Homewrecker Page 12

“Hi,” I say instead, breaking the trance. “How is he?”

  Cade puts down his phone and looks over the back of the couch at me, a smile on his face.

  “He’s good. Starting to move his mouth like he’s eating.”

  I nod, continuing my slow trek to the couch. I’m a little bit sore from pushing that nine-pound baby out of my body, but it could be worse. Crystal was shocked when I didn’t need an episiotomy. Otherwise, the hours have been good. Cade was great with the baby, he was great with me. Not surprising, of course.

  My milk came in this morning, and Bodhi was feeding every two hours.

  It was just about that time.

  Cade moves so he’s no longer lounging, giving me room on the couch to sit beside them. Carefully, after I unlatch the nursing cup of the camisole I’m wearing, he hands me my son and I can’t help but smile at the scrunched-up face the boy makes. Bodhi is getting ready to scream.

  I cradle him in my arms and bring my pinkie toward his mouth. “I know, Bodhi. You were warm and comfy.” I run the tip of my pinkie along his lips until he opens them, rooting at my finger.

  When I first thought about breast feeding, the thought of Cade being witness to it embarrassed me.

  But then the man watched my vagina spread open far larger than his penis ever did to it, and then as a baby’s head popped out.

  I was no longer embarrassed about anything, when it came to Cade. I freely sit next to him right now with one breast engorged and free to the air, as I wait for Bodhi to be ready.

  When his suck grows strong, I adjust him so he can drink from me, instead of suckling on my finger.

  Bodhi lifts his hand and presses it to the side of my breast and I reach for his fingers, curling them over my index finger.

  He’s perfect.

  Cade drapes his arm over my shoulders and leans in, pressing his lips to my temple.

  “I love you,” he says again, not for the first time today.

  Yesterday on the phone, after he first said it, I was too stunned to say it back.

  Yesterday, when he said it again after putting Bodhi on my chest, I was too fixated on my son to say it back.

  Cade didn’t seem to mind.

  But the man deserved to know.

  I tear my gaze away from my son and look at the man who helped bring me out of hiding.

  Brought me out of the shadows.

  Showed me that there were good men, and that he was one of them.

  “I love you too.”

  Our journey may only be beginning, but I had every faith in Cade Alexander Johnston.

  He would see the journey to the very end.

  The End

  for now…

  A Final Word From The Author

  Before sitting down to write Cade and Dylan’s story, I had all of these ideas. This was going to happen, and that would happen, and this is how they’d get together, and that would be the climax of the story…

  But then I realized my idea of their story worked…but only kind of.

  Dylan’s eighteen. I want her to grow up a little bit. I didn’t feel right giving her a “happily ever after” when she’s still so young. So, I was met with a new task:

  Either age her, but that didn’t work with one of the plot points.

  Or give Cade and Dylan a second half of their story.

  Give them some years to grow up.

  Maybe give them another battle, because that’s what life is about—heck, it’s what love is about: getting through those battles, and being better, stronger, on the other side.

  …I’m going to give Cade and Dylan time to grow up.

  I have the next part of their love story ready, but I had to make another decision: a two-part story, or a duet.

  Oh, the decisions.

  It wasn’t made lightly, but obviously I chose the duet side of the coin.

  I figured I’d maybe lose readers by putting a few-year jump in the story (some of you have strong opinions on time jumps! But I love you all for your opinions, lol), or I’d lose readers by writing the story in two separate books.

  To sweeten the pot though, I decided:

  I’m not going to do a preorder for book two.

  I’m going to do a live release.

  And it will be FREE on release day.

  To be given updates on On the Rocks, please fill out this form. You will receive an email one week before release (to be aware it’s coming!) and an email on release day, so you can take advantage of the super limited time FREE price tag.

  Thank you for going on Cade and Dylan’s ride!

  Also by Michelle Minikin

  The Unexpected Series

  Caught in the Act