“Connor… I—”
“I’m so fucking sorry.” He spoke into my abdomen, his voice muffled over the hospital sheet. His shoulders shook, and he gripped my hand in his and squeezed it hard.
My own tears spilled over at the devastation in his voice.
“Connor, I’m sorry.”
He stilled and lifted his face enough to meet my gaze. Hiseyes were red, and he licked his lips twice before shaking his head.
“You have nothing to be sorry about except not taking care of yourself. I wish you would’ve told me you weren’t feeling well.”
“What would that have done?”
“I would’ve known! I could’ve stayed here, helped you.”
I smiled, but he didn’t match it.
“I’ve been sick before. I’m a grown adult, and yeah, I could’ve told my parents or stayed home, but I loved the festival. I didn’t want you to worry about me or stress about it when you had to focus.” I swallowed, broaching the topic that had me twisted up. “Did you hear—”
“I fucking hate that you’re putting my job first.” He scrubbed his hand over his face. “We agreed on honesty. I’m upset you kept this from me.”
“I was gonna tell you tomorrow.” I sniffed as I placed my hands over my stomach. “I really didn’t want you distracted, and yet here you are. Is the meeting over? How did it go?”
Knock, knock.
“How is our sweetest patient this evening?” Kelly, a cheery nurse, walked in with a smile. “Oh, hello. Now, is this your husband?”
“Yes,” I said proudly.
“Good for you. Two attractive men in one night.”
Connor stiffened and flexed his jaw, and my stomach dropped.
“I need to check your vitals, okay, hon? Do you mind moving over there for a few minutes, handsome?”
Connor nodded and awkwardly released my hand to sit inthe chair my parents had been in ten minutes ago. While Kelly took my temperature and checked the machines, I stared at my husband.
His gaze never left mine, and he kept swirling his wedding ring around his finger over and over, like he was thinking hard about something. I couldn’t be certain whether he knew about me being pregnant. But I knew I had to tell him now.
“All looks good. Now that your vitals are settled, do you want to try eating anything?”
“Yeah,” I croaked out. “That’d be good.”
“They have you staying overnight for monitoring, and then we’ll get an ultrasound in here as well, to ensure the fetal heartbeat.” She smiled at me and then Connor. “Someone will be back in a few hours. Our vending machines are down the hall, and I know we have saltines in there.”
“Perfect,” I said, my pulse skyrocketing. Connor wasn’t stupid. He had to have heard the fetal heartbeat comment.
Kelly left, once again leaving the two of us alone, and I was nervous to look at Connor. How could I have thought it was a good idea not to tell him? I played with the bedsheet, my head spinning with indecision. What could I say? How do you speak when you’re clouded in guilt?
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” I faced the wall near the bathroom. My voice was all watery and weak. “I had a plan—”
“We’re having a baby,” Connor said, his voice just above a whisper. There wasn’t heat or anger in his tone. Just… wonder.
I snuck a glance at him, and my breath caught in my throat. He was smiling.
“We’re having a baby, Laney.” He barked out a laugh and puta hand over his chest, his eyes lighting up in a way I hadn’t seen before. Then his face shifted into a frown. “Wait, you… you want to be a mom, right? You want this… with me? If you don’t… I’ll—I—What do you want?”
Goddamn, I loved this man. This confident, badass leader who strutted into rooms was falling apart over me and our potential family.
