Tears are once again welling up in my eyes. I don’t even pretend to hold them back. I hug my grandma tight, letting her know I forgive her.
“Now, are you going to put that poor man out of his misery?”
“I think I might.”
“Good. Now that that’s all settled, I’ve got myself a date to get to.” She leaves in a whirlwind of goodbyes, not giving me the opportunity to ask just who it is she’s going on a date with.
An hour later, I’m staring at the word “pregnant” on the pregnancy test I just took—excitement and nervousness war inside me. For a brief moment, I wonder what will happen if Carson rejects me. I’ll be pregnant with the man I loves baby and alone. That’s not going to happen, though.
It’s not. I give myself another pep talk in the mirror and then head over to Carson’s house. I heard his bike pull into the garage ten minutes ago. Now or never. I take a deep breath before I knock on his front door. He answers a moment later, and I come face to face with the man I’m in love with for the first time in days.
Yeah, he’s been around, but this is the first time I’ve allowed myself to be so close. The first time I’ve wanted to be close. My instincts say to throw myself into his arms and never let go, but I know we have to talk… about more than one thing.
“Ana,” he breathes my name like it’s the only oxygen he needs.
I swallow thickly, trying to get up my nerve… “Can we talk?”
He flinches back, and I think that it’s too late. I’m already taking a step back when he reaches out and grabs me. “Baby, don’t cry. Please, you’re killing me with those tears.”
Once again, I’m crying and didn’t realize it. If this is what pregnancy hormones do to me, I’ve got a long nine months ahead of me. Hopefully, a long nine months where Carson comforts me just like he is right now because his arms feel like home and my soul feels at peace for the first time since I sent him away.
He lifts me in his arms and carries me inside, sitting on the couch with me in his lap. “I’m so sorry, Ana. I never… I didn’t…”
I put my fingers over his lips to stop him. “I know. Grandma Ruth talked to me. But I think I already knew before she came to whoop me out of my denial.”
“I wouldn’t ever hurt you like that. Not on purpose. Yes, I was thrilled when I knew you’d be moving in next door. I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t partially why I sold the house to your grandmother, but I never in a million years would have used it to manipulate you into a relationship.
“I only hoped that by having you close, you’d see me, the real me, and realize that I could never in a million years hate you.”
I nod, “I do know that. If I’m honest, I’ve always known deep down. I was just scared of how strongly I felt for you.”
“Please tell me you forgive me,” he begs.
“Carson, love, there’s nothing to forgive. But if you need me to say it—I forgive you. With all my heart, I forgive you.”
I’m rewarded with a kiss. He kisses me with sweet strokes of his tongue. His lips soft and searching against mine. I return the kiss pouring every bit of my love into it. I pull away sooner than I’d like knowing that there’s something else we need to talk about before we move forward.
I don’t want him to think that I manipulated him into a relationship because I’m pregnant. That’s not what I’m doing, and I have to make sure he knows it. He tries to pull my lips back down to his, but I push away, standing from his lap. I wring my hands as I pace in front of him.
“What’s wrong, darlin’?”
“Nothing is wrong. I just have to tell you something before we go any further. I don’t want there to be any more misunderstandings between us.”
“You can tell me anything.”
“I’m pregnant,” I blurt. “I had to tell you before we dive back into our relationship. I don’t want you to think that’s the only reason I came here today. It’s not. I really do want you, I just-”
Carson stops my rambling by crashing his lips to mine. He falls to his knees in front of me and buries his face in my stomach. It’s so damn sweet, tears well in my eyes, this time I’m able to push them away.
“Pregnant,” he says with awe.
I giggle a little. “Pregnant. I just found out today before I came over… I wanted to know before-”
He stands from his kneeling position and kisses me soundly, once again cutting me off. I suppose this is his way of letting me know he never would doubt my sincerity. Our kiss transforms from one of sweet surrender to so much more. We’re saying how much we love each other with every caress.
The moment is perfect.
14
Carson
Pregnant.
I’m going to be a daddy. My heart couldn’t be any fuller without bursting at the seams. I love Ana with everything I am, and I’ll love this baby just as much. I pour everything into our kiss. All of my love. All of my desire. Everything.
I lift Ana into my arms and carry her back to my bedroom. I gingerly set her on her feet and continue kissing her. She looks up at me with hooded eyes, begging me silently for more. I undress her slowly as if I’m opening a much-anticipated gift. Once she’s naked, I lay her out on the bed, then strip my own clothes. She watches me, licking her lips as
