Page 45 of Afterglow

Hurt flares behind her hazel irises, and in response, a growl emanates from deep in my chest—where the hell did that come from?

But seriously? That fucking guy?

“They basically ambushed me, and the mention of Craig set me off. I yelled at them and walked out.”

“And then you called me.”

She nods, chewing her lip. “And then I called you.”

“I’m glad you did. I’m sorry you were forced into telling them before you were ready.”

“I wanted to make it to the second trimester. I wanted to have a plan of what to tell them… About you, about…”

I catch my breath, silently begging her to say “us.” When she doesn’t, I fill it in for her.

“What do you want to tell them about us?” I close the space further, until I’m right next to her.

She keeps her gaze locked on the container of soup in her hands, so I reach for it and put it down on the coffee table.

The slow lift of her chin reveals the nervousness in her expression; her eyes are wary and her bottom lip is caught between her teeth. “I don’t know. That’s why I wanted more time. Instead of screaming at them that I had a one-night stand.”

My mouth hangs open in shock. “Is that what you said?”

“Yup.” She pops the P and her cheeks turn scarlet. I roll my lips between my teeth to hide my smile and she shoves my shoulder. “It’s not funny.”

I chuckle and reach for her hand, my thumb swiping across her soft skin. “Do you like me, blondie?” I ask lightly.

She rolls her eyes. “You’re less infuriating than I used to think you were.”

“Wow, so flattering,” I muse. “You’re going to give me a big head with praise like that.”

She scoffs and tries to pull her hand away, but I hold fast, letting it pull me closer to her instead.

“Do you like me?” I repeat the question with more seriousness this time.

“I-I guess I do,” she whispers, and our eyes lock.

“Okay. That’s a start. You like me, I like you.” I like her so much. “You want this, I want this.” I want this so much. “We’re having a baby together. The rest we can and will figure out together. I want you to call me when you need something, whether it’s because you’re sick or because you’re mad at your parents or because you want grilled cheese.” She chuckles at this, and the soft smile it leaves behind scrambles my brain. I shake my head to clear it. “You can tell your family whatever you want about us, and I’ll back you up, alright?”

“Alright,” she whispers, but her words catch.

I angle my head toward her. “I can’t hear you, Leanne. Tell me you know we’re in this together.”

“We’re in this together,” she says with another roll of her eyes. The smile is still there though—if anything, it’s growing.

“Hell yes we are. Your family will come around,” I say, completely confident. “And if they don’t… I’ll be here.”

“You really will be, won’t you?” She searches my face for the truth.

It won’t be hard for her to find it. “As much as you’ll let me.”

She chews her lip again. “I have another appointment in a few weeks. Do you want to go?”

“More than anything,” I say, and then I pull her into me and hold her close, relishing the feel of her in my arms.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Leanne