Dawson glanced at me. The rest of the people in the studio wouldn't have picked up on what I said, but Dawson continued. "Current models suggest it will remain out at sea, so we don't expect any direct impacts to our region."
"But we could be expecting something else," I whispered. Sheesh. Was this the baby insisting I tell their alpha dad they were on the way?
Dawson's eyes narrowed slightly, but he pressed on. "We'll continue monitoring this system in the coming days."
"Forget days, try nine months," I said, a bit louder this time. I needed to lie down and stop talking.
Dawson paused mid-sentence, looking at me with genuine confusion. I could see the wheels turning in his head, trying to figure out what I was talking about. The camera was still on both of us, and I knew I should stop, but the words kept coming.
"If this system does develop into a named storm," Dawson continued carefully, still watching me, "it could become a life-changing event."
"Like a baby."
The words came out clear and loud. They were loud enough for Dawson, the crew and for every viewer watching to hear.
Dead silence fell over the studio.
Dawson froze, his hand still pointing at the weather map. His green eyes locked on mine with an expression I couldn't read. Shock? Joy? Terror?
"Parker," he said slowly. "What did you just say?"
"I'm pregnant." The words tumbled out now that I'd started. "Four and a half weeks. I found out three days ago. I've been trying to tell you and you started talking about things developing and expecting and life-changing events, and it just came out. Oh gods, did I just announce I was pregnant on live television?"
Dawson's expression changed through about six different emotions in two seconds. Then he was moving, crossing the small space between us on the set, and before I could process what was happening, he was kissing me on camera, during a live broadcast after I'd just accidentally announced my pregnancy to the entire viewing area.
His hands cupped my face, and the kiss said everything his words couldn't in that moment. When he pulled back, he was grinning, the full genuine version I'd only seen a handful of times. The shock in his eyes had transformed into wonder and from there to joy.
"We're having a baby," he said as his face lit up.
"We're having a baby," I confirmed. "And I just told everyone on live TV because I have the worst timing in the history of broadcasting."
"Cut to commercial!" Isla's voice carried across the studio. "Right now!"
The red light on the camera finally went dark and the studio erupted with crew members talking over each other, Zara laughing and someone applauding. But I could only focus on Dawson, who was still holding my face like I might disappear.
"You're really pregnant?" he asked quietly.
"Very pregnant. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I was trying to find the right moment, and then I just?—"
"Blurted it out during weather coverage." His smile widened. "That's very on brand for us." His thumb traced small circles on the back of my hand, an intimate gesture that had become a habit over the past month.
I laughed. I was a little hysterical at what I'd done. "I can't believe I did that. Isla's going to be furious. That was so unprofessional. I just announced personal news on live television in the middle of a weather segment."
"She won't be angry." He kissed me again. "She's probably already planning the ratings boost from this. 'Local news host announces pregnancy live on air' is going to be everywhere by tomorrow morning."
"Oh gods." I buried my face in his shoulder. "Everyone I know is going to see it."
"Hey." He pulled back so I had to look at him. "I'm really happy. We're having a baby, Parker."
The fear that had been clamping down on my chest for three days finally loosened. "You're not upset? We've only been together a month or more.”
"We're mates. This is what happens with mates sometimes." His hand moved to rest on my still-flat stomach. "It is fast but it feels right."
"Yeah," I replied. "You feel right too."
"Okay, lovebirds." Isla appeared beside us, looking torn between exasperated and amused. "We need to finish the broadcast. Parker, can you pull yourself together for five more minutes, or should I have someone else close out the show?"
"I can do it." I straightened, trying to look professional despite having just had a breakdown on camera. "I'm fine."
