couple.
I’m anticipating Knox’s usual side hug. He surprises me with a full-on embrace, his arms wrapped around my back.
“Love you, Dad.”
Fuck. What is this kid doing to me?
“Love you, too, son,” I manage to croak out.
Charlie’s there when we move away from each other. She lifts up and swipes my cheek with her pink lips.
I draw her into a delicate hug before pulling back to look at her. “This is the most amazing gift. Thank you.” I look at my son. “Thank you both.”
I’ve done so many things wrong in my life. I don’t regret a single one.
Looking around the room at my boys, seeing the way they love their wives and adore their children, lets me know I did at least one thing right, and that was giving them a mom who’d love them enough when my head was up my ass, who’d care for and nurture them when I spent longs hours building up Wellington Enterprises. And when all seemed lost, she brought us all back together again.
Without Amelia, I wouldn’t be here, surrounded with more love than I’ve ever felt in the world. So, sure, I made a ton of mistakes. I also made a lot of damn good choices that led me to where I am today.
Regret means wish for change. And this old man? Wouldn’t change a damn thing.
And four months later, when Knox Nathaniel Wellington IV enters the world, his grandpa holds his grandma in his arms, thanking the heavens that the universe gave his three boys an everlasting, undying love just like his.
The Wellington Way. Love eternally, forever, and without abandon.
Until the end of time.
The End
Biggest Part of Me—Ambrosia
First Time Feeling—Dan + Shay
Pickin’ Wildflowers—Keith Anderson
O.M.G. (I’m All Over It)—Jenn Champion
The Outfield—The Night Game
If You Leave Me Now—Chicago
September—Earth, Wind, Fire
Baby, Hold On—Eddie Money
New Love—Backstreet Boys
Foolish Love—Steve Perry
Superstition—Stevie Wonder
All Out of Love—Air Supply
Stay Awhile—Journey
When Will I See You Again—The Three Degrees
Sailing—Avant
Summerland—The Night Game
Time of the Season—The Zombies
The Photograph—The Night Game
Polaroid—Jonas Blue, Liam Payne, Lennon Stella
Summer Is Over—Jon McLaughlin, Sarah Bareilles
Black Betty—Ram Jam
We Will Dance—Steven Curtis Chapman
Standalone stories for the other couples mentioned in this book can be found at the links below and all are available in Kindle Unlimited!
Incinerate (Knox and Charlie)
Combust (Cohen and Andi)
Conflagration (Branson and Ariana)
Curious about how the whole Wellingtons saga began? Check out Knox and Charlie’s story below!
SHE FUCKED MY BROTHER.
I have to laugh as I hear Jace swear while the other guys suck in their breaths. In all the years I’ve known Jace, I’ve never opened up about the blood-sucking bitch known as Megan Caldwell. The first couple of years after boot camp, he was always going on and on about this supposed dime he had back home, but one night I found myself carrying his drunk ass out of a bar in Germany after he’d found out that she was engaged. The guy was a fucking wreck, and it only confirmed my belief that woman are fucking blood suckers. Ready to suck the life out of you and then leave you high, dry, and heartbroken. Fuck women. Fuck them all.
And that’s my motto. Fuck them all, care about none.
But Jace… He’s an enigma. He loves his woman more than anything. This whole conversation into why I’m so jaded about relationships started when his pansy ass took her damn picture out of his cargo pocket, the same way he does on every mission. His fucking eyes light up when he sees her smile, and although I give him shit, sometimes I think I want that. Then I remember my motto and Megan and I forget about any happily ever after for me.
The past ten years, J. Mac and I have been brothers. We bonded as we worked our asses off to become two of the best EOD specialists in the Army. I was hardened to love when I joined the Army, but in Boot Camp, Jace was a fucking puppy. Alexa this, Alexa that. The guys started calling him Romeo, and I know he loved it, even if he wouldn’t admit it.
When we got stationed at the same post after training, the light in his eyes had faded. All he told me was that she was gone. He was different. He became hardcore on the job. Volunteering for every mission, no matter how dangerous.
Two years later, when we were on R&R in Germany, he finally spilled after too many beers. She was getting married. And he, the bravest soldier I’d ever met, was crying in his beer. That, combined with