She’s staring down at her feet, frowning. She must be exhausted.
I’m surprised she’s so pale after being out and about sightseeing.
At the bottom of the escalator, she gets off, then glances around, and I remember to hold up my sign and walk closer.
She looks at me, does a double-take, and laughs when she reads her name on the placard.
“Are you Abby Dawson?” I ask like a dumbass, but I don’t care if I look like a fool. I want this woman to know I’m all in.
“Why, yes, I am.”
I move that sign behind the next one that reads, “Will you be my girlfriend?”
Her eyes go soft and dreamy. Yeah, I put that look on her face. “I thought I already was your girlfriend.”
I lean over and kiss her. “Is that a yes? Because I got thinking, and I don’t remember actually asking you to make this official.” I hand her the bouquet of roses. “I don’t want you to have any doubt about us. So I figured I should ask.”
She swallows, and a flash of fear crosses her face. “Nick, I…”
When she doesn’t say anything, I take her hand. “Did something happen? Are you okay?”
Abby takes a deep breath. “I guess my answer to your question depends on you.” She reaches into her bag and pulls out a box. “It depends on how… on how you feel about this.”
Okay, I’m freaking out a little. I thought she would smile and laugh and we’d be good to go.
I take the box and open it.
Inside are… are… five pregnancy tests.
My eyes widen. They’re positive.
Holy shit. I might need to sit down. But before I lose it, I see the fear on her face again, and I wrap my arms around her. I have no clue how we’re going to handle another baby, but I immediately know I want one with Abby. “Yes. I’m all in.” I kiss her forehead. “I’m all in for two a.m. feedings and doctor appointments and diaper changes and whatever else comes our way. Because I wanna do it all with you.”
Surprised, she leans back. “Really?”
“Yes, really.” I can’t believe the words coming out of my mouth right now, but it’s the truth. I didn’t want more children before Abby, but having her in my life has changed everything.
She sniffles. “I just figured it out. My period has been super light, but I couldn’t get over that stomach bug. And then, the other day, I smelled something that turned my stomach again, and one of the passengers on the bus tour, this nice older lady, gave me a funny look and asked if I was pregnant. Of course, I ran out and got five tests.” She tilts her head back so I can see her beautiful, tired eyes. “They’re all positive.”
I lean down and kiss her again. “Do you know what this means?”
“What?”
“You can’t get rid of me now.”
She laughs, then her expression gets serious. “I want you, but I also want this baby, which I know is crazy because we’re young, and you have Hazel.”
It’s the biggest shock for me when I tell her, “I want this baby too. You and me, we’ll be a family. I meant what I said—I’m all in on this. I love you, Abby, and if you’re willing to give me this incredible gift, I swear you’ll never regret making a commitment to me.” I take her face in my hands. “I want you to know that I’d pick you to be the mother of my children. I don’t want this happy accident to diminish the fact that I would choose you, okay?”
Her smile grows. “Okay.”
“Now let’s go home.”
49
ABIGAIL
The minute Cynthia leaves, Nick closes the door, presses me up against it, and kisses the daylights out of me. “God, I’ve missed you.”
