Ignoring his offered hand, I ask, “Where’s Tenley?”
He makes a show of dropping his hand, but I swear to God his eyes are laughing.
“She’s taking a nap.”
A nap… because she’s pregnant. Pregnancy is exhausting. I remember. My stomach contracts.
I stand there, unsure of what to say, and whoever the fuck this is doesn’t have shit to say either.
“Warner?”
Tenley comes from behind the guy. Her hair is gathered into a ponytail that drapes over her shoulder. She’s wearing my T-shirt.
Every protective cell in my body springs forth. I go to her. I don’t know who this asshat is, and I don’t care. Tenley is mine. Everything I’ve felt since she walked out six weeks ago spews forth, a dam finally burst.
“Tenley, I—”
She shakes her head. Pulls me away. I don’t look at the guy. He stopped existing the moment I saw Tenley.
I can’t pay attention to her home, even as she’s leading me through it. All I see is her in front of me.
She takes me out a set of doors and into her backyard. She sits on a lounge chair, and I sit on it too. There’s no way I’m taking a seat separate from her.
“Why are you here?”
My hand rakes over my face. I had hours to prepare my speech, but the words have disappeared. I open my mouth and wing it. The words come from the center of my chest. “Every second since you walked out of Wyatt’s cabin has been worthless. I thought I’d been through hell and back and didn’t know something else could hurt more, and then you left, and I found out it was possible. I resigned myself to living a life where I was always going to be in love with you, but not have you. I thought I was being gallant, giving you up so you could go on to have the things you want out of life.”
Tenley cuts in. “Warner, are you here because you heard I’m pregnant? I hate to break it to you, but—”
“Only partially. I’m here because I can’t be gallant. I can’t do the right thing and let you go. I love you and you’re mine and I want the baby even if I’m not the father. I want the baby because it’s yours and I love anything and everything that has to do with you.” I’m well aware whoever the man is that opened the door is probably watching this exchange right now. “Am I going to be a dad again? Or is it the guy who opened the door?”
Tenley covers her eyes with her hands, fingers pressing into her brow bones. “Oh my God, Warner. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh. You just said you love me.” Her hands peel away. Her eyes are glistening.
I grab her hand. Hold it in both of mine. Fuck that guy inside, whoever he is.
“That guy is the father. But it’s not my baby.” Her head shakes back and forth in double time. “I’m not pregnant.”
My chest grows tight and a heaviness settles in. What in the actual fuck are these feelings? I’m… sad. Disappointed. And the rest of me is running around trying to figure out my reaction.
Tenley’s free hand cups my cheek. “Warner? You look unhappy.”
I turn into her touch. Kiss the inside of her palm, relish in the scent of her skin I thought I’d only smell in memories. “Not unhappy. Confused. I feel disappointed.”
Tenley’s head cocks sideways, her loose ponytail leaning precariously to one side. “You wanted me to be pregnant? Help me understand, Warner. Because this is the opposite of everything you said in Sierra Grande.”
“I know. This change of heart is happening in real time. You’re seeing it as I’m living it.” I can’t believe this. I’m floored. Fucking dumbfounded. What is happening to me? “I’m sorry, Tenley. I know this sounds crazy. It seems impossible and unbelievable. Life smacked me around and I assumed I wasn’t supposed to have a second chance at anything. But I was wrong. My life didn’t end at thirty-five.” I stare into those eyes that have stolen my heart. “It feels like it’s just getting started. And I refuse to miss out on you.”
Tenley stares at me. Her lips part just slightly. Her face softens. And then, blessedly because I’m dying over here, a grin tugs up one corner of her mouth.
“Are you going to kiss me, or what?”
I don’t have time to be slow or sweet. I have six weeks to make up for, and I intend to make good on every one of those missed opportunities.
I kiss her like she’s made of air and I’m out of oxygen. I can’t get enough of her.
Tenley melts against me, and I send up a quick thanks to the man above. Not only a second chance with Tenley, but a second chance for a happy, full life.
“Well, well, well,” a voice says. A female voice. Probably the one who answered the intercom.
Tenley pulls away and brushes her knuckles across her lips. She looks at me from under her lashes and winks at me. “Morgan, this is Warner Hayden.”
The woman standing off to the side of the lounge chair looks down at me with a narrowed-eye gaze that isn’t totally full of distrust. I think I see some amusement in there somewhere. She’s holding Libby, who wriggles in her grasp. She sets the dog down and her hands go to her hips. “I sure as hell hope so, or I’d be very confused.”
Libby races to me and jumps on the chair. Tenley moves back to let her in, and she paws my chest and licks my chin.
Tenley laughs and points at Morgan. “If you haven’t already noticed, Morgan is the one who’s pregnant.”
I hadn’t, but Morgan turns to the side, smoothes her shirt over her stomach, and there it is. A little baby bump.
“Congratulations,” I say.
“Thank you.” She rubs her belly, but her eyes stay on me. “What are your intentions with my best friend?”
I hadn’t thought much beyond getting to Tenley and telling her how I feel. I open my mouth to say that but Tenley answers for me. “I want a cozy house on a little bit of land. Maybe next to the Verde River, so Libby can play and swim.”
I wind my fingers through hers. “You want to live in Sierra Grande?”
“Of course. Peyton and Charlie should be with their family. And I kind of fell in love with small-town life.” She grins. “And the rest of the Hayden family.”
“What about your career?” I know she was planning to take a break, but can Tenley really be happy not making movies?
She shrugs. “If I want to go back later, maybe I will. I’ll leave the door ajar.”
Morgan taps her thigh and whistles, and Libby scurries over. “It was nice to meet you, Warner. We’ll chat later.” She takes Libby inside with her.
I lean in and nuzzle Tenley’s cheek. “I met a Morgan once. On the side of the road.”
“Weird.”
“Mm-hmm.”
My lips find hers. Against them, I say, “I love you.” I want her to hear it and feel it.
“I love you too, Warner.”
They are the five most beautiful words I’ve ever heard her say.
Epilogue
“Can we get out of here?” Tenley pounds her feet on the passenger side floorboard. Pearl’s metal construction makes it sound like a drum.
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen Tenley so excited. It thrills me to know moving to Sierra Grande makes her this happy.