“I can handle it, Grant,” I say as he steps inside the bathroom with me.
He ignores me, reaching into the bag and pulling out the pile of tests. He opens one box and removes the two tests before facing me again.
I stare at him, but it’s futile.
“Do you always get your way?” I huff as I pull my jacket off a little harder than necessary. I toss it on the counter before sliding my panties and jeans down my thighs. I sit on the toilet, reaching my hand out for the test.
He hands it to me wordlessly.
“For the record, this is the first and ONLY time I have peed in front of someone.”
He doesn’t take his eyes off me as I uncap the test and slip it between my thighs. I remove the test, placing the cap on and handing it to him. It’s only now I realize how scared he is in this moment as well.
I pull my pants up and wash my hands. He places the test face down on the counter as he sets a timer on his phone.
Neither of us speaks.
I step into his embrace, burying my face in his chest as he wraps his arms around me tightly. I will myself not to cry. I focus on my breath.
In through the nose.
Out through the mouth.
It feels like an eternity when the alarm bell rings, my heart lurching into my throat.
“Oh my God, I can’t,” I say, shaking my head as I cover my face with my hands. “You do it.”
He stares at me, blinking several times before reaching down and flipping the test over so we both see the screen staring back at us with one single word.
Pregnant.
22
Grant
A Few Months Later . . .
* * *
“You’re teaching again today?”
I can’t hide the concern in my voice as I watch Leigh frantically flit around the kitchen. She grabs a few Tupperware containers from the fridge and shoves them into her lunch bag.
“Of course I’m teaching, Grant. I can’t just stop everything, I have a business to run.”
I take a long sip of my coffee, trying not to let my anxiety get the best of me. She places her bag on the counter and walks over to me. She takes the coffee cup from my hands and sets it on the counter beside me, placing her hands in mine.
“The doctor said everything is okay. The baby is healthy and so am I.”
I stare down at her big round eyes and my heart aches. I don’t know what I would do if she lost this baby. I know it would destroy her this time, and I can’t stomach the thought of seeing her fall apart again.
I squeeze her hands, letting go of them as I wrap my arms around her small body and kiss the top of her head.
“I understand. I just worry about you and the baby.”
“I know. I promise I’m taking all the precautions.” She smiles at me, pushing herself up on her tiptoes to plant a soft kiss on my lips.
One thing I hadn’t expected to kick into overdrive even more was my sex drive. There’s something so visceral about knowing that this woman is carrying my child, and it makes me want to lay claim to her every second of every day.
I reach around her body, cupping her backside through her spandex leggings. I give it a squeeze, pushing her against me.
“Easy, big guy, you already made me late by jumping in the shower with me this morning.”
She hasn’t started showing yet and we decided we aren’t going to tell anyone until her 12-week scans in a few days.
“Can’t help it, you’re too sexy.” I nibble her ear before releasing her. “By the way, the movers will be at your apartment tomorrow. I’m off that day, so no need to worry about being there. I’ll make sure they handle everything with care.”
She smiles at me, shaking her head when she realizes she completely forgot to book them. “I’m sorry, baby, I completely forgot. Thank you for booking them for me. Think I already have a touch of pregnancy brain going on.”
“That’s why I’m here. Now you go teach, and I’ll check in with you throughout the day. Don’t forget to make sure you’re not scheduled to work on Friday. We have your 12-week appointment and the gala at the hospital back in Denver.”
“Got it in my calendar,” she says, holding up her phone as she grabs her gym bag, keys, and lunch box. She spins back around, scanning the room. “Did I get everything?”
I reach in the fridge and get her water bottle. She bounds over, throwing her free arm around me and planting one last kiss before grabbing her bottle and heading out.
She’s pretty much moved into my lake house, something she shockingly didn’t object to when I brought it up a few weeks ago. I thought for sure she’d still insist on her own space and independence, which normally I’d respect, but with my baby inside her, it was going to be non-negotiable anyway.
I run my hands over my face. I’m exhausted. Between sleeping like shit from worry, and my demanding work schedule split between Grand Lake and Denver, I have to figure something out before the baby gets here.
Leigh and I spoke only once about where we planned on ultimately living, neither of us settling on one place or the other. The logical option is Denver. I have a condo downtown near the hospital, my mom is 15 minutes away, and Leigh’s parents are 25 minutes away. On the other hand, I like our life out here, and so does Leigh.
I walk over to my office, taking a seat and opening the safe I’d installed in my desk. I pull out the engagement ring I had made for Leigh several weeks back. My heart feels full and warm when I look at it. It’s beautiful and I know she’ll love it. I can’t wait to slide it on her finger, but I know that now isn’t the time. I don’t want her feeling like she’s an obligation because she’s carrying my child. I also don’t want her to feel like it’s just something I’m doing because of the timing of everything. When I ask her, I want her to know that it’s the most important question—and the most important decision—I’ll ever make in life. I close the box and place the ring back inside the safe.
I glance at the clock. Leigh should’ve made it to her studio by now. I pull my phone out and send her a message.
Me: Hey, sweetheart, you make it to work okay? Miss you already.
Her response is almost instant.
Leigh: Yes, made it the two-and-a-half miles without any carjackings or exploding semi tankers. Miss you too.
She ends the message with the eye roll emoji and a heart.
In situations like this, I can’t decide if I want to spank her ass till its pink for being a smart-ass about how worried I am, or laugh at the never-ending attitude that comes out of her tiny body. I smile and slide the phone in my pocket as I grab my keys and head over to the small hospital.
I hold my breath as I grasp Leigh’s hand—both of us staring at the monitor as the doctor runs the camera over her lower belly.
“Baby is measuring right on target,” the doctor says as the familiar rapid fluttering sounds fill the room.
Relief washes over me and I let out an audible sigh. I look down at Leigh and watch as a single tear falls down her cheek and she lets out a shaky breath.
“Everything is okay, though?” she asks, not letting go of my hand.
The doctor smiles, turning the monitor a little closer to us so we can see what she’s pointing at.