Jase
I couldn’t pull my eyes off of Taylor. I saw it in her eyes as she watched Alex and Grace walking off.
She wanted a baby.
“Jase, are you even listening to me?”
Turning back to Will, I laughed. “Yeah. Um . . . you said your dad would have the wedding present for Taylor ready in time. She’s going to love the desk for her office.”
Will glanced over to Noah and then back to me. “It’s gotten to you, hasn’t it?”
With a confused expression, I asked, “What’s gotten to me?”
“The pregnancy bug.”
I pulled my head back and laughed. “What in the fuck? No. Shit, y’all let me get through building a house and getting married before you have me with a kid.”
Noah threw his head back and laughed. “Oh man. Jase, do you really think you can fool us? We’ve stood right where you’re standing now. I’d know that look anywhere. You’re thinking baby.”
“Am not,” I shot back.
Noah turned to Will and raised his eyebrow as if exchanging some kind of secret. Will looked me over carefully. “Oh, yeah. I’m telling you . . . it’s in the water in Mason.”
My head snapped over as I looked at Taylor. She had her hand on Alex’s stomach. It felt like someone hit me in the chest with a post when I saw the tear roll down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away, but I saw it in her eyes. In that moment I knew what I wanted.
“Oh fuck,” I whispered. “I’ve got the baby bug.”
Will and Noah both chuckled as Noah put his hand on my shoulder. Turning to look at them both, I couldn’t help but mirror their smiles.
Noah squeezed and shook his head as he said, “It’s a helluva good life.”
Will turned and looked at Alex. “It sure the hell is. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Peeking back over to the girls, all three of them were laughing. I nodded. “And it only gets better.”
I paced back and forth, wringing my hands together.
“You’re going to wear yourself out before the honeymoon night.”
My stomach was a mess. My nerves shot.
Turning to Walker, I flashed him a dirty look. “I’m nervous, asshole.”
He chuckled and punched me lightly on the arm. “I’ve been there, Jase. I know how you’re feeling. But think about your life before Taylor.”
I shook my head. “I can’t. I wasn’t alive before her.”
He lifted his brow and grinned wider. “And it only gets better from this point on.”
I blew out a quick breath. After all the years of staring at Taylor from afar and dreaming of being with her, pulling her in and pushing her away, we finally found ourselves where we were meant to be. I’m the luckiest son-of-a-bitch in the world. I’m marrying the love of my life. My best friend. “I can’t believe the day is finally here. That’s what has me so freaked out. Like if I dare to dream this is really happening, I’ll wake up.”
“Trust me . . . it’s happening.”
“Do you think Taylor’s nervous?”
He laughed and nodded his head. “Yes.”
I started pacing again. “I need to see her.”