Page 78 of Seein’ Red

“Forget Ewan! Put me down!”

He doesn’t listen, continuing to scale the stairs until we’re standing outside my door. His face is flushed and he’s out of breath, but that doesn’t stop the goofy grin spreading from ear to ear. And the butterflies are loose again.

“Nash, you didn’t need to do that. I’m not an invalid. I’m pre…” I stop halfway through the word. I haven’t said it out loud. Not really. Once or twice here and there, but I haven’t said it in such a way that I own it. Until now. “Nash…I’m pregnant.”

Everything hits me all at once. From every angle. It’s a flood of emotions that I’ve been pushing away all week, focusing on Kenzie and the wedding. Or trying at least. It’s at least been enough of a distraction to keep all this dammed up. But the gates are open now.

Holy shit…

My heart races, my chest tightening, my eyes stinging with tears. This is real. It’s happening. I’m having a baby.

Nash’s baby.

“Willa…” Dropping everything, Nash gathers me in his arms, holding me for a long moment. His hand rubs up and down my back, a move that is so comforting I never want him to stop. “I’m here. I’m here, baby.”

I don’t know how long he holds me like this, standing on the landing outside my apartment. But it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that he is here. That he’s holding me.

“Let’s go inside,” he whispers, readjusting us so he can open the door.

I pull back, dipping down to gather my tote bag, and walk inside. For a moment I’m dazed, absentmindedly sipping from the bottle still in my hand. I need to snap out of it, but I don’t quite know how.

“Does your tub fit two people?”

Err…what?!

Well, that will do it.

“Who are you putting in there?”

It’s a stupid question. I know it as soon as it leaves my mouth. And sure enough, it gets a stupid answer.

“Noel and Bronwyn—figured we could invite them over for a foursome,” Nash quips. “You and me, Willa.”

I deserved that.

I shrug. “Dunno. Never tried. Should…it’s a jacuzzi soaking tub, so, in theory…”

“Let’s test it out.”

Sure enough, my tub fits two people. Rather comfortably at that.

The bubbles and jets whir around us, our legs intertwined together, eyes locked on each other as we pass a newly opened bottle of sparkling cider between us.

“This stuff is really fucking sweet,” Nash groans, handing me the bottle. “I think I’ll stick with Sob Story.”

I take a long swig, letting the bubbles dance across my tongue. It is sweet, but right now the sugar high is welcome.

“It’s the hardest stuff I’ll be drinking for a long time.”

“We can set a countdown for nine months. I’ll have your martini waiting. Extra dirty, two olives.”

I smile, my heart soaring as he mentions my favorite drink. A drink that he knows by heart, only proving that he purposefully gets it wrong all the time just to annoy me.

“It’s more than that. Nine months of baking time, plus however long I nurse.”

His eyes go wide, and I can see the wheels turning in his head. This was something he hadn’t mathed out either.

“Willa…” Reaching out, he gently tucks a piece of hair behind my ear, his calloused fingers rough against my skin, sending a chill through me despite the hot water. “You don’t have to keep it. You have options. And I support you no matter what you choose.”