Page 114 of Fall Over You

I find Becca’s hand with my free one and give it a squeeze as I look around the room. “I can’t believe you’re all here.”

That gets a laugh from my gathered crowd and I start working my way around to hug everybody. I give my mom an extra squeeze because she looks like she’s going to cry. “It’s okay, Mom.”

“I’m just so glad for you,” she says. “I get to see my baby happy.”

My dad claps my shoulder when I hug her again. And I’m being honest when I say, “I am happy.”

Becca whistles to get everyone’s attention, but she addresses me for everyone else’s benefit. “Okay, so here’s the deal. I knew you wouldn’t be able to just sit around and chitty chat, so I turned this into a painting party. You don’t have to paint if you don’t want to, but we’re all working on the rooms so we can wrap up this dang thing and get it rented.”

“She duped us into manual labor,” Caleb shouts over the whooping from everyone else.

My jaw tightens again. Becca knows me. She knows I’d be crawling out of my skin talking to all these people, even if they’re the people we love. So, she figured out a productive activity to do, and one that helps me spend more time with her sooner.

“That’s perfect. Thank you.” I dip to kiss her again. “And thank you, everybody, for being here. And helping out, but I guess Becca’s making you do that.”

Everybody laughs, and I hand Ellie off to her papaw. Becca steers me into the kitchen, which was already painted before I put the cabinets up. A whole spread is set out, including a cake in a heart shape.

“What do you want to drink?” she asks, ducking her head into the fridge. “Booze or no booze?”

“No booze, thanks,” I say.

A cold can is pressed into my hand and Becca’s arm wraps around my waist. “Your mom said you like red velvet best. Ellie insisted we cut it into a heart shape, which also meant we got to taste test the parts we cut off.”

I grin. “Yeah, that’s my favorite. And why am I not surprised by Ellie’s plan?” I set my can on the counter and pause to look down at my wife. “Reba, this is so nice. Thank you again. I’m just . . . wow. I’m blown away.”

“You’re welcome. You deserve to be celebrated.”

I tuck some of her blonde hair behind her ear, then let my finger drift from her ear to under her chin. I brush a gentle kiss to her lips then pull back to look at her, really take her in. My jaw clenches as I realize what I’m about to say—and the fact that I mean it.

“I love you, Rebecca Jean. And not just because you threw me a party.”

Becca’s face lights up that much more, but she still teases me. “Sure, it’s not because of the party.”

I laugh and kiss her. “I love you because every day is a party with you. Because you’re the sunshine behind my storm cloud, and I’m lucky every time you light me up.”

Becca lifts on her toes to beg for more kisses and I gladly oblige. “I love you too, Tyler. For your grumpiness and your sweetness. For how protective you are. For you being you. You’re more than I ever could have asked for.”

My heart soars. I didn’t need her to say it back because she shows it every day, but damn, does it feel amazing to hear it. I’ve crushed on her since we were kids, and now we’re in love. It feels impossible and natural at the same time.

Best birthday gift ever.

Our kiss starts sweet but turns hot and hungry. “Easy, you two,” Dusty says, stepping into the kitchen. “I don’t need to be present while you make me a new nibling.”

“The hell is a nibling?” I ask.

Dusty shrugs. “You know. A niece or nephew.”

“That’s a new one for me.”

Ellie comes into the kitchen to tell Becca something, and she crouches down to listen like she always does.

Since our conversation about kids, I’ve been thinking more and more about Becca as a parent. She’s stepped in with Ellie so easily, weathering the worst tantrums and meltdowns with a calm attitude. Even I get shaken by those.

The more time that passes, I’m less afraid of what would happen if Becca got pregnant, and more thinking of that as a desired outcome. Maybe not yet. Maybe not until Ellie’s out of preschool, or until we’re done with the cottage, or some other milestone that would give us more certainty. But the facts are there: Becca is an excellent mom figure, and if you asked me today who I would want to be my next baby’s mom, she’d be the answer.

Hell, she’s already Ellie’s mom in a way. I love that she hasn’t pushed any title on Ellie, letting her choose to call her whatever she wants. It’s just one more way she makes room for my daughter’s and my wounded hearts.

Becca takes Ellie’s hand in hers and lightly pats my butt with her other hand. “Better go socialize, Big Daddy. Sissy and I are gonna go use the potty at the big house. Grab a paint brush or roller if you need something to keep your hands busy.”