“Um, about that.”
“What? Did you go see the doctor? Do you have the flu? A couple of the guys mentioned their wives have had it.”
“No. Not the flu. And I didn’t go to the doctor.”
“Oh, okay.” His puzzled expression doesn’t change, and I know I need to explain myself.
“I found out why I’ve been feeling sick.”
He turns to face me fully. “And?”
“Remember that thing we were leaving in Vegas for later?” God, why am I beating around the bush?
Chase remains perfectly still, as though waiting for the next word to decide how to react.
“I, um, so...” Shit. Just spit it out. “I’m pregnant.”
He doesn’t move. Not a muscle. I don’t think he even breathes.
“Say something. Don’t leave me hanging out here.”
“Are you happy?”
“What?”
“Do you want a baby?”
“I... Yes. I think so.”
“You think? You’ve never mentioned children. Other than my sisters.”
“I love your sisters.”
He nods. “I know. But this is not the same. This is a baby. Your baby. My baby.” He swallows after forcing the last two words out.
My hopes sink and I didn’t even know I had any. “You don’t want the baby.”
“I didn’t say that.” He takes a step toward me. “This is not something I ever expected to hear you tell me.”
“I can do it on my own. I don’t need—” He demolishes the distance between us in three steps and palms my face in both his large hands.
“Did you not hear me say I love you in Vegas?”
A muted memory flits through my head.
“Gem.” He waits until he’s sure he has my attention. “I get that we got married for convenience, for the girls, and that this baby isn’t planned, but I love you. And before you argue about ages and sisters and teams or whatever else is rolling around in that big brain of yours, I want this baby. With you. I want our marriage to be a real one. I’ve wanted that for months. Vegas was a dream come true for me.”
“Not the Cup?” My mouth twitches with a smile.
“Yeah, the Cup too, but if I had to choose, I’d pick you and our baby. Every time. Every day. Always.”
“This isn’t what you agreed to.”
“It’s not what you offered either.” He smiles. “I like this offer better.”
“How could you? You’re only—” His thumbs press into my lips.
“Don’t say it. I don’t care how old I am, how old you are. It’s irrelevant to what’s in my heart. Gem, you saved me. I was drowning. Sure, I could do what my parents expected of me, what I expected. But you showed me I was capable. More than capable.”
