“I will,” he promised, his voice barely above a whisper.
And at that moment, with her in his arms and the world outside temporarily forgotten, Grayson knew he’d do whatever it took to keep that promise. For her. For them. For the future he hadn’t let himself believe he could have—until now.
Chapter 23 - Cora
Cora paced the length of the living room for what felt like the hundredth time, with her heart hammering against her ribs. The apartment felt stifling like the walls were pressing in as she rehearsed the words she’d been avoiding for days. Each attempt to steady herself only left her more rattled. She wasn’t ready for this conversation—she might never be—but avoiding it wasn’t an option anymore.
Grayson sat on the couch, oblivious to her turmoil. He was sharpening a blade with methodical precision, and the faint scrape of metal against stone filled the quiet. He glanced up at her every so often, pinching his brows together before returning to his task.
“Are you going to wear a hole in the floor, or are you going to tell me what’s on your mind?” he finally asked.
Cora froze mid-step, caught off guard even though she’d known the question was coming. She swallowed hard and forced her feet to carry her closer to him. “We need to talk.”
Grayson set the blade and sharpened stone aside, moving his full attention to her as he motioned for her to sit next to him. “All right. Talk.”
Her legs felt like they might buckle beneath her, so she lowered herself onto the couch, keeping a careful distance between them. She clasped her hands in her lap, staring down at her fingers as they twisted together.
Grayson tilted his head. “Cora, you’re starting to freak me out. What’s going on?”
She exhaled a shaky breath and finally met his gaze. The tenderness in his expression only made the lump in her throat harder to swallow. “I’ve been keeping something from you.”
He sat up straighter, but he didn’t interrupt. Grayson just nodded to prompt her to continue.
“I… I found out something recently. And I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you, but there’s no easy way to say it.” She sucked in a breath. “Grayson, I’m pregnant.”
The words hung in the air like a bomb waiting to go off. Cora braced herself for his reaction, expecting anger, fear, maybe even disbelief. What she didn’t expect was the stunned silence that followed.
Grayson stared at her, his mouth slightly open. It was as if he was trying to speak but couldn’t find the words. His usually composed features were unguarded with emotion that she couldn’t quite decipher.
“You’re…pregnant?” he finally managed.
She nodded, and her heart was pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. “Yes. I only found out a few days ago. Elena confirmed it.”
His gaze dropped to her stomach, and he reached out instinctively, hovering his hand uncertainly before he pulled it back. “And it’s mine?”
The question caught her off guard, but the vulnerability in his voice softened the sting. “Of course, it’s yours. There hasn’t been anyone else.”
Grayson exhaled a breath he seemed to have been holding before running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t mean—I just… Damn, Cora, I don’t know what to say.”
Her heart sank, but she forced herself to nod. “I know it’s a lot. If you need time to process, I understand. I didn’t expect you to—”
“I love you,” he blurted, cutting her off.
Her breath hitched as the words registered. She blinked, certain she’d misheard him. “What?”
“I love you,” he repeated. “I don’t need time to process that. I’ve been falling for you since the day you walked into my life and turned it upside down.”
Tears stung her eyes. “Grayson…”
“And this—” he gestured toward her stomach. “It scares the hell out of me, but it’s also…amazing. I’m not going anywhere, Cora. You and this baby—our baby—you’re everything to me now.”
The dam inside her broke, and she threw herself into his arms, burying her face against his shoulder. “I love you too,” she whispered. “I’ve been so scared to say it, but I do. I love you.”
Grayson’s arms tightened around her, and his hand cradled the back of her head as if he were afraid she might disappear. “You don’t have to be scared anymore. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
She pulled back just enough to look at him with her hands framing his face. The depth of emotion in his eyes made her chest ache, and before she could think better of it, she leaned in and kissed him.
Grayson cupped her face, and his lips moved against hers with a fervor that left her breathless. His hands slid down to her waist, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them.
