I nodded. "But sometimes it’s hard for me to know how much. You do so many nice things for me, but then you don’t always express what you’re feeling."
"I know." He twirled a strand of my hair around his finger. "I’ve made some big mistakes with you, but only because it was all new to me. I didn’t realize it at first, but I swear I knew before I left for that internship. I just didn’t recognize it then."
He leaned in and softly pressed his lips to mine. "You mean everything to me."
Before he could say anything else, I threw my arms around his neck and eagerly kissed him back.
"I know you’re afraid." I kissed him again. "I was scared too, but Alex, I know what you’re trying to say. I can feel it."
"You can?" He smiled.
"Yes, and I love you too." I was putting myself out there, but when I saw his face in that exam room, I knew he was feeling the same way I was. I just needed him to admit it.
"Jocelyn, I love you so much, and I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, sweetheart." He pulled me into another kiss, running his hands through my hair and then stopping to look in my eyes. "I should’ve told you before I left, and then you wouldn’t have been afraid to tell me about our baby."
"I wouldn’t have wanted you to tell me, if you weren’t sure."
"I wanted to tell you when I came back. I had every intention of coming home and tracking you down, but then I was afraid you’d think I was telling you because you were pregnant."
"I probably would have." I laughed. "I seem to make a habit out of assuming the wrong thing."
"Hmm . . . ." He shook his head. "That's an understatement." He took my hand and placed it over his heart. "When I thought you’d moved on, I almost lost my mind. I had to stop myself three times from getting on a plane and coming back here to make you see how much I loved you. I didn’t want to force myself on you; you were young, and I thought you needed your space. I want to make you proud of me, Jocelyn. I want to be a good father to our little girl, and I want to be the man you’ll love forever."
I couldn’t hold back the tears. Not only did he want our baby, but he wanted me too.
He laughed as he wiped the tears from my cheeks. "My hormonal girl."
"It’s just I’ve been waiting for you to tell me how you’ve felt, and now that you have, I feel so relieved. You’ve been great about everything these past few days, but I doubted your feelings for me. There was no doubt in my mind about you wanting her."
I took his hand and placed it on my stomach. "But I was scared once she was born, I’d lose you."
"You’re never gonna lose me," he whispered. "I’m gonna take care of my girls for the rest of my life."
"Good, 'cause we need you." I rested my head against his chest.
We sat in silence for a few minutes. I was letting it all sink in. I finally knew how he felt, and it was such a relief. We had a long way to go, so much to learn about one another, and then there was the obstacles that came with having a baby so early on in our relationship. But now that I knew he loved me, it all seemed possible.
Chapter Twenty-one
Five Years Later . . . .
I walked into the foyer, dropping my keys on the table and placing my backpack on the bench by the door. I felt a huge sense of relief over having just completed my last final. It had been a long four years, but I was finally finished.
So much had happened since I'd found out I was pregnant. Alex and I got married a few months after our daughter, Alexa, was born. We named her for Alex’s biological mother. I went back to school and worked toward a degree in Communications. We had a house built on the plot next door to Alex’s parents' house, and our backyards were connected by a beautiful, wooded trail. I liked having them close. They, along with Max, were very supportive and helped Alex and me as much as they could.
Alex did really well with the research project, and the doctor he worked for was so impressed with him, he offered Alex a full-time job on staff in the research department. And, because of the support from our parents, Alex was able to go back and get his Ph.D. and that helped him secure a higher position. He loved the work he was doing, and I was so proud of him, almost as proud as his father was.
Evan had recently gotten engaged to Cali. The two of them found their way back to one another about two years ago, and they’d been exclusive and happy ever since.
Alexa was over the moon that she was going to be in a wedding with me and her daddy. She was a little disappointed that her Uncle Evan was getting married to someone else, since she thought she was his one and only, but once he explained to her that no one could replace her in his life, and she was getting a new dress for the wedding, she was more than fine.
I was feeling overly tired, but most of my exhaustion was due to the past three days of finals, caring for my rambunctious five-year-old, and keeping up with my sexy husband’s overactive libido. Not that I was complaining about any of it, but I was feeling the effects, and my body was letting me know in no uncertain terms something really big was going on.
I followed the sounds of Alex and Alexa's giggles. They were sitting on the back porch coloring, so I stood in the doorway and listened to their very engaging conversation. They always made me laugh.
"Daddy?" Alexa asked in her high pitched, singsong voice.
"Yes, pumpkin?" Alex pushed aside the blond ringlets that had fallen into her eyes.
