“Rae, talk to me. Seriously.”
I blinked. “Yes.”
“Yes, what? It’s a joke? It’s real? What is it?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat as I shook my head.
“Words, Rae. I still don’t know what you’re shaking your head at.”
I sniffled. “I’m pregnant.”
I waited with baited breath for his reaction. My hands trembled as they fell into my lap. I wiped the crusted toothpaste off my face with a swipe of my chin against my shoulder, trying to buy myself some time. Maybe I could still cover this up. Maybe I could still make this a joyous occasion.
Maybe I could still salvage tonight.
Clint grinned. “You’re pregnant.”
I nodded. “Yes.”
He moved closer to me. “We’re pregnant?”
“Yes, we are.”
He kept moving until he was sitting beside me. The bag was at the other end of the bathroom, the sneakers still gripped in his hand, the pregnancy test still on the floor.
“We’re having a baby?” he asked softly.
The second I whimpered, his arms were around me. A sob escaped from my mouth as I leaned into him. I felt his fingers running through my hair and the strength of his arms enveloping me. I turned into his chest, burying my watery eyes against his muscles. I felt him pull me into his lap. His legs spread, accommodating me as he cradled me against him. I felt the small sneakers pressing into my back. Reminding me of just how badly this had all gone.
“You were supposed to come home on time,” I said through my tears.
He peppered kisses along the top of my head. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I should’ve been here. And I swear to you, it will never happen again. You have my word.”
I sobbed. “I was supposed to be all sweet and pretty.”
“I know. You did a great job wrapping.”
I squeaked. “We were supposed to be happy!”
He held me closer. “We’re going to be a family. How in the world couldn’t I be happy?”
I sniffled deeply. “We were supposed to make love after you found out!”
I unleashed against his chest. I listened to him chuckle as he continued kissing every part of me he could find. He gripped my chin and tilted my head back. And when his lips found mine, my crying stopped. His tongue stroked me softly. His hand cradled the back of my head. I heard the sneakers fall to the bathroom floor as my arm slipped around his neck, holding him close as his kiss swept me away.
Like it always did.
“There we go,” he murmured.
His forehead fell against my own. I felt his thumb brushing away my tears. I sniffled hard, causing him to chuckle again before our gazes met. I sighed heavily. It felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. But when Clint smiled, all of my worries melted away.
“We’re going to be a family, Rae.”
I blinked. “You’re not upset?”
His own eyes filled with tears. “How could I be? I’m going to have a child with the woman I love most in this world. How could I ever be upset at that?”
I snickered. “You’re going to be a daddy, Clint.”