Just My Luck – Bonus Scene

Abel  

It was amazing how much life changed if you took the time to stop and think about it. It wasn’t all that long ago I was a social pariah in my small town. Now, friendly waves and polite nods were a daily occurance. It was fucking wild. 

And I owed it all to her. Thoughts of my wife swirled in my head and I smiled.

“Hey, Pop-sicle! Are you ready for tuck ins?” Ben’s voice called down the hallway and I just shook my head and laughed. What started out as him and Tillie testing out different forms of “Dad” for me until they found one that felt right had turned downright ridiculous. 

“Yep,” I called back. To be honest, I didn’t give a shit what they called me. Most days it was Abel, but every now and again, Dad would slip past their lips and my chest would pinch and twist in the best kind of way. 

“We’re waiting!” Tillie shouted and I laughed, slipping off my suit jacket and tossing it over the back of a chair.

Standing in the kitchen in a suit, I slipped off my dress shoes and undid the buttons at my wrists. The dress shirt beneath the suit jacket had been too tight and my toes were pinched inside my dress shoes. With each layer, I felt more myself.

It had been a great night.

When Tillie had asked me to attend the Daddy-Daughter dance with her, I hadn’t anticipated being so nervous. Her Girls Scout troop put on the dance at the high school and we’d spend the last few hours sipping fruit punch and nibbling on cookies. I had splurged and taken her to dinner beforehand, holding open doors and quietly showing her how she deserved to be treated. She may be young, but not too young to enjoy being spoiled…just a little. 

Ben had a movie date with his grandpa Bax and Sloane assured me she was more than happy having a date with a hot bath and her newest book. As I walked down the hallway toward the kids’ bedrooms, I glanced at our bedroom door, knowing that just beyond it she was waiting for me.

After a story, three hugs, and two kisses, Ben and Tillie were satisfied with their tuck ins and I quietly closed the door behind me. With every step toward Sloane, I relaxed further. I pulled my dress shirt from my waistband and quietly entered the primary bedroom. 

The low flicker of candle light emanated from the en suite bathroom and I sighed. A hot bath with my wife would be the perfect end to the day.

I leaned against the door jamb and smiled at her. Surrounded in a nest of bubbles, Sloane’s hair was piled high on her head. Candles were lit along the countertops and her book had been long abandoned. 

I sauntered in, soaking up the way each flicker of candlelight danced on her perfect features. I lifted her kindle. “Give up on your Scottish Highland prince?”

Sloane’s eyes slid to me and she smirked. She lifted a shoulder and as it lowered, disappeared beneath the bubbly surface. “He’s okay. Though I think I prefer my heroes broody and mysterious. Maybe a brewery owner or something like that.”

Her fingers playfully danced up my pant leg. 

I sighed. “I’m no hero, baby.”

“You are in my love story.” She blinked up at me and I couldn’t imagine being more in love with her than I already was. “Turns out,” she continued, “we’re writing another chapter.”

I stilled, reeling my thoughts to focus on what she was saying. We’d been casually trying to get pregnant, but it hadn’t happened as easily as we’d both assumed. I didn’t want to get ahead of myself and assume anything so I stayed silent. 

Finally, bravery one out. “Are you…are you saying…?”

Tears swam in her eyes as she nodded. “I couldn’t focus on my book because once I was in the house alone I took a test.” She pointed to a slim package on the counter I hadn’t noticed. “We’re pregnant.”

Shock and joy and disbelief washed over me. I didn’t bother removing my clothes. Instead, a genuine laugh burst from my chest as I clambered into the bathtub, fully clothed. I couldn’t get to her fast enough. 

I held her as Sloane burst into tears. Mine were quick to follow. Sloane took in my soggy outfit and laughed. “You’re soaked!” 

I shook my head. “I don’t care. I’m in love with you.”

“I love you, too.” Sloane let out another watery laugh as I held her. I couldn’t wait to begin this next chapter with the woman who saved my life––who brought me back from the dead. 

As I held her, I vowed to never stop loving her––in all versions and in every chapter of our story. Her choosing me was a gamble, but I was the luckiest man in the world.