I don’t finish because he’s already crossing the space between us in three long strides.
His hands frame my face, his thumbs catching the wet under my eyes. His chest rises and falls fast, like he’s been sucker punched. “You’re pregnant.”
“Apparently.” My laugh wobbles. “Surprise?”
For a long moment, he just stares at me—like he’s replaying every single moment that led here. Then his mouth curves into something so tender, so disbelieving it nearly breaks me. “Holy shit,” he whispers, voice rough. “We’re having a baby?”
I nod again, the tears finally spilling over. “You’re not mad?”
“Mad?” He huffs a laugh that sounds more like wonder. “Hailey, I’ve built houses, I’ve rebuilt my whole damn life, but nothing, nothing, has ever felt like this.”
And then he kisses me. Hard. Like his entire world just shifted under his boots and I’m the only steady thing left. I clutch his jacket, melting into him, the tears and laughter tangling in one ridiculous, perfect mess.
When he finally pulls back, his voice is low and reverent. “You’re gonna be the best damn mom.”
I laugh through another tear. “You’re not even freaking out?”
“Oh, I’m freaking out,” he says with a shaky grin. “But mostly because now I gotta baby-proof the entire house I just built.”
A watery laugh bursts from my throat. “You really think I can do this?”
“I know you can.” His palm flattens against my stomach, the rough pad of his thumb tracing small, absent-minded circles over my sweater. “We can.”
The front door opens again, letting in a swirl of cold air and the chaotic noise of family.
He grins at me, eyes glinting. “Guess we should probably tell them… eventually.”
I grab his hand, breathless, overwhelmed, giddy. “Not yet. I want it to be ours for a while first.”
He kisses me again, softer this time, and murmurs against my lips, “Merry Christmas, baby.”
“Merry Christmas,” I whisper back, pressing my palm over his, right where our little secret already lives.
The universe gives us about four and a half seconds to have it to ourselves.
Then Maddie’s voice slices through the entryway. “Hellooo? Are we hugging in here without me?”
Cole groans under his breath. “So much for ours.”
I wipe at my cheeks, trying to make it look like I’m crying normal, stressed-out-hosting tears and notmy life just exploded into tiny twinkle lightstears. We step apart just as the front hall floods with people. My parents carrying a tin of cookies, his parents hauling in a cooler for some unknown reason, and Maddie with three tote bags full of gifts.
She sees us first. Actually, she sees me first.
“Okay.” She drops her bags right in the middle of the rug. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I say too fast.
“Everything,” Cole mutters at the same time.
Her eyes ping-pong between us, narrowing. “Oh my God. You two have that face.”
“What face?” I ask, voice an octave too high.
“The ‘we just did something’ face,” she says, pointing accusingly. “What did you do? Did you get married without me? Did you buy another house? Did you get a dog? Because I will not be the last to know about the dog.”
Behind her, my mom is stripping off her coat and already sniffing the air. “Something smells amazing. And why is Hailey crying? Are they tears of joy or did the ham dry out?”
“They’re—” I start.
