Zane & Lucky’s First Christmas (Forever Love #3.5)(31)
Author: J.S. Cooper

“That does sound like a perfect moment.” I lay down next to her, allowing our shoulders to touch, even though it only sensitized my nerves and made me want to touch more of her.

“There were some many times that I could taste my happy ending, but it never happened.” She sighed. “I know I sound ungrateful and I shouldn’t. My foster family was great, they loved me in their own way, but I never really felt special you know. The special feeling that every child should feel.”

“You’re special to me.” I whispered.

“I know.” Her voice was soft. “You’ve made me feel that. I’m just trying to accept it you know.” She turned onto her side and stared at me. “I don’t want to waste this moment. I don’t want to feel sorry for my failed childhood, when I have you right here making better memories for me. Memories greater than I can even have imagined.”

“Let me have your hand.” I took her hand in mine and placed it against my heart. “Close your eyes.” I commanded her and waited for her eyes to close before I closed mine. “Can you feel my heart beating?”

“Yes.” She said softly.

“Each beat of my heart beats for you.” I spoke slowly. “I don’t want to waste a moment of my time with you. Neither of us knows what life will bring us. But right here, right now, my heart beats for you and only you. I’m not going to lie, I’m worried, Robin. Skylar is on my mind all the time now. I’m scared I’m not going to be a good father. I’m scared that I’m being selfish in wanting a relationship with you, while I’m still trying to adapt to being a new father. I’m also scared that Skylar is going to become attached to you and you’re going to leave us. And that’s not only going to break my heart, it would break hers as well. But I’m letting all those worries go. Because right now, in the here and the now, my heart beats for you. My lips smile for you. My eyes shine for you. And these are the memories I want to make.”

“These are the memories I want to make as well.” She whispered and I felt her lips on mine. I slowly opened my eyes and saw tears glistening in her beautiful brown-green eyes as she stared at me.

“My childhood wasn’t great either.” I sighed and tried to erase the image that popped in my mind of my mother. “But we can’t change our past, we can only create a present and a better future.”

“Our pasts don’t have to shape us, I guess.”

“No, our pasts can shape us. We just can’t let them keep us down and stop us from dreaming and going after what we want. Nothing should stop us from trying to live our dreams.”

“Not even failed dreams huh?”

“Failed dreams should make us try even harder to achieve the next one.” I grabbed her face and kissed her hard. “Because failure isn’t what shapes us, it’s what we do after we fail.”

“You’re so wise.” She stared at me in wonder.

“Not really.” I laughed. “I think I get it from my brother.”

“Zane?” She looked surprised.

‘Yeah,” I played with her hair as we spoke. “Everything that I am is thanks to my brother.”

“I thought you were the brave one, the do-gooder?”

“Not really.” I shook my head. “I mean I try, but I wouldn’t be half the man I was if it wasn’t for him.”

“Is Uncle Zane coming, daddy?” Skylar ran over and plopped down next to me and my heart stopped beating at her words.

“I don’t think so.”

“Oh, I wish he and Aunty Lucky could have come as well.” She reached for another Oreo and I sat up and grabbed the bag.

“No more Oreo’s after this one. You can have some grapes if you’re still hungry.”

“But I want another Oreo, daddy.” She pouted as crumbs fell onto her shorts.

“No more.” I shook my head, but I couldn’t stop myself from grinning. I looked over at Robin, who had sat up as well and she was smiling back at me tenderly.

“Do you want to put your daisy crown on now?” Robin picked up the ring of daisies and placed it on Skylar’s head. “You’re a real Queen now.”

“No, I’m a Princess.” Skylar shook her head as she danced around. “Daddy’s the King and you are the Queen. Uncle Zane is the Duke and Aunty Lucky is the Duchess. And Uncle Leo is the Court Jester.”

“I’m sure he’d love to hear that.” I laughed and grabbed my phone as it rang. “Hello, King Noah here.”

“Noah?” The voice was sharp and my blood ran still.

“This is Noah.”

“It’s Monica.”

“What do you want, Monica?” I was short and I noticed both Skylar and Robin pausing and staring at me with worried expressions.

“I’m calling to see how my sweet pea is doing of course.” Her voice was acrid and I felt my heart hardening.

“What do you really want?”

“I’m two months pregnant.” Her voice was blunt and to the point. “And I think it could be yours. I want a million dollars.”

“There is no way it’s mine.” My voice was hard. “The timeline wouldn’t work out.”

“Well, when did you get so smart?”

“Don’t call me again, Monica. You’ve gotten as much money from me as you’re going to get.”

“Well, I got the money from your brother. You haven’t given me anything.”

“Goodbye, Monica.” I hung up the phone, not wanting to give her anymore time to spread her vile down the phone.

“Everything okay?” Robin’s voice was soft, but the tension in her shoulders belied her calm tone.

“Yeah, it’s fine.” I nodded and turned to Skylar. “That was Monica.”

“What did she want?” She looked at me nonchalantly.

“Just to see how you were.”

“Oh, okay. Did you tell her how happy I am?” She ran up to me and hugged me. “Did she want to talk to me?”

“I’m not sure if she wanted to talk to you. Would you have wanted to talk to her?”

“I don’t care.” She shrugged. “I forgive her for being mean to me because she gave me the best father in the world.”

“Oh, Skylar.” I pulled her towards me. “You don’t have to forgive her you know.”

“Yes, I do. To accept love you need to forgive.” She looked at me thoughtfully. “We all make mistakes and it’s not for us to judge.”