Tears lodge in my throat as I tear the check out of the book.
I never thought I’d choose anything over Preston. Ever.
But this baby didn’t choose to be conceived.
Someone has to love them and take care of them.
“What the hell is this?” Preston grunts when I hand it to him.
A tear makes its way down my cheek and I quickly wipe it away. “Don’t cash it until next week. That’s when the money will be in my account.”
He glances at me. Then at the check. Then at me again.
If I thought he was angry before, it doesn’t even compare to right now. He’s downright livid.
“Are you…why the fuck are you handing me a check for two million?”
“It’s what we agreed upon when you married me.” I place my hand on my stomach protectively. “Take it and go.”
His tongue finds his cheek. He’s glaring at me like I’m positively certifiable. “Are you fucking crazy?”
“Please don’t make this any harder.”
Because it’s taking everything I have not to shatter.
“Make what any harder?” The tendons in his neck strain. “Talk to me, Kit.”
I try to leave the room, but he blocks the door. “Kit—”
And that’s when I lose it.
“Just stop,” I yell so loud Preston’s eyes widen. “I know you don’t want this baby. I get it. I don’t need you to look me in the eyes and scream it in my face again.” I clutch my chest. My heart is pounding so hard I feel like it’s going to burst right through my ribcage. “Hearing you say it again will kill me. So just go. Please.”
His jaw tics and his eyes darken…
And then he rips up the check.
“I don’t want the money.” His expression fills with anguish as he steps closer. “I want you…and our baby.”
I feel like he just knocked the wind out of me with those words. “But—”
“I didn’t mean what I said,” he growls. “I told you that.”
He did, but I wasn’t sure if he was being serious or just saying he didn’t because I led him to believe it was a false alarm.
Preston isn’t always the easiest person to get a read on.
I cross my arms over my chest. “I thought you were just saying you didn’t mean it because I told you there was no baby.”
He snorts. “I guess I have my answer.”
I’m assuming he means the answer to why I lied. “I also didn’t want to do anything that would hurt your progress and cause you to…you know.”
“Act like a shithead and go on a gambling bender again?”
His slow smile grips my heart.
“That’s putting it mildly, but yeah.”
“Fair enough, but I’m not the only one who acted like a shithead here.” He gestures to the ripped-up check on the floor. “I can’t believe you tried to pay me off.” Genuine hurt splashes across his face. “Did you honestly think I would go for it? That I’d seriously walk out on my wife and child for money?”
I’d like to think he wouldn’t, but I wasn’t sure. Not after that night.
He takes another step, closing the space between us. “Not for two million. Not for ten million. Not for a hundred billion.” He tips my chin. “There is no amount of money—no amount of anything—that would ever make me leave you.” He sucks in a ragged breath. “Or this baby.”
And that’s when I burst into tears.
Something that visibly alarms Preston.
“What is it? What’s happening now?”
I start flapping my hands, trying to shoo them away. “I’m pregnant.”
I didn’t think anything could make me more emotional, but surprise. A bun in the oven will do it.
His lips curve with a ghost of a smile. “With my baby.”
Still crying, I share his smile. “Duh.”
He looks down. “Can I see?”
I take off my shirt because it’s just easier that way.
Preston drops to his knees, his hands going to my belly that is definitely noticeable now.
“How far along are you?”
“I’m sixteen weeks today.”
I’m about to give him the run down on how it happened, but Mr. Math wizard peers up at me. “This happened in Hawaii?”
“Yup. Plan B didn’t work. Your little swimmer had already hitched a ride onto my egg by the time I took it.” I laugh without humor. “Still happy you followed my ass there now?”
He presses a kiss to my belly. “I’d do it all over again, angry girl.”
And just like that, the butterflies are back.
For real…because there’s a genuine fluttering in my tummy going on.
What the hell is happening?
Preston kisses my stomach again…and I feel it a second time.
“Holy shit. That’s not possible.”
Preston raises a brow. “What’s not possible?”
“According to baby whisperer Juan, I’m not supposed to feel the baby move until week twenty, but I definitely just felt it. Twice.”
Preston doesn’t look convinced. “Are you sure it’s not just gas?”
“Positive.” Because Lord knows I’ve had a lot of that. “I know what butterflies feel like.”
Preston gives them to me every time he kisses me.
And apparently our baby, too.
“Fine. Let’s test out this theory.”
He presses his lips to my tummy, and low and behold, it happens for a third time.
“Yup. More butterflies.”
He brings his ear to my belly like he’s trying to hear something. “Now you’re just fucking with me.”
Why would I lie? To be honest, I’m kind of jealous the baby reacted to him instead of me.
“I am not. The baby clearly likes you.”
Which isn’t a very smart move on their part because I’m the fun one.
Then again, I can’t really blame them…
Because I love him.
“Well, they shouldn’t.” His gaze rests on my belly. “I’m an asshole.”
I cup my hand over my mouth and look down. “It’s true. He is. But his good traits outnumber his bad ones.”
Most of the time.
“I wish I didn’t have to go back to rehab.” His brows knit as he stands. “I feel like I’ve lost so much time. I missed your entire first trimester.”
I missed most of it, too.
I wave a hand. “Wasn’t that great. Trust me. A lot of burgers followed by a lot of puke…and an aversion to burritos that I’ll never shake.”
Remembering what I was doing before I got the phone call about my Nanna; I grab his hand. “Come on, I want to show you something.”
“Where are we going?” he questions as I lead him to the room directly across the hall.
The room he’s never been in before.
I open the double doors. “This was my parents’ room…but now it’s going to be the baby’s nursery. What do you think?” I walk around. “I haven’t had a chance to build the crib or get anything we’ll need yet, but I’m hoping when it’s done it will look really nice in here.”