AllFreeNovel
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I look around, but there’s no one nearby. We chose a restaurant not too close to shopping centers because they’re all packed, thanks to Black Friday specials. “I thought you were on the pill.”
“When I came back from Spain, I kept forgetting to order a refill. And then I just—never got back on it.” She bites her lower lip, her eyes starting to well up. “So I guess it’s my fault that it happened.”
“Hey, hey, hey.” I don’t even think, I just do. Next thing I know, I’m sitting on her side of the booth, my arm around her shoulders, and she’s leaning into me, her hair tickling my mouth as she sobs into my sweatshirt. “This is no one’s fault. It’s gonna be all right.”
She’s crying so hard, her shoulders are shaking. The waitress chooses that moment to approach our table with my glass of water and I shake my head. She nods in understanding, sets the glass on the table and keeps walking.
“Ava.” I reach for her face with my other hand, my fingers coming underneath her chin and tilting her head up. Her watery gaze meets mine, her cheeks covered with tears and I gently wipe at them with my thumb. “Are you sure?”
“Three tests, Eli. Three positives.” She hiccups and swallows a sob. “I’ve felt like crap for weeks.”
Concern laces through me. “What do you mean?”
“I’m tired. I can’t eat because I’m too nauseous. All I want to do is sleep.” She shrugs. “It’s been awful.”
“Why didn’t you call me sooner?”
“I didn’t want to mess with your game mojo.” The words she says are slightly bitter, but her tone gentles with the next sentence. “I know you’re dealing with a lot, and at first I just thought I was sick.”
My chest hurts at hearing her say that. “I’m never dealing with so much that I can’t think about you. You’re the most important thing to me in this world.”
Ava sniffs. “You wanted to take a break.”
“I’m a fucking idiot.” I shake my head once. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I need you. I love you.”
I’m not holding shit back. Not anymore.
“This…” Her gaze briefly casts downward before it returns to mine. “This will change everything.”
I can’t help it. I drop my hand from her face and settle it over her flat stomach, my touch light. “You’re for real right now.”
She nods. Smiles faintly. Maybe she can feel my excitement because, yeah, I can’t deny it.
I’m excited.
I’m going to be a dad. And Ava is my baby mama.
Another server walks by and I announce, “We’re having a baby.”
“Sshh,” Ava says, hitting my arm.
The lady is older, there’s gray in her hair and wrinkles around her eyes. She stops when I say that, a big smile forming on her face. “That’s wonderful. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” I’m beaming. I can feel the smile stretching my face so wide, it almost hurts.
The woman walks away and Ava sends me a chastising look. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
“Why not? We’re going to be parents, Ava.” I tip my head back and laugh. “Can you freakin’ imagine? You and me, Mom and Dad?”
She smiles, and it’s like the clouds have broken and the sun is shining through them, thin beams of golden light falling on the two of us. I lean in and touch her face, sweeping my thumb across her cheek. Her skin is so soft, and she’s a little pale, but damn if she isn’t the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
And she’s going to have my baby.
“Aren’t you scared?” she asks, her lips trembling.
Leaning in, I kiss her. It’s soft and light and I hope she can feel what I’m feeling, because yeah, I’m scared. But with her by my side, we’re going to be fine.
“Yeah,” I admit. “I’m excited too, though.”
