Page 57 of Rhett Redeemed

Olivia sends me a text and the two of us start chatting about pregnancy. This is her second, so she knows more than I do. She tells me about her birth with her first child, and how easy it went until she had to start pushing, which took hours upon hours.

We talk about baby names. She loves the name Sloane, and I have no idea what names I like yet, because I picture having that conversation with Rhett first. It’s nice having someone with no ties to Cara to talk to, someone who is just my friend and mine alone.

I have Jamie, and now I have Olivia.

It makes me feel like having this baby isn’t going to be bad after all.

In fact, it’s a blessing.

A month passes and so does most of the nausea, which makes being at work much easier. I still haven’t told anyone else about being pregnant, not even Cara, and I find myself chatting with Olivia anytime I want to discuss something. We’ve been meeting for lunch and going to the mom group together, and she has fast become a big support in my life.

Rhett has been really busy settling in as president, but he has come and seen me every couple of days. Tonight he stopped by to take me out to dinner. We have been having date nights, but not sex, which is a bit confusing because I want him. But I know it’s probably a bad idea to jump him every time I see him, especially now that we need to figure out how to be parents. Instead, we tell each other different stories about our lives or talk about what we think the baby will look like and what we picture our child to grow up like. It’s been really nice.

“I hope our child has your chocolate-brown eyes,” he says sweetly, tilting his head to the side. “Actually, I hope he or she looks exactly like you.”

I grin. “Funny. I was thinking the exact same thing about you.”

And that’s when you know that you’re having a child with the right person. I’d love for this baby to be just like Rhett. And no matter what happens between us, that opinion will never change.

Despite these sweet moments, it’s a little tense being around him because we are avoiding the big elephant in the room—us as a couple—and just focusing on the baby. I think we’re both being stubborn and neither of us wants to be the one to bring it up first.

“How long are we going to do this for?” he asks me finally.

“Do what?” I ask innocently, putting my fork down and giving him my full attention.

He absently watches the people around us, all enjoying their meals, before bringing his eyes back to me. “Pretend that we aren’t together. You are the mother of my child, but that’s not the reason I want to be with you. I wanted you before you were pregnant, you knew that, and I’ll want you long after. Don’t you want to be with me?”

Damn, does he have to call me out like this?

I lick my suddenly dry lips. “Of course I do. It’s just not that simple, is it?”

“Con, have you talked to Cara about this?” he asks, scanning my eyes. “Or have you been avoiding talking about us and the baby like you’ve been avoiding talking to me?”

Damn. He knows me more than I give him credit for.

“I just... She’s just...” I try to find the right words. “I can’t betray her.”

Rhett sits up and puts both elbows on the table, leaning toward me. “Talk to her. She might surprise you.”

I nod. He’s right. I can’t keep this from her any longer, especially since I’m out of my first trimester and have no real excuse to keep it from her anymore.

“We can take it as slow as you want, but I want to try.”

“I know, I want to try, too,” I admit finally. “But until I talk with her we can’t...”

His lip twitches. “Then you better tell her fucking soon.”

The look he gives me is all heat, and I know he’s right. The tension has built to peak level, and I want him badly.

But I know I’ve been avoiding telling Cara because I feel guilty. So yeah, I’ve been avoiding that shit and just being in my little bubble.

“Maybe we tell her together?”

My eyes snap to his at this declaration. Together? “Uh, I don’t know if that is the best idea...”

“Con, look at me.” He stares into my eyes and I can feel his conviction in just his gaze. “I’ve given you space. I’ve let you control what we are doing here. But Cara and I made peace a while ago. It’s time for you and her to—”

“We did,” I remind him. Although if I really think about it, we didn’t really talk about my feelings for Rhett. I just kept telling her it wouldn’t happen again.

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