“What if you’re not really pregnant? That’s what kept me up at night. It’s stupid, I know, but it really stressed me out.”
“You think I’d lie about it?”
“No! I was being paranoid and unreasonable about the situation. My fear was that it was all a mistake somehow.”
“And now?”
“Knowing you’re not only healthy and pregnant, but also carrying two babies is a fucking relief, to be honest.”
“You’re a strange man, Tristan Thorne. But thank you. Thank you for being calm about this. I’m freaking out.”
“Some people say having twins is easier because they keep each other company.”
“You made that up.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, I did. But it sounds true, doesn’t it?”
I smile because he’s right. “It does.”
“I want to be here for them. For you. That’s all I’ve thought about.”
I stay quiet, staring at our hands and nodding.
“You’re crying,” he says in alarm. Tristan stands in front of me and cups my face so our eyes hold. “What’s wrong? Are you upset about the news?”
“I’m not upset,” I say honestly and yet my tears fall. He catches them with a gentle swipe of his thumbs.
“Tell me why you’re crying.” There’s a hint of desperate begging in his voice.
How to explain this sense of being overwhelmed?
Of this moment as a threshold ofbeforeI saw my babies andafter.
The pictures by the table are evidence of my world changing irrevocably.
“I’m crying because there are no words. I’m feeling a lot of things. Relieved and happy because they have heartbeats and the doctor sounds confident that everything is normal. Most of all, and don’t make me regret saying this, I’m so fucking glad you’re here.”
Admitting that last part unburdens me. Knowing I can count on Tristan to hold my hand through this process means the world.
“I’m here.” His confirmation is solemn, and his stare is so palpable it feels like a solid wall. A wall with a massive sign that demands I stare back. The moment draws me in. My body yearns for the soft surrender of leaning into his hard body. I want to inhale him and hold him and kiss him.
Instead, I pull away.
“Should we check our calendars before scheduling the next ultrasound?” I ask, finding my feet and heading to the hallway bathroom.
CHAPTER 23
TRISTAN
It feels wrong to be at the parking lot saying goodbye. I stick around after walking her to her shitty old car, unwilling to end this conversation about the biggest news of our lives.
“Did you tell your parents about us?”
“Yes and no. I told them I’m pregnant but haven’t said anything about the baby daddy.”
“And Cathy was OK with that?”
Ligaya’s mother is nothing if not protective and involved.
