Cocky Striker - Evan Grace Page 0,72
you, bwother. I love it.”
A knock on the door pulls my attention away from my kids. My kids … wow. I never thought this would be my life, but I’m so grateful to have it now.
My parents walk in, and my mom comes toward me with tears in her eyes. “My baby boy has a baby boy of his own.”
I pull her into a bear hug. “Come meet Wyatt.”
“Wyatt? Oh my God, I love it.” She kisses my cheeks before hugging Laken.
Dad grabs my shoulder. “Let’s go for a walk.”
I nod before going to Laken and kissing her on the lips. “I’ll be back.” The smile she gives me is soft and full of love. “I love you, baby.”
“I know. Hurry back.”
I follow Dad out of the room. He wraps his arm around my shoulders. Neither of us speaks as we ride the elevator downstairs. Once we’re outside, I’m a little nervous. I thought he was happy for me.
We sit on a bench, and he slaps my knee. “I just wanted to check on you. You get some sleep last night?”
I nod. “I did. We got up around six when the nurse brought Wyatt in so Laken could feed him. He latched on immediately; he knows a good thing.” I smile.
Dad laughs and throws his arm around my shoulder. “He’s a true Bateman. Fuck, I’m so proud of you. You know, when your mom gave birth to you, I was so scared, but the minute I held your tiny body in my arms it all just felt right. Parenthood isn’t easy, and marriage isn’t easy, but when you have the right partner it’s all worth it. I see good things, Son.”
“Thanks, Dad. If we have half the marriage you and Mom have, I’ll be happy.”
“Let’s head back inside. I need to hold my grandson again.”
***
My son sleeps in my arms, and my wife and daughter are snuggled into my side. We’ve been home with Wyatt for a week, and our families have finally left. I love them all, but I’m glad for it to just be us. We’re getting used to the new us, and I’m loving every exhausted second.
“I love you,” Laken whispers and then kisses my cheek.
“I love you too Daddy,” Ava chimes in. “I love you too, baby bwother.” She bends down and kisses his head.
This right here is the best feeling in the world. I can’t wait to see where life takes us.
Epilogue II
Ava
Twenty years later
I climb out of bed and smile. Today’s my wedding day, and I can’t wait. I met Gabe my senior year of college, and it was love at first sight. Now, two years later, we’re walking down the aisle.
I head down the hall to the kitchen and find my dad leaning against the counter, drinking a cup of coffee. He looks up and smiles. “There’s my girl.” I step into his arms, closing my eyes as he hugs me tight. “Are you sure you want to get married?”
“I’m sure. Gabe’s a good man. He reminds me a lot of you.” I smile up at him. At forty-two he is still handsome as ever. All my girlfriends have always had crushes on him and my brothers, Wyatt and Dylan.
Wyatt looks identical to dad, and Dylan looks more like Mom, but he’s tall like Dad.
“He was a good man until he decided to marry my only daughter.” Dad kisses the top of my head. “Do you want some breakfast?”
“I could eat.”
Mom comes out a few minutes later. She goes right to my dad, sharing a kiss. That’s what I love—they’ve always been free with showing their affection. Let’s not forget the time when I was seventeen. I got home early from an away soccer game and caught them doing it in the kitchen … barf.
She comes over to me and strokes a hand down my hair. “Good morning, my beautiful girl.”
When breakfast is finished the three of us eat together, and it’s just what I wanted this morning—something quiet and relaxing. That’s why my brothers are staying at the hotel with Pop Pop and Mimi Bateman.
Once we’re finished, Mom rushes me off. “Get your shower, then we’ll go get our massages, then hair and makeup.” I don’t miss the tears in her eyes. “My baby girl is getting married.”
I pull her into a hug. “I love you. Thank you for everything, and I mean everything.” I kiss her cheek before heading down the hall to my old room. At the end of the hall is one of my favorite pictures.
Although I only remember bits and pieces, it’s the day my mom and dad got married in a little chapel in Vegas called Fake Weddings Here. I’m in Dad’s arms with Mom snuggled into his side. Both sets of grandparents are gathered around us, and sweet Pixy was at Pop Pop’s feet. I kiss my fingertips before touching the picture and then walk into my room so I can get ready to get married.
***
Laken
Chance holds me close, our legs intertwined in our bed. “Our baby got married,” I whisper against his chest. It was a beautiful service and reception. Our daughter looked like a princess and was so blissfully happy.
“I know. Is it wrong that I didn’t want to give her away? That I wanted to throw her in our car and drive away with her.” He kisses my forehead and runs his hand up and down my arm.
“Gabe’s a good man. He’ll be good to her. We should be thrilled she married someone we actually like.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I grab his face and kissing him, effectively shutting him up.
We’ve been married almost twenty-one years, and I couldn’t have picked a better partner in crime. We were practically babies when we got together, and I’m sure people had their doubts on whether we’d make it, but we showed them. If it’s even possible, I love him more today than the day I married him.
I crawl on top of my husband, and Chance wiggles his eyebrows at me. “Again?”
Caging him in with my hands on both sides of his head, I lean down until our lips are almost touching. “Thank you for being the best partner I could ask for. Thank you for giving us the best life imaginable. You were a cocky jerk, stealing my parking spot, but I’m glad you did it.”
“Baby, I’ve got game. It was all part of my master plan.”
My laugh turns into a moan as my husband goes about showing me all the magic he can do to my body.
The End
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Cocky Striker is a standalone story inspired by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward’s Cocky Bastard. It's published as part of the Cocky Hero Club world, a series of original works, written by various authors, and inspired by Keeland and Ward's New York Times bestselling series.
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-About the Author-
A Midwesterner and a readaholic most of her life until one day an idea came into Evan’s head and a writing career was born. She's a sucker for happily ever afters and loves creating fictional worlds that others can get lost in. She loves putting her characters through the ringer, but loves when they get to that satisfying, swoony ending.
When the voices in her head give it a rest, which isn’t often, she can always be found with her e-reader in her hand. Some of her favorites include, Aurora Rose Reynolds, (the queen) Kristen Ashley, Kaylee Ryan, Natasha Madison, and Harper Sloan. Evan finds a lot of her inspiration in music, movies, TV shows and life.
She's a wife to Jim and a mom to Ethan and (the real) Evan, a weightlifter, a home healthcare scheduler, and a full-time author. How does she do it? She'll never tell.
-Acknowledgments-
First and foremost, thank you to my husband Jim. Whenever I’m on a deadline, you always step in, handling the cooking and cleaning while I work. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you, but I’m sure I’ll think of something.
Kaylee, thank you for always answering my many questions and for just being an amazing person and author.
Evan’s Entourage, my most excellent readers group. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your neverending support and enthusiasm, I love you all.
To Silla thank you for helping make my story the best it could be and for making it look pretty for my readers.
Thank you to Vi and Penelope for trusting me with their wonderful characters. I’m truly honored and hope I did them justice.