Reese places the test back in the box without a word, and I panic.
“You’re upset? It’s too soon?” My eyes water. “You said you didn’t care. That you wanted it.”
He abruptly silences me with a kiss, smashing his mouth so hard against mine that it cuts off my intake of air.
“I do want it.” His tone is hushed, laced with emotion. “But you just blindsided the shit out of me, woman.” He laughs through tears. “You didn’t even drop a hint.” He pulls away to look at me, his eyes shiny.
“I only realized it on the plane.” I take his hand and place it on my stomach. “It’s okay, right?”
“It’s so okay. More than okay.” He kisses me again, deliriously happy. Sheer jubilation surges through my system.
“I’m gonna be a daddy!” Reese stands up and screams, grabbing everyone’s attention in the terminal. I want to crawl into a hole. Why must he announce things to the entire world?? I pull him back down into his seat as people respond with congratulations.
“You’re nuts.”
“And you’re…” He just shakes his head and stares in awe.
“I’m what?”
“Everything. Just everything.” We kiss for what feels like hours. A new bond forming between us.
“Can you do me a favor?” I ask between enthusiastic embraces.
“Anything.” He slashes his tongue between my lips.
“Can we wait to announce it? I want to see a doctor and tell Sam in person. I don’t want our friends and family finding out through social media.” The moment I say it, I picture Dev’s face. I wonder how he’s going to take the news. I wonder what he thinks of our marriage. Reese hasn’t spoken to him since we left, and so much has changed in the last two months.
Nearly everything.
“I think that’s a good idea. I’d like to tell Dev face-to-face that he’s going to be an uncle.”
We share the same look of trepidation. We both know this news is going to affect him and not in a positive way. The way things ended will always upset me. Always haunt me. It could have been different.
I wouldn’t choose in the beginning. I wouldn’t choose in the end.
Reese wraps his arm around my shoulders, and I immediately cuddle up next to him. His body has become my safe haven.
There’s nothing left for us to do but move forward.
And we are.
Full fucking steam ahead.
* * *
We got homeclose to midnight. I’m usually an early riser no matter the time I fall asleep, but this morning, I feel like death. Reese got up hours ago to work out. We have four days before we have to leave again, so I plan to make the most of the time. Starting with coffee. No, not coffee. I’m pregnant. Shit. Laundry. I’ll start with laundry. The life of a motorcycle champion’s wife is so glamorous.
Knowing Reese, he’ll be gone a majority of the day. Something about dirt biking with Riley and Knight. I wasn’t listening; I wanted to sleep.
I grab my phone off the nightstand to check the time. It’s odd waking up in my own bed but gloriously familiar.
I have several text messages. One from Sam confirming lunch.Check.One from Reese bidding the baby and me good morning.Smile.And one from Tammy begging for a double date.I surmise the outlook is favorable.
I find myself grinning. I didn’t realize how much I missed being home until I actually came back.
I drag myself out of bed and empty the clothes from our suitcases. There’s enough laundry to keep me folding for a week.Lovely.
I empty Reese’s black backpack as well, the one he doesn’t go anywhere without. He usually keeps some spare clothes in there. As I dump the bag, a few shirts fall out along with a pack of gum and a pair of sunglasses. But I also hear a rattling sound. I search the bag but come up empty. What the fuck? I’m not crazy. I shake it again and blatantly hear thetink-tink-tink. Determined, I turn the book bag inside out, noticing a small tear on the inside seam. I fish my hand inside the hole and pull out two prescription bottles with Dev’s name on them.
