“And I’m pregnant,” I said it, and it felt really good to tell someone. To no longer harbor my secret alone.
I assumed you’d get up politely, say something nice, and then ghost me, but instead you slid closer. You took my hands and wrapped an arm around me, pulling me into your chest. You allowed me to cry for a half hour, soaking your button-down shirt.
I drew back. “You can go.”
“I’d rather stay if it’s okay with you?”
“This isn’t your problem. It’s…” I didn’t even know how to say it, but you only put your finger under my chin and brought my eyes to meet yours. I remember that there was no hesitation in your big hazel eyes.
“I want to stay.”
It was the words I needed to hear. Now, I wonder if you just saw me as an easy mark.
You didn’t ask me what I planned to do. Whether I was keeping the baby or even telling Bennett. You were a pillar of support that I was in desperate need of.
A week later, you showed back up with the same Italian dinner, apologizing that you hadn’t been around because you’d been out of town on business. Again, we had takeout and watched a movie.
“Can I ask you something, and if you don’t want to talk about it, please tell me I overstepped?” I remember you asking on our way to get ice cream after the movie.
“Of course.”
“Are you telling him?”
It had been the biggest question on my mind. I had even picked up my phone and had Bennett’s number dialed three times the other night. Then I made the mistake of searching for him on socials. He didn’t have anything new, but Kristie did. A picture of them with Darla, Brad, Romy, and Lottie, all of them wearing to-be shirts, announcing the pregnancy. Bennett’s arm was around Kristie, and her arms were around his waist. The rest of the Owens’ smiles were big and wide. Where our baby and I could fit, I didn’t know.
“I’m not sure yet,” I admitted, slightly ashamed I hadn’t booked a flight and gone to Willowbrook to tell him already. Or at least texted him a picture of the pregnancy test. Was I really considering having this baby and never telling him?
“Well, I just want you to know, either way, I’m in.” Your hand slid over the console of your expensive sports car.
“What?” I thought I had to have heard you wrong.
“I’m not asking to marry you, but you being pregnant doesn’t change my feelings for you. I’d like to continue dating and see where this goes.”
I turned in my seat. “I’m pregnant.”
“I know.”
“With another man’s baby.”
A smile tipped your lips. “I know.”
“And I’m fairly sure I’m keeping the baby.”
“Okay.” You glanced at me before concentrating on the road again.
“We haven’t even had sex, and I’m not sure if I want you to see my body all swollen and big the first time.”
You laughed and shook your head. “You’re going to be a gorgeous pregnant woman, of that I have no doubt.”
You parked the car, and we didn’t get out right away, mostly because I was trying to wrap my head around the fact that you wanted to date me knowing all these things going on in my life. You didn’t care about my baggage, you only wanted me, and that felt really, really good.
“And we can take it slow?” I asked.
“You dictate the pace.”
“Okay,” I agreed.
You got out of the car, walking around to help me out.
