lights flick on, I see all of my friends and family yelling out surprise. I lose my battle with my tears. There’s a sweet ache that’s blooming in my chest.
“I asked your mom for help. We looked over the layout of your last shop, went over what worked and what didn’t. Julia and Beth-Ann helped us find vendors. Bishop, Landon, and Griffin helped with the flooring and electric. The rest of the guys from the crew helped out, too.”
Slowly, I turn, walking around the space and taking it all in. With black rustic fixtures and white brick inside, the apothecary is chic and all clean lines. It looks upscale and inviting. The pops of color come from the vases of various plants in white marble pots and sunflowers in others. Everything is here. A section of crystals. Other sections of incense, soaps, candles, body oils, you name it.
Everything is perfect.
I rest my hand over the slight bump in my stomach and meet End’s gaze. He’s been watching me like a hawk, waiting to hear what I think. There aren’t words for how incredibly amazing and thoughtful this all is.
“This is…beyond perfect. I don’t even know what else to say. Thank you somehow doesn’t seem like it’s enough.”
Tears swim in my eyes, and I watch as he crosses the distance between us, his gait sure and confident, then pulls me into his arms. He tucks stray hairs behind my ears and caresses my cheekbone. “You don’t need to thank me. You’ve given me so much. This is my way of giving back to you. This place is yours, Selene. Your dream. Live it the way you want to. Just never stop reaching for those stars, baby, and I’ll never stop chasing the moon.”
Bishop sighs. “She’s already pregnant, man. Looking at her like that isn’t going to suddenly fill her up with another.”
I chuckle, cracking a smile. “My wife is hot. What can I say?”
Bishop grunts. “You’re not wrong.”
I shoot him a glare. Even as she bears my child, wears my ring, and has taken my last name as hers, I’m still possessive of this woman. I’m positive I always will be.
My gaze has been glued to Selene ever since I watched that blindfold come undone. I’ve soaked in every second of her reaction to seeing this place. We’ve been working on this for months. Since the night I asked her to marry me, as a matter of fact. We had plans for a big wedding after this little guy is here, but about two months after popping the question, she suggested eloping, and who the hell am I to say no to this woman? I’d take her in any form I could get her.
We got married at the small Catholic church her parents got married in with only our close friends and family in attendance. The rest of Dunsmuir threw us a small reception at the barn. Julia and the guys took care of the decorations for the party and watching my wife’s reaction when she walked into the barn lit up with stars and lights strung from every corner was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever witnessed.
She was a vision. With her long, dark brown hair hanging down her back in a loose braid, it was a stark contrast to her creamy skin and white dress. Julia and Dalia added baby’s breath throughout the braid, and it was the cherry on top. She looked perfect. Like a goddamn angel. With her pale skin and dark hair, decked out in her all-white dress, she looked like the moon. Her dress was perfect. The way it clung to her curves, the satin material was like liquid pearl against her porcelain skin.
That was hands down the greatest moment of my life, saying I do to this woman in front of our daughter. Watching the smile spread across Luna’s face was something I’ll never forget. I’ll love them for the rest of my life. That was my vow. I want to give them the world and then some.
With another five months to go until she’s due to give birth, Selene’s baby bump is still relatively small. It doesn’t keep me from feeling that possessive warmth filter through my chest when she rests her hand there, though. She’s been following Julia and her mom around the store as both of them finish walking her through the list of inventory and all the new additions. She’s fucking beautiful.
She’s always been gorgeous, but Jesus, now