Page 111 of Exposed Ink

Kinsley snorts out a laugh, and I glare, which only makes her laugh harder.

“Colton’s only eight months old, Shane. And he has many years until he starts school and even more until he goes off to college. And true, Becky is getting older, but you can’t think like that. If you want to start trying for another baby, I’m okay with that.” She pulls my face down to hers, and her lips caress my own as her warmth rubs against my once-again-hard length. “And since this chaotic house is still quiet, I think we have time to try again.”

And that right there is one of the many reasons why I love my wife.

We’re always on the same damn page.

* * *

“This iswhy I said I should get an apartment instead of a dorm,” Taylor whines as she and Kinsley attempt to sort through her books, trying to decide which ones she’s taking with her and leaving here. “There’s not enough room in that tiny place for all the things I need.”

“A book is hardly a necessity,” I point out, earning a glare from Kinsley and Taylor.

“We’ll get you a bookshelf,” Kinsley suggests. “And you can swap them out when we visit or you come home. Living in a dorm is like a rite of passage. Everyone should do it once.”

Taylor nods and sighs, and once again, I’m so thankful for Kinsley. Jamie was supposed to be here to help Taylor move, but she texted that she’s stuck somewhere and won’t make it. It didn’t shock any of us since Taylor’s only seen her once this past year.

“Tay Tay!” Colton yells, crawling toward Taylor.

He lifts his arms, and she places him into her lap, giving him a hug.

“I’m going to miss you, little man,” she chokes out. “I’m going to miss everything,” she says, looking from Kinsley to me. “His first real words, his first steps. Maybe I should stay home. I can take classes online …”

“Not happening,” Kinsley says. “We’ll take pictures and videos and FaceTime anytime you want. You’ve wanted this for too long and too badly to not go.”

“Plus, we’re gonna need your bedroom for the next baby,” I joke.

“What?” Taylor screeches, her head whipping around to look at Kinsley. “You’re pregnant?”

“Oh my God, no!” Kinsley glares at me. “I’m not. And we’re not touching your room.”

“I mean, I wouldn’t mind sharing if she’s a girl,” Taylor offers, which makes Kinsley start to cry.

I swear it’s been like this for the past couple of months since Taylor graduated. They’re fine until someone says something regarding Taylor leaving, which triggers them, and then they turn into a crying mess.

“I was just kidding,” I tell Taylor, taking Colton from her so she can finish packing up the last of her books and we can get going.

After loading the truck up with her stuff and her saying goodbye to my parents—who are back to traveling but came in to wish their granddaughter well on her college journey—and stopping by Kinsley’s parents’ place because Taylor has grown close with Quinn, we’re on our way to NYU.

The drive is long, thanks to the traffic, and we have to pull over once so Kinsley can breastfeed Colton, but once we arrive, moving Taylor in doesn’t take long. And before I know it, we’re standing on the sidewalk, saying goodbye.

And as I look at my daughter, who somehow went from a tiny little newborn to an eighteen-year-old college student in the blink of an eye, I wish I could turn back time.

“So, this is it,” Taylor says, looking at me.

“You’re going to be amazing,” I choke out.

The emotion in my voice sets her off, and the next thing I know, we’re both crying.

“If you need anything, Tay, I’m here, always.”

“I know, Dad,” she murmurs. “Thank you for everything. For being the best dad ever. For raising me to be strong and independent. I love you.”

“I love you,” I tell her before I take a step back.

Kinsley hugs her for what feels like the millionth time, and then we stand there and watch as Taylor walks into her dorm building.

“This is really hard,” I say to Kinsley as we continue to stare at the building despite Taylor having already gone inside.

“Yeah, it is,” she agrees. “But I look at it like this: To get that happily ever after, you have to keep reading the book. So, while this chapter is hard, it means we get to look forward to the next chapter. And I have no doubt that Taylor is going to rock the next chapter in her life.”

I slide my arm around my wife. “And what about our next chapter?” I ask, leaning over and giving her a kiss. “What does it look like?”

“I don’t know,” she murmurs against my lips. “I guess we’ll have to keep living to find out.”