Page 91 of Rough Ride

“I said everything is fine.”

He stared at her for a long moment. “You’re hiding something.”

Crysta sighed. She would never be able to hide things from Eli. He always knew when she was worried about things.

“I don’t want you to freak out.”

He swallowed. “Tell me.”

She sighed again. She did not go about this the right way. This pregnancy hadn’t been planned, so she didn’t know how he would take the news. Reaching over, she opened the drawer on her bedside table. Her fingers were shaking when she retrieved the sonogram picture. She handed it over to him.

He frowned as he looked at it. Silence stretched out, her nerves along with it. He glanced up at her, confusion filling his expression.

“What’s the problem you’re not telling me?”

She blinked. Did he really not see it? Taking the picture from him, she scooted closer.

“So, this,” she said, pointing to the pic, “is one dangly bit the other two didn’t have.”

It was his turn to blink and then look at her. “You thought I would be upset about a boy?”

She shook her head. “Look here at this other dangly bit.”

He looked at her, then down at the pic again. His eyes widened as his gaze flew to her face. “Twins.”

She sighed and nodded. Tears filled her eyes. Eli took the picture from her hand, placing it gently on the table. Then he moved to sit beside her on the mattress, leaning against the headboard and pulling her into her arms.

“Why would I be upset?”

“We weren’t planning on this pregnancy. Plus, I will probably end up on bed rest at some point, like with Regina.”

He held her tightly and kissed the top of her head. “First, remember what I always say?”

“Unplanned happiness is the best.”

She looked up at him, not caring that he had tears streaming down her face. She had gotten used to showing her emotion to him, to being vulnerable.

“Right. And this…fuck, Crysta…” He smiled. “Two more babies to love. This is going to be fantastic.”

She laughed on a hiccup. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. And just for reference, I would be happy if they were girls.”

She knew that. “About the time in bed?”

“If it happens, it happens. We dealt with it last time. And I’m sure Dad would come to help if we needed him. Everything is going to be fine, love.”

She felt her nerves settle for the first time since her appointment on Friday. He was so good at that.

“I should have been gentler with you last night,” he said, wiping away her tears with care.

She shook her head. “Doc says sex is still on the table. We’re fine, Eli.”

He leaned down and brushed his mouth over hers. She opened her mouth, and he dove in, his tongue tangling with hers. The simmering heat from earlier exploded. Her nipples tightened, her entire body shimmering with need. She was trying to convince Eli that they needed to take that bath now when her father called out.

“These pancakes are going to get cold.”

Eli pulled back with a smile. She huffed out an annoying sigh. “Cock blocker.”

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