“I do?” I’m having a hard time processing all this. Vin in my apartment. Dr. Rossi nodding calmly beside him. A baby in my belly. “And your solution to that is what?”
He turns, slapping a very blackened square onto a plate and hands it to me with a grin. “Grilled cheese.”
I look at it, then at him, then at Rossi. Taking it from him, I sigh. “Thank you, Vin. But this is just not what I need right now. I need a shower. I need bed.”
Vin steps in close to me and slides his arms around my waist. “After you eat and let Dr. Rossi examine you and the baby, I’ll make sure you get both.” He nuzzles into my neck and I can’t help but laugh. “At home.”
I pull back, frowning. “At home? Vin, I’m home.”
Vin snaps his fingers at Dr. Rossi. “Let the man do his job, Sophia.”
I scowl at Vin, but let Dr. Rossi give me a full examination while Vin hovers six inches a way, glaring at the doctor every time he touches me.
“Everything looks good,” Dr. Rossi finally concludes. “Based on your bloodwork, I have some supplements for you to start taking every day. As long as there are no issues, I will see you in a month.”
“A month?” Vin snaps. “Fuck that. You’ll see her in a few days.”
“Vin, it’s not necessary,” I say softly.
“Fine. Every week then,” he concedes. “Now pack a bag for yourself. I’m taking you home.”
“No. I’m taking a shower and going to bed, Vin. I told you that.”
“No, you’re coming home where it’s safer. I can’t protect you as well here, and there’s no way I’m letting my wife and child camp out in the middle of Manhattan. This place is a glorified tent, Sophia.”
I push past him, heading to my room. “Not your wife, Vin. And you’re making it sound like I’m a bad mother. I don’t appreciate that.”
He grabs me, spinning me back into his arms. “You are an amazing mom, but this pregnancy is my fault and you need to let me protect our child.”
I can’t help but laugh at the earnest look on his face. “Vin! I told you that I made my choices. I knew the risks. I’ll be honest: I didn’t really think it was going to happen. I mean we only had sex a few times, and it didn’t happen when we were first together.”
Vin grips my shoulders, his expression hardening. “What are you saying? Are you trying to tell me you think there’s a chance that this baby isn’t—”
I slap my hand over his mouth. “Think before you speak. Would I tell you this baby is yours if I thought for a second that it was possibly someone else’s?”
His whole face softens and he kisses my palm. When I pull it away, he looks ashamed. “I’m sorry.”
I sigh. “This isn’t a sustainable situation, Vin.”
“What isn’t?” He slides his hands under my shirt, and starts to lifts it up over my head, but I stop him.
“Vin,” I hiss, tilting my head at Rossi who is standing patiently by the door.
His brow furrows until he sees what I’m looking at. “Rossi, go down to the restaurant and wait with Jett and Darius until we’re ready.”
I sigh as Dr. Rossi leaves and smack Vin’s hands away as he tries to take off my shirt the second the door shuts. “You can’t be next to me every minute.”
“The fuck I can’t. You’re carrying my child, you’re going to be my wife, and there’s a fucking war on. I’m not going anywhere without you.” He leans back against the counter and watches me as I get a butter knife out of the drawer.
“I’m not going to be your wife.” I bump his hip to move him out of the way in my tiny kitchen and scrape some of the extra black off the sandwich into the sink.
“That’s not negotiable.” His gaze stays on my mouth.
“It absolutely is. Just because I’m pregnant doesn’t mean I have to get married, nor does it mean I have to marry you.” I tap the knife against the sink to get rid of the extra char then flip the sandwich and start again.
“That’s not very traditional of you,” Vin growls. “Didn’t you say you wanted to have a traditional marriage?”
“Yes, and I still do.” I can feel his tension skyrocket and mentally brace myself.
