Not just once.
I’d missed it two months in a row.
I knew I was pregnant. I hadn’t taken a test, but I could feel myself changing. I was certainly more emotional.
I wiped the tears away from my cheeks as I stared down at the Caldwell and Hunter brothers. That was the future I thought I wanted. I was crying partially because I was sad. But I was crying because I was happy too. I was so blissfully happy.
I’d broken a promise to Matt now. This was a first. Probably the biggest first of all. My first child. And I was…relieved. I was excited. I hadn’t thought much at all about getting pregnant. But now that I was? I wanted it. I wanted this baby. I wanted Miller’s baby.
Matt had probably had a million firsts with someone new. I touched his smiling face in the picture. I hoped he was happy with whoever he was with. I hoped he was having those summers surrounded by children like we’d dreamed of together.
I put my hand on my stomach. It was like breaking this first broke some kind of wall in my heart. Miller was going to have the rest of my firsts. He was my future. Our baby was our future.
I put the picture back in the box and closed the lid. Now I just had to figure out a way to tell him.
Runaway - Chapter 43
2 Weeks Later - Saturday - Christmas
I pressed the side of my face against Miller’s chest as we slow danced in the kitchen to Christmas music. I wasn’t scared to tell him. We’d never talked much about kids, but I knew he’d be a great dad. This would change things though. And he always said he was happy. That he wouldn’t change a thing about our lives. This changed everything.
Tears rolled down my cheeks.Stupid hormones.
“What’s going through that head of yours?” He cupped my face in his hands. Brushing away my tears with his thumbs. He looked concerned. But he had nothing to be concerned about.
“Today’s been perfect.”
“Then why are you crying?” He brushed more tears away. “You love Christmas.”
“No, I love Christmases with you.”
He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Just tell me, kid. Get it off your chest. It’s okay.”
What did he think I was going to say? “NowIwant to know whatyou’rethinking.”
“I’m thinking you’ve been pulling away from me the past few weeks. This is your favorite time of year but you’ve been so…sad.”
“I’m not sad.”
“You’re crying.” He wiped more of my tears away.
These were happy tears. I was so happy I felt like I was going to burst. But he thought I was slipping away from him. He couldn’t be farther from the truth. I was just nervous. I hoped he wanted this as much as I did. “I have one more present for you,” I said.
“Whatever it is, I don’t want it.” He pulled me in close, capturing me against his chest.
I laughed. “I promise you’ll want it. I mean, I think you’ll want it. I hope you do.”
“Seriously, you’re freaking me out.” He looked down at me. “Are you thinking about going back to New York?”
“What? No.” I shook my head. “Not at all. The opposite, if anything.”
He lowered his eyebrows.
“Give me a second to grab your present.”
He reluctantly let go of me, like he thought I was already slipping away.
It was true. I’d been emotional the past few weeks. But this was a big step for me. A huge step. I was finally ready to make it with him. I was ready for our future.
