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I don’t know why she looks like this and it’s freaking me the fuck out.
“I think Nathan should pick up a pregnancy test too.”
I’m so stunned, it takes me a second to process. Then relief surges through me, followed by awe.
She rushes on. “I’m late for my period. At first, I thought it was just stress or just one of those things, but now it’s been…way too long.”
Now that she says it, I realize ithasbeen way too long. If I’m counting correctly, six weeks. Definitely since before we were in Vegas. In fact, I don’t think she’s actually had her period since we moved into the house because Nathan always acts like a pouty asshole when she does, like nature’s sole purpose is to blue ball him. I can’t recall any of his period surliness lately.
I fight the urge to grin, needing to gauge her feelings on the possibility of a baby before I do a semi-naked cartwheel in the bathroom. Hell,yeah. A baby. A tiny little replica of Dani? I can already picture a head full of downy auburn hair. It could be mine or Crew’s, I’m not really sure, but I don’t care. A baby would be the perfect completion to Cookie and Co.
“Okay, sure, I’ll let him know,” I say, calmly, because she needs me to be calm. She looks terrified. Of having a baby, or my reaction, or both, I’m not sure. “I love you, sweetheart. Always remember that.”
“I love you too. Is this, would this, be…okay?”
That doesn’t even begin to cover it. I grin and run a hand over her head. “Jesus, Dani, of course it would be okay. It would be amazing. I want a family with you.” I brush a kiss onto her forehead.
She nods rapidly, sniffling, swallowing hard.
Goosebumps have appeared on her flesh and I am aware she’s sitting naked on a marble floor in early April. She must be freezing. “Do you think you’re going to throw up again?” I ask, reaching for her plush terry cloth robe that hangs on the back of the door.
“I think I’m good. For now.” When I reach out to lift her under her armpits, her voice wavers. “Michael?”
Her skin is cold so I gather her in my arms, wrapping the robe over her shoulders. I tug her close to me, so her bare flesh is snug against my warm body. I rub her back over the robe. “Yes?”
“I really think I’m pregnant.”
I nod. “It’s very possible. There aren’t a lot of reasons for a woman your age to be that late.” I’ve already run through any medical explanations and have dismissed most of them.
“I know. And I canfeelit. I’m pregnant. I’m sure.”
My heart is so full I feel like I’m about to cry. “I can too, Cookie. This feels right. I hope you’re happy, because I’m thrilled at the idea. I want you to know that. I’m so damn happy right now. I feel like I don’t deserve it. This, you, a baby, our family, is everything I’ve ever wanted.”
She nods, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “I am happy. I’m terrified, but I’m excited.”
“I’m just excited.” I kiss her softly. “I’ll text Nathan to go to the store.”
Nathan appears in the doorway in shorts and a sweatshirt. He strips it off over his head. “Don’t text Nathan. I’m home and I’m not going back out until I shower. Whatever you need, we can order it.”
I raise my eyebrows at Dani and murmur in her ear. “Do you want to tell him or should I?”
Nathan’s workout T-shirt is coming off over his head after the sweatshirt.
“I’ll tell him.” She gives my shoulders a squeeze and smiles up at me before stepping away, slipping her arms into the robe. “Nathan, I need a pregnancy test. Can you order one from DoorDash?”
His arms pause. The shirt is right over his face. Then suddenly his head pops out and his eyes are wide. “What? Are you fucking with me?”
She shakes her head. “No. I’m over two weeks late, and I just threw up.”
A grin splits his face. “Baby, that’s amazing news. Well, not that you got sick, but that you might be pregnant. How did I not realize you were late? It must be all this craziness with the playoffs…wow. A baby? Fuck DoorDash. We’re not waiting for that. I’m going to the store now.”
He pulls his shirt back on and leans over and gives Dani a hard kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
The joy on Nathan’s face makes me lose my cool. Knowing that he can’t have his own biological kids, and wants a baby with us, is just the confirmation I need that the decisions we’ve made to share our lives have all been the right ones. I clear my throat and swipe at my eyes.
Nathan sees it and gives me a fist bump. His own eyes look a little watery. “Be right back.”
