And now I was a mother.I had more to protect.More to fight for…more to lose.
I opened my mouth, closed it.What was I supposed to say to Luka?I’d told him I was sorry—that I hadn’t intended to get pregnant, that he didn’t need to do anything.He’d called me back the next day and insisted on a video chat.When his face appeared—so beautiful, his jaw tense, eyes broken but filled with hope—he’d told me he was Bree’s father, and he would be involved in her life.“Starting now, Millie.I know I can’t be there every day, and that’s bothering the hell out of me, but I want to know about all your appointments, her growth, your blood pressure and glucose levels, and all that shit.”
At least he hadn’t asked to hear about my weight gain.That would have been awful.I’d started the pregnancy fit and strong, but my body didn’t feel entirely my own these days.I still had an ass that rivaled Kim Kardashian’s in size, if not roundness, with the thighs to support it.
“I should have given you a heads-up about me coming—” he began.
“Yeah, that would have been helpful…” Except, would it?From the get-go, Luka had tied me in knots, and I’d acted the fool.I would have tried to disappear if he’d told me about his visit—something he seemed to have surmised.No, if I were in his shoes, I would have surprised me, too.
“Um, do you want to sit down?”I asked, finally finding some equilibrium.
“Sure.”
I led Luka into the living room and turned to face him.I didn’t know where to put my hands, and I ended up settling them on my hips, which pushed my bump farther forward.Luka’s gaze drifted to my belly.
“You’re bigger that I expected,” he blurted.
I drew myself up, mouth compressed in an angry line, but Luka didn’t notice.He was focused on the baby snuggled in my midsection.
Dropping to his knees, he laid his hands on either side of my belly, shocking me with the vulnerability on his face.Luka seemed choked by the same emotions rocketing through me.
“Hi there, Bree,” he said.
He hadn’t fought with me about the name.In fact, he’d told me it was beautiful—as beautiful as our baby would be.So I’d sent him the image of her 3-D sonogram a couple months ago.He’d gotten to see her sweet, tiny little face.I’d fallen even more in love with him as he’d stroked the image, tears in his eyes as he thanked me for her and the picture.
“Hi.I’m your daddy,” he murmured against my belly.He swallowed, a thick sound that told me his emotions were just below the surface.After a moment, he continued, “I’ve missed you—don’t think otherwise.I got here as soon as I could.And I want you to know, you mean everything to me.”
The man I couldn’t stop dreaming about was on his knees with his face pressed against my belly, as if that was the most natural scenario in the world.If he only knew how right—and wrong—it was that he was my baby’s father.
Luka
I glanced up at Millie,then wished I hadn’t.I was already so nervous about this situation, and her wide eyes and parted lips made me want to snuggle her.She hadn’t offered that, though, so I kept my fists on my thighs.
“I heard you’re moving around a lot in there,” I said, returning my attention to the adorable bump cradling my baby.“Maybe you could give me a high-five or something.”
Millie made a noise and swayed a little.Not willing to risk her health, I wrapped my arm around her hips and tugged her legs against my chest.
“What is it?”I asked, looking up at her.
“N-nothing,” she mumbled.“I just didn’t… You’re on your…greeting—ow!She punched me.”Millie jumped, her eyes widening.“That was hard.”
I chuckled as I moved my hands up and down the taut skin of her belly.“Do that again, baby.Daddy was talking to Mommy, so I didn’t feel—there’s my girl!”A tiny appendage rammed into my cheek, and I grinned like a loon.“She’s strong.”
“That’s my bladder she’s drop-kicking,” Millie muttered, shuffling her feet like a preschooler told to wait.She squeezed her eyes and legs together at the next burst of movement from Bree.
I rose to my feet.“Let’s get you to the bathroom.”
“I’m not sure I can—put me down!You’ll hurt yourself.”
I chuckled.“I deadlift way more than this every day.Don’t worry, Millie; you and Bree are safe.”
I maneuvered toward the powder room off the living room.I set her down inside the door.She shuffled forward.
“Need help?”I asked.
She inhaled sharply.“No!I can pee alone.”
Her horrified tone had me backing up, hands raised in supplication.“Okay.Right.I’ll just…be out here.”
