He's gentle as he pulls out of me. I feel tender and sore. I love feeling like that— I needed to feel something this good.
Afterwards, we both lie here quietly, feeling tired. This gives me some time alone with my thoughts. I continue to think about everything that's going on with Derek.
I come to the realization that I don't need him,just like I don't need my parents. I'm doing just fine. I have created my own little familyhere and that's all that I need.
That's not to say that the situation doesn't make me sad because it does. Derek was the one who raised me and looked out for me when I didn't have anyone.
I definitely feel like something is missing without him. I wish things could be different between us, but I know how stubborn Derek can be and I don't see this situation getting resolved between us anytime soon.
One can only hope that a situation like this will be resolved somehow. The only thing I can do is hope that my brother Derek comes to his senses or maybe that Steve or even Janice or I can talk to him one day and that he will eventually come around.
I know that won't be true for my parents, but at least I can have hope for my brother. It would be very tragic for our relationship to end this way.
I turn over and snuggle into Steve's arms as our baby continues to sleep soundly in her cradle. Steve and I fell asleep again, cuddling each other. I feel happy and complete now that I'm with him.
I feel like I have my own little family, and that's all I ever wanted. I'm complete. The man I crushed on is now the father of my baby. Whatever the future brings, I'm sure we'll face it together.
I wake up a little while later to check on the baby. She is still sound asleep. So, I get out of bed and walk around for a little bit. Steve is sleeping deeply as well and snoring softly. I just look at him and smile, feeling so overwhelmed with emotions once again.
I just can't get over the fact that the man of my dreams is here and that he's helping me with this baby. I know that any other man would have run out of here without even a backwards glance.
It seems like Steve's determined to stay and make this whole situation work out between us.
I am truly grateful and happy for him.
And when he wakes up, I realize that he must feel the exact same way because he turns and looks at me and the baby with a happy grin on his face and says, “I know what we should name her.”
“What’s that?” I ask curiously.
“Felicity.”
Chapter 18 – Bella
The next morning Steve and I are in the living room of Janice’s parents’ vacation house together.I'm in my pajamas but Steve is freshly showered and dressed.
"I'm sorry I have to leave but Coach wants me to check out some potential recruits with him so we can get a jump on the drafts for next season. But I still have a lot of time off since we’re in between seasons. So, I promise I'll be back here later," he apologizes.
I step forward and kiss his cheek.
"Don't worry about it; you do what you need to do. Felicity and I are going to be just fine," I answer with a smile.
He smiles, too, and holds me in his arms for a few more seconds. I'm liking being here with him and getting used to being treated this way. I'm very hopeful about our future together. So far it looks very promising.
I'm really glad that things are working out so well between us. This is the happiest I've ever been in my entire life. And honestly, this is all I've ever wanted ever since the moment I first saw Steve way back when.
Who would have thought that my silly childhood crush could have turned into an actual relationship?
"I want this to work out between us. I want us to be a family. I can afford to take care of you and are our baby, and I want to," Steve answers.
I smile at him and kiss him again.
"That sounds wonderful! I love that and I want that as well. You do know that I have plans to go back to school for another semester once this maternity leave is over, though, right?" I inform him.
He kisses me back.
"Yes, I gathered that much. But we’ll work it all out. I love you and I love how ambitious you are, and I support that idea," he says. “I want you to be happy and to fulfill all your dreams because you’ve made mine come true.”
I can feel myself blushing as I leave his embrace.