“Okay?”
“Yeah, okay.” She graced him with a smile. “Thank you for being honest. I haven’t had that in the past, and I value that above anything else.”
“Right. Honesty. I can do that.” He glanced at the closed door. “We should go in.”
“We should,” she said with a decisive nod, her smile disappearing.
Neither of them moved.
“Now?”
“Yes,” Mazey hissed.
They still didn’t move.
“It doesn’t matter what it says, it won’t change if we wait.”
“No. The result won’t change, no matter how long we wait.”
“Okay then.” Taking one of his hands from hers, Rylan placed it on the doorknob. “Here goes.” He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
He could see the answer before he’d taken two steps. The rush of excitement shook his knees and split his face in a wide, wide grin. Without thought, he grabbed Mazey, picked her up, and spun them around. His whoop of joy bouncing off the walls.
“I get that you’re happy, but I didn’t see what it said. Why are we dancing for joy?” Mazey asked, her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist, clinging tight.
“We’re pregnant!”
“Oh.” Her eyes widened, her gaze glued to his. “And you’re so excited by that you’re spinning around in circles.”
He stopped, his smile and enthusiasm dimming. “Are you okay with that?”
“With you being happy?” She nodded. “Yes. I’m glad you’re excited by the idea of a baby, but, Ry, this is huge. We barely know each other, and this isn’t one of those happy planned for, long wanted moments between two people who love each other.”
He wanted to argue with her, but he could understand her caution, her fear. Whatever—whoever—had put that pain in her eyes hadn’t been erased by their mishap, whether it was exciting or not. They still had a lot to work out, a lot to discuss.
Lowering her to her feet, he palmed her face and tilted her head up, so she had no choice but to look at him. “I’m thrilled to be having a baby. No, it’s not ideal, and I wish it were under different circumstances. I wish I could say I love you right this minute, but I can’t. I shouldn’t. I think I could though. In the future, I think we can have that, Maz. Us and the baby.” He moved one hand to her flat stomach, held it firm against her. “I promised to be honest, and I will. I want this even though we didn’t plan it.”
She blinked up at him. “You think you could?”
He smiled. Bent and brushed his lips on hers. “Yes. I think I could.”
29
Mazey stared at the tags in her hand. She’d tried to give them back to Rylan after they confirmed her pregnancy, but he had refused to take them. Told her to keep them safe for their baby.
She had worn them or carried them with her ever since.
That was a week ago.
They’d talked a lot in the past seven days. And while he hadn’t convinced her to move in with him, he had convinced her to date him and not hide their relationship from now on.
Tomorrow when they were at work, they would tell their boss. Cochran had a few options he could do, from what Mazey understood. He could separate them on the same shift, assigning Mazey to Bex’s team, switching her out with Tate, or he could move her to a different team, which would mean they wouldn’t work the same day. Or, he could leave them as they were.
Neither of them could guess what his choice might be.
They’d worked two shifts in the last week, and she didn’t think they’d in any way compromised their roles due to their new relationship status. They had both been professional and didn’t even sneak a kiss during work hours.
Mazey was certain they could maintain appropriate behavior while working together. Neither of them wanted to put their jobs in jeopardy or risk the life of someone else on a call.
