Page 145 of In Your Wake

“Okay?”

She nods. “Let’s do it.”

“Are you being serious?” Unable to hold back my stunned excitement, my voice cracks.

She tucks her hands into her overall pockets and wanders around the room. “I knew I wouldn’t be alone in this, but that’s not the same as having you here with me. And I genuinely wanted you here, with us.” She exhales, stepping closer, her emotions bouncing off her. “Honestly, Mitch, I’m fucking terrified.”

“Becoming a parent is scary as hell,” I admit.

“Oh, I’m not scared of that. Sure, I expected to be freaked out. I mean, who am I to be responsible for another human being?” she asks. “But this feels right. It makes sense. Like you say, things sort of worked out this way, haven’t they?”

With a wide grin, I nod in response, impressed by her positive energy. Somewhat stunned, too.

“I’m actually excited. But you want to know what I’m terrified of?”

“What’s that?”

She reaches up, running her fingers through my hair. At first, I freeze, worried that if I move, she’ll pull away. When her fingers lightly trace the shell of my ear, I’m left helpless and smiling.

“How completely natural it feels to be having this baby with you,” she says.

It might be too early in the pregnancy, but I swear she’s glowing. The hope in her stunning blue eyes, along with the smile that dimples her cheeks, weakens my knees, and I have to lean on the wall behind me for support.

“What are you saying?”

She drops her hands. “I’m saying I think I’m done marinating.”

“Marinating?” I ask, then remember what she said in the cemetery. For now, we need to take our time. Let all this marinate. “Oh.”

“I meant what I said. I do love you. I have for so long.” She looks down, her cheeks flushed. “Back when we were kids, I honestly thought I’d never get over you. But I did. For a while. Until you came back. It was so hard for me because it was like no time had passed. All those feelings came rushing back, trapping me in. I couldn’t cope. And I guess I needed you to leave to see what I was losing.”

She sighs, lifting her chin. “So, yeah, we could live here as friends or roommates and pretend that’s all we are. But we know better. I know I do.” She takes my hands, cradling them between hers. “I’ve always seen myself as a mom, but when I’ve pictured it, there was always one constant by my side. That’s you. I don’t have any idea how any of this will work out, but if we’re doing this together, then we have to do it, together.”

My breaths are shallow, quick puffs of air. Words are impossible because I’m too overwhelmed to speak. All I can do is grin like an idiot.

I had low expectations today. I assumed after a quick chat, Max would send me on my way, and that would be it. We’d be acquaintances, but would never find our way back to each other. Never in a million years did I expect this turn of events.

“I have one condition, though.” She raises her tiny finger.

As if waking from a dream, I blink a few times. “Anything. Name it.”

“Kiss me.”

“What?”

“Come on, Mitch. If you think I’m about to live here, pregnant with our child, and treat you as anything but the love of my life,” she leans into me, giving my temple a gentle knock, “then you’ve had too many hits to the head.”

She fists my collar, bringing herself up onto her tiptoes. My limbs are about as strong as jelly, but I wrap my arms around her waist, trapping her in like a boa constrictor.

“So, what do you say? Wanna be mine?”

As if seeing them for the very first time, I’m drawn in by her stunning eyes. A tiny flutter in my stomach ignites at her cute freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks, and the tiny dip of her Cupid’s bow.

I search her gaze as if I’m waiting for her to laugh. To admit this is one big prank.

“Do you really mean this?” I ask, hesitant.

With an adorable little head tilt, she frowns and then laughs. “Yes, I do.”