“Hey,” I growl while putting my fingers under her chin to tilt her face up. Her eyes are wide and shocked, her features pale. “Are you really pregnant?”
Tears rolls down her cheeks and she nods.
“Yes, Logan. I’m expecting your child.”
Her voice is quiet in the stillness of the room, but the words zing through my heart with excitement. Then, Emory reaches into the purse still slung over her arm, and pulls out what looks like a pregnancy test with a blue plus sign on it. I know what it means immediately, and pull her in for a kiss.
“We’re having a baby.”
She nods and then half-hiccup, half-sobs.
“Yes. Is that okay? I know the pregnancy’s unexpected, but if you remember, there were a few times when we didn’t use a condom—”
I shush her with another kiss.
“It’s fine, baby. In fact, nothing could make me happier. I’ve wanted to be a father for so long, and now, I’m finally getting the chance. Thank you, sweetheart. I love you and this baby so much already.”
The corner of her mouth lifts in a small, tearful smile.
“Even knowing that my parents are crazy?”
I nod.
“Even that. No offense, but I don’t care about your parents’ opinions. As long as you want me, I’m in. I want to be with you. I want you to move in here immediately. I don’t want to spend any more nights away from you, and I don’t want you sneaking around, especially with my baby in your belly. We belong here together and I love you, Emory.”
She smiles now, tears flowing freely.
“I love you too, Logan, and I would love to move in. I hated sneaking over all the time. It felt like I was in high school when really, I’m twenty-six!”
“Good,” I growl, pulling her close. I kiss my woman deep, and then I move down to the floor on my knees and kiss her belly too.
“Daddy loves you too, little guy. I can’t wait to meet you.”
Emory has tears in her eyes when I look back up at her, but the beautiful smile she’s giving me tells me these tears are the kind you shed when you’re overflowing with happiness. The best part is that it’s true. We’re both overflowing with happiness, and at that moment, Newton bounds into the room, his fluffy tail waving.
“Hey boy,” Emory greets while stroking his ears with one hand. “Are you ready for a little brother or sister?”
The silly Newfie bobs his head and that’s when my girlfriend and I laugh together, our souls joining as one. After all, I’ve never been happier and can’t wait to start our lives anew, with the curvy girl at my side.
Epilogue
Emory
Three months later.
“Seriously,” Janie says, holding up a pink ruffled baby dress. “It’s like they make baby clothes super cute just to trigger our hormones so we think we need to go out and make lots of babies. I swear, my ovaries are quivering right now, just looking at this dress.”
I look over at Janie and laugh.
“You might be right.” I rub my growing belly. “I’m already so excited to meet my daughter and we’ve still got a few months to go.”
“You’re going to be a great mom,” Janie says with approval. “Seriously girl, you are absolutely glowing right now, and it’s going to be a wonderful time of your life.”
I grin.
“Thanks, but what about you, Janes? You said these clothes make women want babies. Are you feeling the motherhood vibe? Is there something you haven’t been telling me?”
My buddy makes a face.
“No. Definitely not. I’m too single for making babies. Besides, luckily for me, as soon as I get home, I’ll see that disgusting dickwad Jerry, and he’ll cure me of wanting a baby anytime in the near future.”
I scrunch up my nose.
“You mom still hasn’t kicked him to the curb yet? How can that be, if he never bathes?”
Janie rolls her eyes.
“I have no idea! I swear, I thought Sheena had bad taste in men before, but now it’s absolutely atrocious. But there is one good thing about Jerry,” she acknowledges.
Laughing, I look at her like she’s crazy.
“Really? That seems hard to believe, given what you’ve told me so far. What is it?”
Janie gets a devilish look in her eye.
“Well, Jerry started having his friends over for poker night once a month. It’s no big deal. Just a couple other guys, but one of the other guys is this man named Brand.” She fans herself dramatically. “Girl, this guy is H-O-T! He wears these jeans that show off his ass, and he’s so tall and handsome. I just know his package is huge too. I’ve been thinking about walking around in lingerie during the poker nights, just to get Brand’s attention.”
I giggle.
“Yeah, but how would that work? I mean, Jerry’s there, right? And the other two guys? You don’t want them to see you, do you?”