Love, Milo
: Epilogue

Five years later

I watch as my husband rises from between my legs.

The distant sound of children partying leaks through the bathroom door from the backyard. Finished with tying my heels over my calves, Milo grips my hips and brings me close to his groin.

‘We have a few minutes before everyone starts to wonder where we are. You know that, right?’ He drops his head and kisses on my neck, sucking the skin that makes my legs weak to the bone.

‘They… need me,’ I tilt my head, giving him more access despite my words.

‘I need you,’ he whispers, warm breath fanning against my skin. ‘Desperately.’

He picks me up and sits me on the sink, where my legs wrap around his torso. My body erupts into flames, and the self-control in me struggles not to rip the white dress shirt off his body.

He arches my back, leaning me back towards the mirror behind us.

His head lowers, and his mouth glides across my cleavage, palming one of my breasts and kissing the other over my sundress.

I press my head into the mirror and moan out his name.

‘We can’t, Mi—’

His hand creeps up under my dress and grips my thigh. ‘A dangerous dress, Raelynn.’

I bite my lip. ‘Maybe That’s why I chose it.’

He laughs and smirks, shaking his head. ‘Of course it is. Wouldn’t be you without a little lease, would it?’

I shake my head. ‘Nope.’

I look down at my stomach at the obviously noticeable bump. I’ve been hiding in sweaters and Milo’s clothes for so long I almost forgot how big my stomach has gotten.

‘Trying to get me even more pregnant?’ I joke.

‘If I could, you’re damn right.’

He gently lays his hand on my stomach and presses his forehead against mine before rising to kiss it. ‘I love all three of you.’

‘We love you too,’ I whisper back, blinking away the tears in my eyes.

Why am I so emotional, Jesus Christ? It must be this little human baking in me making me like this.

And at the right time, my stomach shifts just slightly, but enough for Milo to gasp and take his hand away.

Fear crosses his face. ‘Did I hurt you? I’m so sorr—’

I shake my head, bringing his hand back. ‘No, that was them! They moved. You just felt a kick.’

He watches my stomach like it’s the most fascinating thing in the world. Which it is; pregnancy is incredible, even though I’m strolling through hell for nine months.

‘That was the little one?’

I nod, ‘Mhm.’

He laughs. ‘I want to feel it again.’

I only giggle. ‘It’s random, really—’

‘Mommy! Dad!’ Haven, the birthday girl, voice breaks through our quiet time. ‘Where are you guys? Can I go to the bouncy castle, please? I promise I won’t throw up this time!’

Milo and I cackle to ourselves, remembering when Haven vomited inside the bouncy castle this morning after eating her large birthday breakfast. It’s our fault for letting her go in so early on.

Milo kisses my lips and opens the door, jump scaring the little girl with brown kinky hair and a pretty dress on the other end.

‘Dad!!’

‘Come here,’ he runs and scoops her up, twirling her around like the princess she is.

Four years ago, Havens’s biological father passed away from a natural death.

With no family to take her in, Milo stepped in with adoption. He made sure it was what she wanted—for us to be her parents. And considering how loud and frantically she pleaded yes that day, it’s safe to say she had no problem at all with it. And we were happy to have her as our daughter.

Haven Lenard.

Today, being her tenth birthday party, we decided to throw her a party with all her friends from school who are giving my parents and my sisters his most likely.

‘You can go to the bouncy castle,’ I say. ‘As long as Milo goes with you.

She looks at Milo with pleading eyes, and Milo sends a glare my way.

I giggle.

‘Please, Dad?’

‘Alright then…’

‘YES!’ Haven drops from his arms and grabs him, pulling him urgently towards the backyard.

I follow them out, leaning against the doorframe to watch Milo get bombarded by my tiny humans all the way to the bouncy castle.

It’s funny, sometimes, knowing that Milo would do absolutely any and everything for us, his girls. The word no early leaves his mouth to her, and when it does, her pouty face changes that answer faster than I can.

‘You look happy,’ Mom says.

Me and mom have been working on fixing our relationship over the past few years.

We’ve done pretty well.

Although the past won’t change, the future can, and we’ve made the best of what we have.

I’m glad to have her in my life still.

‘I am,’ I respond.

‘He’s amazing with kids. A great father.’

‘Yeah, well, the perks of marrying a first-grade teacher,’ A breathy laugh leaves me. ‘He’s a natural. I just hope I get better at it all.’

She places a hand on my stomach. ‘You’re a great mother, Raelynn. To haven and eventually to this one right here.’

He pauses before continuing. ‘You’ll be a hell of a lot better than I had, that’s for sure.’

I give her a sympathetic smile, knowing how sorry she’s been over the years and how desperately she tries to make up for it all. and I admire her determination. It reminds me of Milo.

‘Mom!’ I look away at Haven running to me with her hands behind her back.

‘Yes?’

‘I have a surprise for you.’

‘What is it?’ I bend down as far as I can to her height, and without any time to react, I’m squirted in the face with a small water gun.

I gasp, and Haven giggles and runs away to where Milo stands, walking towards us, smirking.

Definitely his idea.

He’s lucky I have zero makeup on it I’d be killing him right now.

As Milo approaches me, my mom chuckles and walks away to deal with the kids.

‘Well, don’t you have yourself a little minion?’

He grips my waist with one hand, rubbing the water off my face with the other.

He kisses me for a long time, cupping my head in his palm and then pulling away before any of the kids see.

‘I just needed an excuse to return and kiss my beautiful wife.’