The Angel,The Devil,The Nerd

Epilogue

EPILOGUE

12 YEARS LATER

NATALIE'S POV

"Noah! Get those buttocks up! You're gonna be late!" I yelled for the third time while finishing up breakfast.

I secretly smiled even while rolling my eyes when I heard a boyish groan from behind me, a very annoyed voice grumbling: "No need to shout, ma, I'm here."

Ah. Teenagers. "What happened to all your good morning, mama, I love you, mama?" I teased, turning around to place pancakes on the table, where my son sat in a jeans and t-shirt. I swear, every day, he's more and more identical to his father. Even the attitude has been changing. My lovely little boy seems gone, replaced by this grumpy teenager that always seeks an escape to family moments.

This time too, as every morning when I tell him that, he groaned: "I'm 16, ma. No time for that cra-no time for those things." He obviously changed when I gave him a dirty look, because he knows I don't like it when he cusses.

"Yeah, yeah ... no time to be sweet with your mother. Only time for girls, haven't you?" I teased and he rolled his eyes. Even though,opposite to his father,Noah's no player, he's always been pretty calm in the field, very much differently from his friend Richard Grant, who's been a ladies man since the very beginning.

Although, he's calmed down now ... must be because, since last Easter, he's been dating Leanne Watson, my cousin's daughter and Richie's friend since they were in diapers. It wasn't really a surprise to us, it's always been clear that Leanne felt something for him, it was just a matter of when would they end up together, and finally, they did. Their parents are really glad about it. Now, my son instead, he's never been a player, despite having his father's good looks.

It was the first day of school, Noah would start his junior year ... ah, he's so close to leaving the nest. Well, it depends. He might pick Columbia anyway. Not really bothering me anymore, he just dipped into his pancakes, clearly in bad mood, which has been happening a lot lately, I wonder why.

We came back from the holidays just last week and since then he's been this moody. I know teenagers tend to be that, but seriously ... well, I guess I'll have his father talk to him, maybe among boys they understand each other better. After all, growing up, Noah has been showing he get along more easily with his dad. Weirdly enough, considering that normally there's a conflict between males in a family. Well, it's better this way, I guess.

Speaking of Noah's father, while my son quickly devoured his breakfast and, despite my protests, all but dashed out, saying he'd catch the subway to school, no need for a ride, I was grabbing orange juice from the fridge when I felt strong arms around my waist, lips placing a wet kiss on the back of my ear while whispering a routine husky: "Good morning, princess."

That obviously had me grin like a Cheshire cat, like always. My husband, this 37-years-old strong man was still as handsome as he's always been, if not more, and I'm guessing he's only gonna get better, after all, he's not even 40 yet and he's already popular among other moms. Oh, well. He's all mine (evil grin).

"Good morning, baby." I replied, turning in his arms to wrap mine around his shoulders and kiss him.

"Slept good?" He asked and I grinned, knowing all too well what he meant ... we had some fun last night, some ... pretty silent fun, but we had it. It should be hard after 12 years of marriage and kids, but really it's not, we're just the same lovey-doveys as we've always been.

We remained there kissing for a few minutes, all wrapped up in each other, till we heard a female groan: "Ewww. Can't you just keep the cheese for the bedroom?"