Page 84 of The Trouble with Flings

“How could I ever be sick of coming to see you? I would’ve come by your office today to satisfy your protein goals if you’d given me the green light,” I say in the low voice that I know turns her on. “What do you say, wild girl? Are you up for a little extracurricular activity this weekend?”

“What do you think, Boy Scout?”

She never disappoints. “I think one day, when all the students are gone, and it’s just you and me and a desk that needs christening, I’m going to take great pleasure in shattering that Boy Scout image.” I glance at the guys, still knocking the ball around on the court. I should get back to the game, but I’m not ready yet. “How was your day?”

“Give me a sec,” she says a little breathily. “I’m still thinking about you and me and my desk.” Then she gives me the highlight reel from her day.

“You had to break up a fight?” I ask. “I can’t say I’m a fan of that.”

“It’s part of the job, not a big deal. How’s resort life?”

I tell her about the renovations we’re doing to one of the cottages, the solar progress, and about a conversation I had with two of our longest-serving staff members that reminded me of one of the many reasons I love my job.

“All in all, it was a busy but productive day. But I almost slipped up and said something to my father about the baby.” I haven’t even told Wells about the baby. It’s killing me keeping it from everyone.

“You did?” she asks. “Does he know about me?”

“My whole family knows about you. Deirdra told her sister Abby that she ran into us in Costa Rica, and Abby told Keira, who was all too happy to bring it up at breakfast with my family.”

“God, really? That sounds painful.”

“It was fine. I mean, I usually keep my personal life private, so it was kind of a big deal for them to realize I was hung up on you.”

“You told them that? When was this?”

“A few weeks after we got back from Costa Rica. At the end of January, I think. Don’t worry. I told them you were hung up on me, too.”

“You lied to them?” she teases.

I laugh. “I was only kidding. I told them the truth.”

“Which was?”

“That you were still getting used to the idea of us. But everyone knows I’ve gone into the city the last couple of weekends, so when my father and I had lunch today and he asked how things were going, it almost slipped out.”

“That happened to me with Jayla today, too,” she admits. “What stopped you from telling your father?”

“I promised you I wouldn’t say anything until you were ready, and it sounds like you’re not ready yet, since you didn’t tell Jayla.” Disappointment moves through me.

“Actually, my whole family is going to be at my parents’ house Saturday for their anniversary,” she says softly. “I figured I’d tell everyone then.”

“That’s great,” I say with relief and surprise. “I was hoping we could tell my family Easter weekend. I’d like to be with you when you tell your family.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. This is going to come as a shock to everyone. I’m not sure how they’ll react.”

I’m not surprised she wants to do this on her own, and I know she can handle it, but this is too important for me to remain silent. “That’s even more of a reason I should be there. I’m not asking to step in and take over, or to claim you in front of your family. I’m asking to stand by your side when you tell them that you’re having our baby. I want your family to know that you’re not in this alone, and that you and our baby are important to me.”

I pause, letting that sink in. I know how big a decision this is for her. Meeting her family isn’t a casual step. It’s a line in the sand, and if she allows me to cross it, it’s a declaration that she believes in me and deems me worthy of sharing with her family.

“They deserve the peace of mind of knowing I’m not going to disappear when things get tough,” I add. “The choice is yours, wild girl, but you don’t have to walk into that room alone, and I’d prefer you didn’t.”

“Damn it, Fitz,” she says exasperatedly, but I hear her smiling, too. “I was going to say I could deal with it myself, but then you had to spew all those sweet things and remind me that you’re not a dick.”

I laugh.

“Showing up together is going to raise questions,” she warns. “About us and what this looks like going forward.”

“I realize that, but I don’t think we need to have all the answers. We just need to show them that no matter where we end up, we’re willing to work together in the best way we can for the good of our child.”