Right then, I thought I knew everything single thing about this man. His loves, his wants, his dreams. How he liked his coffee, his workout schedule, his favorite teams, which boot he pulled on first, how he liked me to kiss him, how he liked me under the sheets. Everything. I couldn’t imagine knowing another human being like I knew him.
And yet, there was something about me that he didn’t know. I sighed.
18
Cole
The longer I waited to tell her, the harder it was going to be to say the words. I talked to Ryan more, and I knew there was only one right thing to do. I had to go to Kabutur. One day of in-processing in Washington to update my clearance and then four days in the field. It would be the last time. The only time.
I hoped like hell she understood.
Christmas Eve night was the one night out of Christmas week that the Sinclaire family dressed up. Kaitlyn’s father wore a tie and her mother wore a cocktail dress for dinner. They served wine, the house was lit with candles, and her father kept a fire blazing in the fireplace all night.
There was Christmas music playing on the sound system. Ryan even shaved. I couldn’t say we celebrated this was in South Padre, but I was used to their traditions. I brought a button-up white shirt and extra dark jeans.
Kaitlyn fastened a pendant around her neck as my arms circled her waist. She smiled at our reflection in the mirror.
“You ready for Christmas Eve dinner?” she asked, leaning into my shoulder.
“Actually, I’m ready to spend some time with you.” I spun her so she was facing me. “We’ve been working all day on projects. What about you and me tonight?” My mouth descended to her neck.
She moaned and pressed her palms against my chest. “We can’t. This is the special night.” She used air quotes. “At least that’s what my parents call it.”
“I thought all the nights around here were special.” My eyes focused just below the pendant on her chest. God, her tits were incredible.
She stepped backward and slipped into heels. “They are. They definitely are.”
“You realize you aren’t covering anything up in this dress, darlin’.” Her bump was visible.
She pinched her lips together and brought my palms over her belly. “Cole?”
“Hmm?” All I wanted was to kiss her tits and strip the dress from her body. I wanted to take her to bed and fuck her until Christmas morning.
That could be our new tradition. One that Cole and Kaitlyn Thomas made.
“I need to tell you something.” She led me to the bed. “And promise me you won’t freak out.”
I stared at her. “That is when people freak out.”
She reached behind the pillow and retrieved a wrapped green box with a red velvet bow.
“What’s this?”
“An early present. Open it,” she whispered.
I lifted the lid. I saw a black and white copy of the ultrasound.
“Thanks?”
“Cole, look at it,” she urged. “Look at the date in the corner.”
I plucked the picture from the box. There was more to it. I held it up. “From today. Oh, this is the one you had done. I think it looks great. Your parents will love it.”
Kaitlyn huffed. “Look at the picture.”
I studied it for the last time and it finally hit me what Kaitlyn was trying to tell me. “Are there two? These are two babies?”
She nodded, dragging her lip under her teeth. “Twins.”