Her breath catches.
Her arms come around me.
“Yes,” she whispers.
And that’s it.
That’s all it takes.
A laugh rips out of me—half disbelief, half pure, unfiltered joy—as I bury my face in her neck.
“Fuck,” I breathe. “Ezzy, we’re havin’ a baby.”
A family.
Mine.
Ours.
The house flashes in my mind.
The one I built.
The one we dreamed about.
It felt big before.
Too big, maybe.
Too empty.
Not anymore.
Not with her in it.
Not with what’s coming.
Not with everything we’re about to build together.
I pull back just enough to look at her, my hands framing her face.
“You hear me?” I tell her, my voice steady now. Certain. “You’re not doin’ this alone. Never again. I love you, Esme.”
Her eyes shine brighter.
“I know,” she says.
Damn right she does.
“Never again,” I add.
Because I mean that shit.
With everything I am.
“I love you too, Benji.”
Then, she smiles.
