Page 50 of Bless My Heart

“Thank you for agreeing to go.”

“So, is it acceptable to invite you up on a first date?”

He looks over at me. It’s dark outside and dark in this car, but I can still see a twinkle in his eyes.

“Well, you did basically give me road head, so I think it’s completely acceptable.”

I’m glad he can’t see the blush creeping up my cheeks. I’m never this bold sexually. In the past, I never would have let someone finger me in a freaking restaurant, and I sure as hell wouldn’t have gone down on them on the drive home. But Wes is different. He makes me feel special, like I can do whatever I want.

He always makes it his goal to please me first. Every time we have sex, he makes sure I come before he even thinks about himself. So after everything he did to make me feel comfortable and make our date special, I wanted to do something for him.

“Good, because I’m not ready for you to leave yet.” I open my door to get out of the car, and he turns off the engine. He meets me in front of the Jeep. We walk up the stairs together hand-in-hand.

I swear I’ve never felt like such a giddy teenager since, well, I was a giddy teenager. Being with Wes brings out something in me. He makes me feel lighter and relaxed. Like I can be myself.

I open my front door and escort us in.

I watch as Wes unbuttons his shirt. “Hey, can we jump in the shower? I’m ready to wash the day off, but I want to keep the good things.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me. I can’t help but smile as I nod.

I follow him to the bedroom and watch him strip before turning on the shower to warm up the water. I glance around my bathroom and see his toothbrush, razor, even deodorant, sitting on my counter.

I’m getting comfortable with Wes quicker than I ever thought possible. I always want him with me, and when he isn’t with me, I think about when I’ll see him next. I look forward to his dirty jokes and playful words. I love our time in bed together, but I also love just hanging out on the couch.

This man has infiltrated my life in a way I never thought possible, and I’m realizing just now that I don’t hate it.

“You coming in? The water’s nice and warm,” Wes calls from inside the shower.

“Yep, on my way,” I answer and get undressed.

This is my new life. A life I never expected, with a man I never expected, but I kinda like it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

WES

“Do you both want to know the gender of the baby?” the ultrasound tech asks us. Hazel is laying on the table with her shirt up, and the tech has some wand thing pushing around on her stomach. It looks uncomfortable to me, but Hazel seems to be fine.

Hazel looks up at me for confirmation, so I say, “Yes, we want to know.” I squeeze her hand and watch as the picture on the screen changes while the tech tries to find the right areas to look at.

“Alright, guys. It looks like you’re having a baby girl. Congratulations!”

A girl. A baby girl. I know I told Hazel I hoped we’d have a girl, and that was one hundred percent true. I wouldn’t want to be plagued with a mini version of myself. At least if we have a girl, Hazel might be able to talk some sense into her.

“A girl,” Hazel repeats. I look down at her, and her eyes are still on the screen, but they look a little glassy, like she’s trying not to cry.

Hazel has been incredibly strong throughout this entire pregnancy so far. It amazes me that she’s barely showing yet, but the doctor said it’s normal. I’m pretty sure Hazel hasn’t told anyone besides her family and best friends that she’s pregnant.

I hate that she feels like she has to hide it because I’m her student. I know that sucks for her, and I hate it. But I don’t hate the constant sex we’re having or how she is slowly opening up to me and trusting me more and more every day.

I don’t know how sexually active non-pregnant Hazel is, but pregnant Hazel is relentless. She can go, go, go every single day. Not that I’m complaining. By all means, I’ll let her ride me all night long if she wants to, but I guess I just never thought pregnant women were extra horny.

We finish up the appointment and walk out of the doctor’s office with pictures of our little girl. They told us she is measuring just right, and everything looks good for an April due date.

We don’t have any classes for the next few days because of the Thanksgiving holidays, so I drive Hazel back to her apartment.

I make us dinner, but I have to go back to my house after eating. I haven’t spent much time at my house recently, and I need to do laundry before I drive with Ozzy and Stella back to Atlanta tomorrow for Thanksgiving. I’m almost sad to admit that I’m wearing my absolute last pair of underwear today. So, if I don’t do laundry, I’ll have to go commando at my parents’ house, which would be awkward.

“I don’t want you to go,” Hazel tells me as she throws her arms around my neck and gives me a pouty face.