He shakes his head, the grin on his lips turning into a full-blown smile. “Oh Bailey, you silly girl. I hated the thought of having a baby with another woman. You really thought I would think the same about you?”
“Well… a baby is a baby…” I let my shoulders sag. “You said your life was over, everything was ruined.” I want to lean into him so badly, to press my face into his chest, but I need to hear him tell me everything is going to be okay. I need to know that he still wants me, even though I now represent a life he never wanted.
“I was scared shitless that I would lose you. I was scared my life would be over, my life with you. Because that’s the only thing that matters to me. You are my life. I was scared it would ruin us. The last thing I wanted was a baby with another woman because I knew then that my chance with you, my chance at a future with you was over.”
All of it starts to sink in, and the tears I was holding back start to fall.
“Does… does this mean you still want me?”
“Want you?” He arches a brow. “I don’t just want you. I have to have you. I’m lost without you. I fucking love you.” Then he does something I never would’ve expected him to do. He drops to his knees in front of me and slips his hands beneath my shirt, shoving it up and over my belly, his lips press to my stomach. His lips against my flesh make my knees weak and I grab onto the counter to steady myself.
“I cannot promise you that I won’t fuck this up a time or three, because I barely know what the fuck I’m doing right now, but I promise you that I will do right by you and our baby in every way possible. I’ll care for you, cherish you, and love you both for as long as I live.”
The tears keep falling, the adoration in his words, his voice, it wraps around me like a blanket sheltering me from a storm of heartache. I wasn’t expecting this. Expecting him to be so open-armed about this baby.
“Does this mean? We’re not only together, but having a baby too?”
Peering up at me, his hand still on my belly, he says, “We’re doing it all, Sunflower, together. I want you and I’m not giving you up. You’re mine, that baby growing inside you is mine too, and I take care of what is mine.”
“I love you,” I manage to get out around the sobs escaping my throat.
“I love you too. More than I could’ve ever expected to. You’ve changed me, Bailey. You made me into a man worthy of love, worthy of you.”
Unable to take his words a second longer, I pull him in for a kiss, drinking him in, letting him fill me up. I’ve never been so in love, so consumed by someone. The fear, the excitement of it all. I’ve only ever dreamed of being with my best friend, of being his completely, but now we’re so much more than that.
Now we’re going to be more than a couple. We’re going to be parents.
With his thumbs he strokes my cheeks, his lips never leaving mine, his eyes bleeding into mine promising me with nothing more than a look that he will forever be mine, and I will be his in return.
20
Elijah
* * *
The little box in my pocket can’t weigh more than a few ounces, yet it feels like thirty pounds of weight dragging down my pants with every step I take. I know it’s all in my head, that I’m freaking myself out, but I can’t help it, fear and excitement has my mind scrambled and my senses
Everything is going to be fine.
She loves you. Why would she say no?
I look down at the woman that I have my arm wrapped around as we walk into the restaurant. Her breasts are fuller now and her belly is so round that she’s started waddling a little when she walks. She gives the hostess a warm smile, it’s so infectious that I feel my own lips form into a smile for no reason other than looking at hers.
Bailey’s hand skims over her swollen belly as the hostess leads us to the table. Our daughter will be born in only a few months. The thought doesn’t scare me anymore, not like it used to. When I first found out I was having a little girl, I almost had a heart attack. I asked myself if I was going to be good enough to be her dad. But now I’m over it. Now I’m so fucking excited I don’t even remember what it felt like not to want to be a dad.
The moment I heard that heartbeat through that machine at the OBGYN, I was done for. I didn’t think it was possible to love Bailey any more than I already did, but I was wrong. It seems that I love her more with every passing day. Our love seems to be endless, and I already know that I will love our child with just as much love.
I pull out the chair for Bailey before taking the seat beside her. Asher takes a seat next to us, Erin and her new fling sit on the other side of the table while Bailey’s dad and her sister and her husband sit across from us.
Tomorrow night our new club opens its doors for the first time, it’s the one Bailey designed for me which automatically makes it my favorite one. Our first big project together. Certainly not our last. She started working with me full-time. She had other job offers here and there, but I talked her into staying with me for good, mostly because I didn’t want to share her. Call me selfish, but I want to spend every minute of the day with her and if she comes with me to the office, then I can do just that.
Tonight we are here to celebrate the club together. Or at least that is what everybody thinks. No one except Bailey’s dad knows what I’m about to do. I did the manly thing, going to him and asking him for his daughter’s hand in marriage. I was so fucking scared of asking him, imagine my surprise when he slapped me on the back telling me, it’s about time, son.
“Are you okay?” Bailey leans into me, her voice just below a whisper.
“Yes, just excited and a little nervous. You know, new ventures and all.” I smirk.
“You’ll do great,” she assures me, having no idea what I was actually talking about. God, I’m so lucky to have such a great woman in my life. I can’t believe how anxious I am about this.
Running my sweaty palms over my slacks, I swallow down the nervousness. I try to give Bailey a confident smile, but I must be failing because when I glance over to my brother, he gives me a questioning look. One of his eyebrows is raised, and he mouths me a question, but I don’t quite get the words. Shaking my head slightly, I wave him off.
I wait until the waitress brings drinks around. Once every glass has been placed on the table and the waitress has disappeared, I lick my lips and clear my throat.
“Before we order food, I was going to…ah…” All eyes are on me now and the stupid words get stuck in my throat. What the fuck? I’m usually great at public speaking, great at being the center of attention, but tonight, tonight is different. Tonight, I make the woman of my dreams the center of attention, I make her my queen.
Roger, Bailey’s dad, gives me an encouraging nod.
Shoving my hand down into my pocket, I grip onto the small velvet box. Standing up, I use my foot to kick my chair back a little. It scoots across the floor, making a loud noise that draws far more attention than I want. Great.
Somehow I manage to get out the ring box before getting down on one knee in front of Bailey. My hands are sweaty, and my insides twist into an anxious knot. I see the exact moment she realizes what is going on. Her expression softens, tears glistening in her big green eyes.