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“I don’t know if I can promise that,” he finally says.
A ragged sigh leaves me and I pull away to glare at him. “You’re being selfish.”
“I’m being protective,” he corrects, annoying me further. “He doesn’t deserve to live, not after what he did to you.”
“You’re willing to throw everything we’ve built aside to destroy him and feed your ego. That’s it. This isn’t about me, or the baby.” My voice rises. “If it was about me, about us, you’d do what I’d ask.”
“Come on, Charlotte. You have to know I’ve fallen in—”
I press my fingers against his lips to prevent him from saying it. “Think about what you’re going to say. Make sure you really mean it, and that you’re not like my parents. They love me out of obligation. Because I’m their daughter. And they only approve of me when I’m the proper reflection of them. I don’t need that kind of love in my life—I have enough of it. I want real, everlasting love, Perry. I want you to forget about yourself and your needs, and think about me. Just me. And our child. I want to matter to you, like you matter to me.”
He stares at me, anger flickering in his gaze. The truth hurts, and while I’m not trying to make him mad, I need him to see what I want.
I need him to see how I feel. I will set aside all of my fears and assumptions to prove my love for him. I’m willing to put him first.
Is he willing to do the same for me?
A male someone clears his throat and we both turn our heads to find Jasper standing behind the couch, an uncomfortable expression on his face as he clutches his hands behind his back. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I wanted to know if there’s anything you might need before I retire for the evening.”
“We’re good, J,” my husband answers for the both of us. “Should let you know there’s a couple of security guards at the door right now. They’ll be there for a while, I’m thinking.”
“Very well, sir. Have a nice evening.” Jasper bows before he turns on his heel and exits the room, Doja getting up and following after him.
“He’s a good dude, your Jasper,” Perry says, glancing down at me, all the anger that was in his gaze earlier gone. “You okay?”
I nod, closing my eyes when he kisses my forehead yet again, his lips lingering. I suppose we’re going to pretend I never said all that only a few minutes before. “Areyouokay? I just gave you some major, life-changing news.”
When he pulls away, I notice the corner of his mouth lifts up in a faint smile. “I already had my suspicions.”
Right. He definitely did. “This morning… how did you know?”
“After you told Ash you weren’t feeling great at Thanksgiving, she expressed her concerns for you to Winston, and they wondered if you could be pregnant. Winston asked me if it was a possibility,” he explains.
Oh great. My health has become the family gossip. “And what did you tell him?”
“I said the possibility was there. We’ve been careless with birth control,” he reminds me.
We definitely have. In Mexico, I got mad over it. Eventually, I sort of forgot, too caught up in my need for this man.
That’s how I always feel about him. Too caught up. Making me forget… everything. But him. And me. Together.
I like that about him. About us.
“Our mothers will be happy,” I say.
“Did you tell my mom? When you were with her this afternoon?”
I slowly shake my head. “No. I didn’t even officially know I was until an hour ago. Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell her first. I’d want you to know, since this is our baby.”
His smile is slow, the glow in his eyes intensifying. “You’re pregnant.”
“Yeah.” My smile matches his. “I am.”
“Fucking unbelievable. I’m going to be a dad.” He raises his voice. “I’m going to be a father!”
I laugh at his excitement. “Are you happy?”
He basically dumps me off of his lap and stands up, then bends down to grab me, holding me in his arms as he starts for the hallway that leads to the bedroom.
