CHAOS (Beneath The Secrets Book 1)

Song- My Home, Myles Smith

One month later…

“Come on you two!” I call out as Jax is on all fours chasing a giggling, screaming Maeve around the yard. With a playful grin, he catches her and pulls her close, his arms wrapped tightly around her as she giggles with delight.

“I’ve got you,” he growls, and lays her down on the grass to tickle her.

Her infectious little laughs fill the air, bringing an overwhelming joy to my heart. Just watching them completes me. I can’t hide the bright smile on my face.

Our family.

He puts her back on her feet, and she spots me with a wide grin.

Jax sits up on his knees and whispers something in her ear. The next thing I know, she’s full speed doing her wobbly run at me. With my arms open wide, I pick her up and spin her around. I close my eyes, savoring the moment, as Jax walks towards us and gently kisses my cheek, his touch sending shivers down my spine.

I can feel the cool evening breeze on my skin as the sun slowly dips below the horizon.

“Dinner is ready and we all know dinosaurs like daddy have to have their food, don’t we?” I say to Maeve, who enthusiastically nods.

“I’m more looking forward to my dessert,” he whispers in my ear and my cheeks blush.

I look up at him. The admiration in his eyes sends a rush of warmth through my veins. But, what makes me happier is the life that shines in them.

He’s getting there. He hasn’t missed a single appointment with his therapist. We talk, every day, whether it’s small things, or the heavy stuff.

It would have been his dad’s birthday last week. He opened up and told me about him, and his life growing up. We even cooked one of his dad’s favorite dinners.

I’m so damn proud of this man. He fights his mind every day, but he lets me in more and more.

After we finish up dinner, I start tidying up Maeve’s books from the floor and I can feel the weight of their gaze on me. Jax leans against the counter, his arms relaxed as Maeve sits comfortably between them.

“What are you two up to?” I raise a brow.

Jax chuckles, shaking his head. “Nothing, Momma.”

I can tell he’s up to something by the way he bites down on his bottom lip.

Maeve gets her bath, and I go to grab a set of pajamas out of the drawer just as Jax hands me a white one.

“Thank you, baby,” I say, taking it from him.

Putting a wriggly Maeve into the onesie, I start on the snaps. As I start with her legs, I can sense Jax’s presence lingering behind me.

After popping the last one under her chin, I blink a few times and my eyes are drawn to the cute pink text on the front of the outfit.

And, my heart skips a beat, as if time momentarily stands still.

As I sit her up on the changing table, a sob catches in my throat.

It reads: Mommy, will you marry my daddy?

“J-Jax?” I stutter.

“Turn around, sweetheart.” His voice is soft, yet full of anticipation.

I pick her up into my arms and turn around, tears blur my vision. Jax looks nervous as he kneels down, a small blue box clasped tightly in his hands.

With a flick of his wrist, he opens it, and my breath catches in my throat. Tears stream down my face as I admire the magnificent princess cut diamond, shimmering brilliantly in the light.

“I-I” Words fail me.

“Sofia Isabelle Garcia, will you be my wife?”

I don’t need to think about my answer. I know it in my bones. I want to be his forever.

“Yes. Jax. A million times yes!”

When he stands up, a look of relief spreads across his face. He reaches out and pulls me towards him, our lips meeting in a passionate embrace.

“You’ve just made me the happiest man to walk on this earth, sweetheart. I promise I’ll love you for the rest of my life,” he whispers against me.

“I love you, Jax. So much.”

“I love you, tigritsa. More than you could ever imagine.” He presses a kiss to the top of Maeve’s head. “And I love you too, tigryonok. My girls.”

Nuzzling my forehead against his chest, I close my eyes and immerse myself in the comforting sound of his heart pounding in my ears.

“I’m so proud of you, Jax. I know Kai would be too,” I say, stroking his cheek.

He is the best daddy, the best partner I could ever have wished for.

“I hope he is. I couldn’t have done any of this without you, baby. You saved my life.”

My gaze shifts upwards, and suddenly he moves in, his nose gently touching mine.

“And I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I would do anything for you, Jax Carter.”

Despite every storm life throws at us. We will always have this.

Our perfect little family.

A love that can survive anything.