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“I don’t understand. If you’re not breaking up with me, then…”
“You’re going to be a daddy,” she blurted out. After a pause and no reaction, she softened her tone. “You’re going to be a daddy, Wit.”
Stone-faced Wit stared back at her for several moments before saying. “Come again?”
“You’re going to be a father. I’m pregnant.”
He bobbed his head. “How many?”
“Um, one? I think?” she answered.
“Nah. You’re a twin.” Wit was as serious as could be. “You O’Reillys pop out two at a time all over that family tree like you’re building your own little nation and plottin’ a world takeover.”
A new sense of awareness washed over her at Wit’s words. Like she hadn’t thought of it until that moment. Twins.
In a nervous whisper, she reasoned, “I think…there’s just one.”
“But could be two.” Energy and enthusiasm rolled off his words.
“I mean… maybe?” She rested her hand across her abdomen, and a look of shock and maybe fear entered a plethora of emotions dancing in her eyes. “Oh shit.”
Seeming to sense her distress, Wit reeled it in, still in shock himself. “I bet you’re right. There’s probably just one. Let’s go with that. One baby, darlin’. One perfect little angel.”
Her blank stare sent up red flags, and Wit needed to fix the panic he’d unintentionally generated. “I got you, honey. Whether there’s one or… or… three. I. Got. You.”
“Three? What the hell, Wit? You think there could be three?” she hollered. “I don’t know if I’m okay with that. What the hell are we going to do with three? There’s only two of us.”
“Ah, shit. I’m sorry. One day I’ll learn to control that problem I have with sayin’ every thought that crosses my mind out loud. It’s gonna be the death of me,” Wit admitted. “Look, neither of us has much say in how many at this point. Our work is done here. Well, mine is. Sort of. Not really. Anyway, it’s all gonna be just fine. We got this, Aye. I’m gonna be a daddy… and you a mama. I can hardly wrap my mind around that.”
“I hadn’t thought of that. All I’ve been thinking is that you’re going to be a daddy. I think it just hit me that I’m… going to be someone’s mom.” She panted, out of breath as more panic rushed in. “This all just got really frightening.”
“Nah.” He chuckled. “It got beautiful. Like you. We’re gonna make a great team, Angel. And I’m here for all of it. You want ice cream and say… asparagus at one in the morning? I’m your guy. You need your feet rubbed? I’m you’re guy. Tacos with peanut butter –– crunchy or soft? I’m your guy. Backache from luggin’ little Wit around in your belly? I’m your guy.”
“Wit? I thought you wanted little redheaded firecracker girls?” she interrupted.
“I do. Wit if it’s a boy or a girl. Has a ring to it,” he reasoned, earning a wide-eyed look of shock. “Look, when that little Wit gets here, I’m still your guy. I got diapers. I got middle of the night feedin’s…”
“What if I breastfeed?”
“Then I’m right next to you while you feed our child, and I’ll put ’em back to bed when you finish so you can rest. I got bath time covered, play time covered. I’ll sing to our baby, read them books so they’re smarter than all the other kids, which I’m pretty sure it already is…” He paused and swiped away her tears with his thumb. “I’m your guy, Angel.”
“Even if there are three?”
“Especially if there are three. We’re highly skilled, elite operatives who’ve taken down the world's worst enemies. We can handle babies. Lots of them.”
“You’re so sure, and eerily calm,” she said. “I’m a little… not sure or calm.”
He smiled and quickly rolled her to her back and hovered over the top of her, careful not to add weight as he unbuttoned her top and let it fall open. “Oh, I’m not calm, darlin’. Not by a long shot. I’m a whole tangled-up mess inside. I’m just choosing not to worry about the things I have no control over at the moment, like becoming a dad and what that means. I don’t know how to do that, but I’ll figure it out. For now, I need to focus on getting my name cleared and find out who my current enemy is and eliminate them so I can be a dad without worry.”
She nodded as if she didn’t notice he’d just unclasped the front of her bra and exposed her breasts to the cool night air and his touch. “You’re going to be fantastic at this.”
“We both are, and we’re surrounded by the best kind of people who won’t let us fail.” He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand and stared longingly into her eyes. His hand continued down, brushing her collarbone to her breast, where he gently pinched her perked nipple, arching at the intimate touch. “Ayelish O’Reilly, I love you. I love that little human in your belly already, and I will fight for you both. Always. Forever. Whatever it takes. You got that?”
She nodded as tears flooded, consumed by the emotion his words provoked.
“You just gave me purpose, sweetheart. The kind I never thought I could have. As soon as this is all over, I’m going to marry you. Take care of you. And be the best man I can be for you and little Wit –– orWits.”
She giggled.
