Page 37 of Easy On Me

She lifted her head, fine lines of stress about her bitter eyes. “Don’t you want to offer me money to get rid of it?”

I resisted the urge to jerk my head back like she’d punched me. That was part of her story – her mother’s story – for sure.

“No.” I pitched my voice quiet, firm. “Never.”

Once more, tears filled her eyes, spilling over her thick lashes. I swallowed a groan. I hated this, seeing her cry, but Daddy said sometimes a woman needed to and needed her man to hold space for it.

With a foot, I shoved a chair back from the table and dropped into it, pulling her onto my lap. After tucking her face into my neck so she could cry it out to her heart’s content, I looped both arms about her and just held her. Small, shuddering sobs shook her body, and I rested my cheek on her hair, stroking her hip and thigh, not shushing or trying to calm her. I simply let her cry. Daddy was plain about how important that was, too.

Long moments later, she quieted, turning to rest her nose against my shoulder. I made another pass with my palm along her hip.

“Better?” I murmured into her hair.

She shrugged, the slightest roll of her shoulders, but Lord, the attitude in the tiny gesture. I eased a hand up to her nape, massaging the tense muscles there. She didn’t pull away, fisting a hand against my chest. “How are you so calm?”

A slight laugh worked up from my chest. “Why wouldn’t I be? You’re carrying my baby. I kinda wanted to let loose with a hell, yeah.”

Raising her head, she glared at me. “Are you nuts?”

“What?” I lifted a hand, palm up. “We get along like a house on fire and I care about you a lot. Why wouldn’t I be thrilled to have a baby with you?”

She stilled. “You care about me a lot.”

Had I said that wrong? A hint of panic licked at my belly. Way too soon to say I love you, but I did care about her, a lot. Pretty sure I was well on my way to loving her. I swallowed, desperate to generate some moisture in my suddenly dry mouth.

“I do.”

She softened, sagging into me. “And you’re not upset I’m pregnant.”

“I’m a little thrown.” Anybody would be. We’d been together about a hot minute, and this would be a fun conversation with Mama and Daddy, but upset? No. Kinda thought that was a hint of anticipation fizzing to life in my chest. “But I’m not upset.”

“What is wrong with you?”

“You know, you’re starting to hurt my feelings.” I narrowed my eyes, glad to see she’d calmed. She wasn’t as pale, and that made me feel better, too. . “Are you upset?”

“Well, obviously.” She sniffled and rubbed at the of end of her nose. “It’s get married, get a house, have a baby, not . . . hook up, go out a few times, find out you’re pregnant.”

“Well, we’re sitting in my house.” I wasn’t going to point out we’d been dating for a while now and that she’d taken me home to meet her mama. I tightened my hand on her hip. “We could get married.”

Lips parted, she stared. “You have lost your mind.”

Definitely hurting my feelings. “Why don’t you tell me how you feel about the baby?”

At the word baby, she blanched, color leaching from her face once more. Silence lingered, and my stomach flipped. She bit her bottom lip, pulling at the plump flesh with her teeth. Hands clenched in her lap, she flicked a glance up at me. “I think I want to have it.”

Relief poured through me, weakening every muscle so I felt like pulled taffy all over.

“Okay.” My voice cracked, and I cleared my throat. My chest rose and fell with a deep breath. “Okay.”

“I thought about being somebody’s mama, but like in the future.” She dropped her gaze, hands wound so tight her knuckles glowed. “About doing better than my mama by being like Mama Nancy.”

“You’re going to be great.” My voice came out hoarse. I chafed my thumb on the jut of her hipbone. “This baby’s lucky to have you.”

Mouth pursed, she shot me a stop bullshitting look.

“We’ll be all right, Tyler.” With one hand, I adjusted her on my lap, pulling her closer into me. A nervous lump lodged itself in my throat, and I cleared it once more. “Listen, I want you to think about marrying me for real.”

That earned me another one of those stop bullshitting looks.