Beckett looks at me carefully, then tilts his head in acknowledgment. “Okay, sis. I’ll finish up here, then I’m heading home. If you need anything, just call. Cam and I are around.”
I force a small smile to my face. More flipping tears are forming, but if Beckett sees them, he’ll know there’s more going on than just disappointment that Hunter won’t be home tonight, so I blink them back, then trudge up to my front door along the path he’s already cleared and salted.
Once I’m inside, I drop my work bag right there in the entryway, kick off my boots, and put my coat in the closet. Gigi comes strutting down the hall and starts weaving around my ankles. Bending over, I scoop her up and cuddle her close to my chest, those dang tears falling freely down my cheeks now.
Giving Gigi one final squeeze, I set her down and go back to my bag to fish out my cell phone. Sure enough, when I turn it back on, there’s multiple calls and messages from Hunter. Not bothering to wait to read any of them, I press the call button to connect with him.
“Kitty Kat? Are you okay? Fuck, babe, I was so worried when you didn’t answer me. Are you okay? Are you home?”
He sounds frantic, and the tears start to fall even faster. He’s going to be such an amazing dad. He’s so protective and caring. Emotions pile on top of one another. Sinking down in the corner of my couch, I manage to get out a few words. “I’m okay. I just got home, they closed the clinic early.” My breath catches. “I wish you were here.”
“Baby. What’s wrong. Something’s wrong, I know it, and it’s killing me that I’m not there with you. Please talk to me. Please.”
Panic, worry, and his undying love ring true in his every word. And in this moment, I realize I can’t hold it in any longer. It’s not fair to him, and it’s not fair to me.
“I’m pregnant.”
Chapter six
Hunter
My brain stutters over those two words.
“I’m pregnant.”
“Wait. What?” I push the button to switch to a video call. My heart is racing. As soon as the call connects and I see her tear-streaked face, relief hits me, followed by a whole fresh fuckery of panic. “Babe, did you say…”
She nods, swiping at the tears, a tremulous smile creeping over her face. “I’m pregnant. We’re having a baby.”
My mouth flaps open and shut a few times as I try to reconcile that announcement in my head and in my heart.
“I’m about eight weeks, I think? I don’t really know, I booked an appointment with the midwife clinic for next week. My period was really light last month and then I started feeling nauseous and I can’t smell coffee and my boobs hurt and —” She cuts off with a gasp. And because it’s so obvious to me that my normally unflappable love is freaking the hell out, something shifts inside of me.
She needs me.
“Babe, take a deep breath with me. C’mon, Kitty Kat. In, hold. Out, hold.” I nod encouragingly as I see her try to follow. “That’s it, and again. In, hold. Out, hold. Good girl. We’re doing this, babe. One more.” I coach Kat through a few more cycles of breathing until she’s visibly calmer.
“I’m sorry, Hunter,” she starts, but I immediately begin to shake my head.
“No way. Don’t you dare apologize for a damn thing, Kat. Don’t apologize for this baby, or for your tears, or for your fears. I’m here for it all.”
A tremulous smile breaks free on her beautiful face. “Okay. Sorry.”
A throaty chuckle escapes me. “Don’t start that again.” She gives me a knowing glance. A Canadian standoff is what she called it when we were early on in our relationship and got caught in a loop of apologies for some stupid reason or another. Granted, that time we were together and resolved things in a much more fun way than we can right now.
“Are you really okay with this, Hunter?” Kat whispers, and the vulnerability in her voice makes me ache to hold her. “It wasn’t in our plan to have kids so soon. This changes everything.”
“Am I okay with having a mini-me walking around, hopefully with the best parts of you, which, let’s face it, is every part, staring back at me?” I tilt my head and wink. “Of fucking course I am. This is amazing, Kat. A surprise, sure. But the best kind. Areyousure you’re okay with it, though? Because if you’re not, then we work through our options. You’re in control, Kitty Kat.”
Kat’s mouth falls open and I inwardly wince. Did I say the wrong thing? Then her eyes fill with more tears.Oh shit, I fucked up…
“Hunter Callaghan. We are keeping this baby. No matter what.” Her face softens, but I’m still holding my breath. “But I love you and thank you for saying that. I’m not gonna lie, I freaked out. Heck, I still am. And I wish you were here to hold me as I freak out. But I’m excited, I swear.”
I exhale on a shaky laugh. “Good. Fuck, Kat, we’re gonna be parents?”
She nods slowly. “We are.”
“That’s kind of amazing. Like a miracle, right? I mean, you’re on the pill, and yet this kid was so determined to exist, they defied the odds.”
