Roni

It might've taken a little longer for things to feel completely back to the way they'd been before the whole Mateo fiasco. Ironically the very day they'd hashed things out—the day Noah had actually believed even for a moment that he'd lost Roni—they found out they were going to be parents again. Roni got the call later that day about her positive test results. It'd been the furthest thing from Roni's mind since she was still trying to shake off the guilt of what she'd put Noah through. Thankfully, the call changed the mood dramatically, and it ceased all talk of Mateo since all they discussed after getting the news was their new blessing.

Even though Roni had been taken by surprise and feeling a little nervous about having yet another child to obsess about, she couldn't be more thankful for the timing now. It'd been days since the blowout, and they'd been so consumed with talk of her new pregnancy, neither had mentioned it. Despite all that, Roni knew better than to think Noah would be completely forgetting any time soon—if ever.

Just that morning as they'd gotten ready to head out, Roni's phone had dinged on the counter in the kitchen as Noah filled his commuter mug. He made no qualms about picking her phone up to see who'd texted her.

"Dora from daycare is asking if Jack's coming in today." He handed her the phone and kissed her. "I'll see you at the gym. I gotta get going."

Roni texted Dora back, finished getting Jack ready, and headed out herself. They'd been back at the gym several days since that weekend, and Roni still couldn't get over the unnerving thought that Mateo might actually have the gall to show up. It would've been bad enough even if things hadn't gone down the way they had. She knew just seeing him would've been enough to annoy Noah and make things a little tense. Only now his showing his face here would be so much worse. She just prayed he wouldn't be that stupid.

Today was once again her workout day, so she'd dressed for the occasion. After handling her workload in the office, she met Nellie on the treadmills. "Is Noah all over you about how much you should or shouldn't be working out?"

Roni rolled her eyes but smiled. "Of course. Made me promise I'd take it easy, but it's not like I ever go hard anyway."

Nellie laughed. "Remember our first workout at this place? It nearly killed us."

Laughing, Roni nodded. "I remember sweating like a pig but refusing to take my sweatshirt off and reveal all my jiggling." That made her giggle more. "Remember how insulted I'd been when he guessed my weight?"

Refraining from snorting, Roni shook her head. For a second, she wondered if maybe Nellie hadn't heard her because she didn't respond nor laugh and here Roni was getting a bad case of the giggles.

"What are you—?" The dramatic change in mood was instant as Roni turned and nearly choked when she saw what Nellie was looking at.

Mateo was walking through the middle aisle of the gym without a care in the world. "That son of a bitch," Roni said under her breath.

"Where's Noah?" Nellie asked, looking around.

With her heart racing now, Noah's words suddenly played over and over in Roni's head as she slowed the pace on her treadmill and looked around.

God, I hope that fucker shows up.

Roni didn't even have to look long or hard. To her horror, Noah was already practically sprinting in Mateo's direction. He'd been especially livid the day she spilled it all, about Mateo being so relentless and that, even after Derek had confronted him, he'd continued to pursue her.

Both she and Nellie watched as Mateo stopped in his tracks when he saw Noah rushing to him. He dropped his gym bag moments before Noah landed a right hook to his face. Roni's heart nearly gave out as she hit the stop button on her treadmill and started off.

"Stay here," Nellie urged. "Abel's already there."

"But—"

"What are you gonna do?" Nellie asked, getting off her treadmill. "You'll only incite things if that idiot says anything to you."

With her heart at her throat, Roni turned to the mob of men trying to separate Noah and Mateo. She could barely see Noah since there were so many holding him back, but from the looks of it, they were having a hard time calming him. To her relief, Mateo didn't put up much of a fight, and they were able to start walking him out.

The commotion was so loud it was hard for Roni to make out what Noah was yelling, but she did hear the words kill you. Someone rushed back for Mateo's bag, and within minutes, he was out. The mob around Noah finally thinned enough she could see his face. Abel stood next to him with a hand on Noah's shoulder, wisely not leaving his side, and she was grateful for that. From Noah's still intense body language, she feared he might still go after Mateo.

Abel said something to him that actually had Noah cracking a smile but barely. His peering around the gym was her cue that she should go to him now.

"I think he's looking for me," she said, starting toward him.

Nellie walked with her toward where their husbands stood. The moment Noah saw her he started to her. "Did he say anything to you?"

"No." She shook her head as Nellie continued to walk toward Abel.

Noah searched her eyes. "You know how long he was here?"

"I'd just spotted him moments before you rushed him."

"That motherfucker." Noah shook his head, flexing his fist. "He really thought I'd allow his ass anywhere near you."

"Noah." Roni looked at him, feeling anxious as her heart continued to race. "He could press charges."

"Fuck it," he said, still flexing his fist. "That was so worth whatever fine or charges I get hit with. Besides, if he does that, then you move forward with that sexual harassment suit you threatened him with. In fact, let's do that anyway."

Roni hadn't even thought about that, but it relieved her. "Let's get this iced," she said, touching his hand.

Noah

Once again Noah missed the target ball that flew up in the air for the third time. Hector, along with most of the people at the park, laughed as he set the next ball up to fly. Hector worked on getting the next ball in the contraption that shot it out in the air.

"What happens if we run out?" Hector asked.

Feeling annoyed, Noah frowned as the pressure began to mount. "I got this one. Just put it in."

He turned to his wife, who smiled beautifully at him, holding Jack in her lap, and gave him a thumbs-up. Smiling back, he winked as he held the gun up and got ready. Do this already. He waited for the sling to go off and the ball to fly up in the air. It went off and he waited until just the right moment before pulling the trigger. Holding his breath, he closed his eyes for a second and then everyone cheered. Noah opened his eyes to the sight of blue powder showering down from the sky.

"Another boy!" Hector yelled then brought his fingers to his lips whistling.

Relieved and feeling a little emotional, Noah rushed over to his wife and son. He hugged her and kissed Jack's head. "Baby, Noah," she whispered in his ear and he could hear the emotion in her words as well.

Noah could hardly believe that, just a few weeks ago, he'd seriously thought his world as he knew it had almost been destroyed. As they continued to celebrate the rest of the beautiful summer day at the park, barbecuing and playing baseball, he couldn't keep his hands and lips off his wife for too long.

As it turned out, Dr. Douche hadn't pressed charges, and Roni had convinced Noah that she shouldn't file a lawsuit against him either. It'd come after the only heated moment they'd had since the big blow-out. In her anxiousness about the doctor pressing charges, Roni had suggested maybe she should text him to call a truce. She'd promise him not to file suit against him if he didn't press charges against Noah.

Noah would sooner do time in jail than allow her to ever contact that fucker again, and he'd made that loud and clear. But the guy was apparently smarter than he looked and acted because there were never any charges filed.

Noah had gotten the assurance he'd needed the moment they'd hashed it all out that awful day. Roni's voice so full of remorse and dread when she'd told him she needed to talk to him about the guy, was the only reason he'd considered for even a moment that there might a shred of truth to Chloe's claims. But he got the confirmation of what he'd been so instantly sure of, a few days after Dr. Douche's daughter had come by. She called the gym days after to apologize to Noah when she and her mom found out who he'd been really having an affair with all that time.

"Another boy," Roni said as they sat there watching Jack go down the slide.

"This is gonna be awesome."

"For you!" Roni quipped with a giggle. "I'm the one that's gonna be home with them most of the days. Oh my God. Imagine two little monkeys jumping on the sofa?"

Noah laughed, rubbing her tummy. "Jack's gonna have a blast."

Roni groaned but leaned her head against Noah's shoulder, taking a deep breath. "Life just keeps getting better and better."

"Sure does." He glanced down at her, swallowing down the emotion he was consumed with so often now any time he felt this happy. "Can't live without you, babe."

To his surprise, her eyes were teary when she looked up at him, but she held her arm out showing off her muscle. "It's why I'm staying in shape because, until I'm probably in my late nineties, you won't have to. I ain't going anywhere. I swear to you. I love you so much."

"I love you more."

The End

Pat and Max are uploaded in their stories i entirety here on Wattpad. Just look for Tall, Dark & Obnoxious! You'll get intense in that one two but this is Max ROMERO. Expect a lot of laughs! ;) Remember to engage!!    

Also my latest release Orlando (Boyle Heights 4) is available now EVERYWHERE! Go get your copy while it's discounted because it'll only be discounted for a week. After labor day weekend it goes to $4.99!  

Doorstep baby

Orlando Cruz wakes to the surprise of a lifetime when a baby is left at his doorstep with an anonymous note stating he's the father. Even more surprising is how quickly and easily his heart is open to the idea. A positive paternity test later, and the onetime bed-hopping bad boy is suddenly fumbling through raising a baby on his own.

A Difficult Choice

Danica knew giving up the baby would be the hardest thing she'd ever have to do, but she hadn't anticipated how devastating a toll it would take on her. She'll do whatever it takes to have him in her life again, in any way possible.

The Baby Whisperer

As luck would have it, the new temp receptionist at Orlando's auto shop is also a child therapist student. After one phone call where she effortlessly saves the day, he and the baby need her in their lives. No surprise, Orlando falls for her just as fast as his son seems to. He's soon envisioning life with his new perfect little family.

Until the truth about her real motive surfaces, threatening his imagined happily ever after.

Orlando is an HEA, no cheating or cliffy stand alone that can be read without the need of reading the others in the series to follow. Have some tissue handy though. ;)