through me as he does. “Get used to this for a while, Hayes. Who knows, maybe one day Waverly’s tits will get this big too.”
He veers his eyes over to his wife. “I’m knocking you up tonight, woman.”
“Jesus, Hayes.” Wes smacks him on the back of the head. “You’re never gonna learn, are you?”
Hayes finds my eyes again and winks. “Nope. I’m a slow learner.”
“I’m calling it now. Wave and Shayla will both be knocked up within a year.”
“Um, I don’t think so,” Shayla disagrees.
“Nope. You’re both gonna get baby fever from being around Santino, and then your ovaries will start yelling at you.” I peer down at my baby again, breathing in a sigh of serenity.
“Wanna bet on it?” Silas asks from the kitchen as I swing my head in his direction, grinning in shock at the man.
“You wanna make a bet against me?”
He shrugs with a snarky smile on his face. “Yup. I think watching us go through the first year of parenthood is only going to deter our friends from joining the parenting club.”
I chuckle and then reach out my free hand. “Fine. You’re on, Mr. De Luca.”
And as he walks toward me, the heat of his gaze searing my skin, I realize what I just called him—a name he rather prefers for me to use in bed.
Four more weeks and we can revisit those moments, a reunion I’m both looking forward to and insanely terrified of at the same time.
I laugh at my fiancé and baby daddy, and then sit back and watch my friends—my family—move around each other and talk about any and everything as I hold my son in my arms.
I never thought I’d have this. I never thought I’d want it.
But now—I know I would never want to live without it.
Growing up without parents always made me feel like I was missing out on something, even though I knew my parents weren’t good people and their selfish decisions ultimately left me alone.
But then I met Shayla, and I found the other part of my soul in another person. She became my family, my support, the only person I could count on.
And now I have Silas, and in him I found the other half of my heart—the piece I didn’t think was missing, but now I know was vacant, just waiting on him.
And then my heart doubled in size the moment I met my son.
It was a rocky road to get here, full of self-doubt, buffalo wings, and irrational reactions. But I wouldn’t change this journey for anything.
I now have a purpose. I now have love. And I now have a family of my own.
Epilogue
Silas
One Year Later
“Oh my God, you guys!” Chloe comes running up to me, two churros in one hand, and a corn dog in the other that is also holding her mouse ears to her head as her wild curls bounce with each one of her steps, her legs carrying her toward me with the biggest fucking smile on her face.
Worth every penny and all of the stress that went into planning this trip just to see her happiness right now.
“I’m eating a Disneyland corn dog.” She tears into the crunchy treat in her hands as she comes to a stop in front of me, moaning as she closes her eyes. “It’s better than I imagined.”
Shayla slaps me on the shoulder. “Sorry to break it to you, Silas…but I think Chloe found a wiener she likes more than yours.”
“Not possible,” Chloe says when she finishes chewing. “The corn dog does come in at a close second, but Silas’s dick will always be number one in my eyes.” She leans i
nto me, presses up on her toes, and then smashes her lips to mine, allowing me to taste the sweetness of the breading of her corn dog on her mouth.
“Good to know, babe.” I kiss her back just as Santino starts to grow frustrated in his stroller, kicking his chubby little legs out in a panic.
“Mamma! Mamma!”
Chloe rips off a piece of a churro with her teeth, hands me all of the food, and then moves down to grab our son as she chews, freeing him from his confines. I knew it was only a matter of time before he was itching to get out of the stroller. The little guy never sits still—sort of like his mom.
“Bambino!” she exclaims, lifting him up and tossing him in the air, eliciting a round of giggles from him as he flies over her head and lands back in her arms. “Can you say Disneyland? Disneyland?”
“Da!”
“Close enough.” She kisses his forehead and then starts walking toward the castle so we can get the classic picture-in-front-of-the-castle shot.
But I’m too busy capturing the sight of my wife and my kid with the biggest fucking smiles on their faces on my own camera. My son and his dark hair and green eyes he got from his mother. My wife and her sweet ass, her curves that have only hypnotized me more since she had our child.
“I’m so jealous right now,” Waverly says as we follow Chloe, Wes, and Shayla.
“Soon, sweetie. How you doing there?” I ask as Waverly and Hayes walk beside me, her waddle getting more pronounced the further along we go.
“This trip better put me into labor, Silas. I have no problem pushing this kid out in the magical kingdom. I’m sure Sleeping Beauty’s bed is in that castle, all ready to go too.” She points up to the tallest tower.
“I know you’re near the end, but it really means so much that you guys are here.”
“Santino will never remember this, but Chloe is fucking loving it, so I’m glad I’m here too.” She looks up and smiles at me. “You did good, Silas. I always knew you’d do right by her. And lord knows she has to be a delight to be married to,” she teases.
Chloe and I tied the knot a few months ago on the balcony of the Al Forno in Goleta. We didn’t want some extravagant wedding, but something small and intimate, just our family, which included our best friends. The night I took Chloe to the opening of the restaurant was the night I realized I wanted more with her, so when I suggested we get married on the patio overlooking the ocean, she agreed wholeheartedly.
But I knew after Chloe mentioned her dream of going to Disneyland back when she first moved in with me that I would be taking her here one day, so I figured what better way for us to celebrate our son’s first birthday and our marriage than by making another one of her dreams come true.
Little does she know, this is only the first stop on an epic Disney lover’s trip that includes visits at all eleven of the Disney parks all over the world. In three days we’ll be boarding a private plane and taking off for over a month, staying at each location with our son and our nanny in tow.
I can’t remember the last time I took a vacation, and I know for a fact I’ve never been able to travel the world with someone I love more than life itself. My vice president and Nonna agreed to look after everything while I’m gone, so I’m counting on them to keep things running.
But life is short. We never know when things will change, and I didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime with my girl and my son.
Chloe will be leaving her business behind too. She was eager to get back to work after Santino was born, but she wanted to expand her business to help more college kids like Daniela, the girl we hired when Chloe got pregnant and ultimately became an incredibly trusted and valued employee. She knew how hard it was to make a decent living in your twenties, especially in an expensive town like Santa Barbara, so she reached out to Daniela to see if she knew anyone else who would be willing to work for her business.
Now, Beggin’ for More, Chloe’s official dog-walking company, employees more than twenty students from local colleges who manage over two-hundred clients, making her a full-fledged business owner, and I could not be more proud of her.
However, that meant hiring someone to help with Santino, so we hired Anna on as our nanny about eight months ago, and welcomed her into our family too.
I think the fact that Anna is very happily married to a woman was a key factor in hiring her though. To quote my wife, “At least I know she won’t try to be all over your dick, Silas. I’d hate to Lorena Bobbitt your ass or end up as one of those celebrity couples where the husband ends up sleeping with the nanny.”
Everyone was happy with that decision—especially me. And we’ll be bringing her and her wife along on this trip of a lifetime, paying her handsomely, of course so that Chloe and I can have some time to ourselves along the way as well.
Shayla turns around to face me, walking backward as she does, cradling her own small bump. She and Wes found out that they’re expecting just a few months ago. “You have made her so fucking happy, Silas. I love you both so much.” Tears start to build in her eyes. “Great and now I’m crying again.”
“See! I told you. You have no control over your hormones, Shayla. You guys all thought I was crazy every time I cried, but now you get it,” Chloe calls back at her over her shoulder.
Shayla nods as we wait for the family in front of the castle to move out of the way so we can get our picture taken next. “I’m sorry for ever giving you crap.”
“The immature thing to do right now would be to smack you upside the head and knock some sense into you, but I’m not going to do that. I’m trying to set an example in front of my son.” Chloe kisses Santino’s head and then smirks over at her friend.
“Yes, I know. You were right.”
“You hear that, Silas,” Chloe says as she turns to me. “I was right.”
“I’m aware, Chloe. Happy wife, happy life.”
“Damn straight.” She blows me a kiss and then we move into position as the photographer encourages us to move closer. “And I was also right about our bet.”
That’s right. I bet against her and lost, obviously.
“Alright, everyone. Smile and say Disney!” The photographer prompts as we shout out the word and Santino screams with excitement, babbling on about something that no one can decipher when we’re done.
“Look, you’re really cute, but I have no idea what you’re saying, little man,” Chloe says and then perks up. “Oh my gosh, you guys! We have to go on the Finding Nemo ride next! Santino is gonna love it!”
“This pregnant lady is going to sit that one out, but I’ll be nearby eating some ice cream,” Waverly replies.
“That’s fine. Take it easy. We’ll be back in a few.”
I struggle to keep up with Chloe and our kid as she hightails it over to the ride we designed Santino’s nursery after, leaving our other friends behind.
And as we sit in the yellow submarine and watch the magic of the ride through our son’s eyes, Chloe glances over his head at me and smiles, her eyes glistening with tears.
“I love you,” I mouth over Santino’s head.
“I love you more,” she mouths back.
“Not possible.”
“Anything is possible, Silas,” she tells me. “You just have to believe.”
THE END
Thank you SO much for reading Chloe & Silas’s story! And if you loved it, PLEASE consider leaving a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.
Acknowledgements
This is it! The end of another series and this one was SO unexpected but damn, am I proud of it! I remember sitting on that beach in Santa Barbara when the idea for a book taking place there sparked in my mind. And then the idea started to form. My broody and broken billionaire Wes started speaking to me, and I got that giddy feeling again like I did with Tangled.
I remember coming home and telling my best friend L, and she was pumped about the idea too. After a few conversations, I started typing on My Unexpected Serenity, and the rest was history.
This series, these characters, will always be something I’m most proud of. Wes & Shayla, Hayes & Waverly, and Chloe & Silas will always be a part of me, and I love them all in their own unique way. These stories pushed me to be a better writer and storyteller. This series pushed me to incorporate more comedy in my writing without lacking the heart that my readers have come to expect from me too. And it showed me to listen to my heart and write where it takes me. I had an entirely different series planned after Emerson Falls, but this one spoke to me, so I went with it… and I am SO glad I did.
I’m not sure what’s next. I have several ideas, two unfinished books waiting on my computer, and a brain that needs a break, but I’m sure my heart will speak to me again with which direction I need to go. All I can say is THANK YOU for taking this journey with me, for reading my words when there are SO many books and authors to choose from, and for giving me joy in a hobby that I honestly love.
To my husband: your support and love are everything. I will never take you for granted, and I appreciate you for everything you are and everything you give me.
To L: This journey has been a wild one, and I am so grateful it is you by my side. You celebrate my success and mistakes right along with me. I couldn’t do this without you. I love you.
To my beta readers, ARC team, and my readers, both old and new: Thank you for taking a chance on a self-published author. Thank you for sharing my books with others. Thank you for allowing me to share my creativity with people who love the romance genre as much as I do.
