Page 12 of Cementing Her Love

“I’m not going to let you ‘have it’. I mean, it’s not like you two have been trying to hide things. It’s so obvious how you two feel about each other.”

She wasn’t wrong. I always showed my feelings on my face. I was a terrible poker player.

“You said to Hayden, ‘I’ve never seen her happier.’ And the same can be said about you. I’ve never seen you this way, Shay. And when I say I’ve never seen my brother treat a woman like he does you, as if you’re the most important person in the world. It’s never happened. Plus, the way he looks at you. I thought the air around you guys was going to combust the other day you two were trying so hard to not look at each other.”

Not sure how to respond because yeah, she’s my best friend but also Colton’s sister, so there was a small amount of discomfort talking about how he feels about me and vice versa or sharing the usual things besties shared. But yeah, since I’m pregnant, there was no getting around the fact that she knew we’d done the horizontal mambo.

“I’ve never felt this way before.” I whispered. Stupid hormones had me on the verge of tears. Knowing she accepted Colton and I being a couple meant more to me than anyone else’s opinion.

“Do you love him?” Brenley asked.

My eyes filled with tears before I could answer.

“Well, go. Tell him everything.”

He wasn’t home. I texted him to get the address of where he was. I couldn’t wait until the end of the day. Hopefully, the cement wasn’t actually being poured when I got there because I don’t think I could hold back and not blurt it out and then be forced to wait for his reaction while he and his crew had to get it spread out before it began to set.

When I arrived, I’d settled myself enough to sit and watch him through my windshield until he was at a point I could speak to him.

As I watched the process, I thought to myself, there’s just something about a man who worked with his hands. How was it that Colton, with his rubber boots caked in cement, running a spreader with his ball cap worn backward, wearing a lopsided grin, looked sexier than any movie star I’d ever crushed on?

He exuded confidence and by the smile on his face: joy. He was actually enjoying himself. And isn’t that what we all strive for in our work life? Many never achieved it. Sad but true. So, when you see it in someone, someone you care about, someone you’re pretty sure you love and want to spend the rest of your life with, then seeing him excel at his chosen second act was one of the best feelings in the world.

He didn’t look like a man who’d settle for less in his personal life. He wanted and deserved someone who was all in. I just hoped he’d still want to be with me after I shared my news with him.

When it looked like they were almost done, I walked over to where he stood talking to the cement truck driver. Colton’s eyes lit up when he saw me and I held onto that as I continued to run options of how I was going to announce he was going to be a father.

“Hey, gorgeous.” He leaned down and gave me a quick kiss, holding his hands out to the side to keep me from getting dirty. “Sorry, don’t want to muss up your outfit. You look cute. And tired. Everything, okay.” The concern in his voice was almost too much. I felt my eyes tear up. If I was this emotional in the first trimester, what was the rest of my pregnancy going to be like?

“Yeah, no I’m good. Um, do you have a few minutes? There’s something we need to talk about.” Without waiting for his answer, I walked back to my car, berating myself for rushing over. Maybe I should have waited? Giving him the news at work was suddenly feeling like the worst idea.

“Shay, hold up. Honey, what’s going on? You’ve got me worried.” He’d taken off his work gloves and stopped right behind me, then turned me around into his arms. “Hey, whatever it is, we’ll get through it.”

Burying my head in his chest, I mumbled, “I’m pregnant.” I was happy yet scared, and every emotion in between. Real tears began to fall, and I wiped my drippy nose against his shirt.

“What was that? Hey, don’t cry.” Colton curled his fingers under my chin and lifted my head up. His eyes were so full of concern, I lost my cool and started laughing and hiccupping like a loon.

“Colton, you need to go buy some lottery tickets because we’ve managed to be hit that two percent failure rate our first time together.” How I managed to string that many words together without snot shooting from my nose, I had no idea, but I waited for my nonsensical declaration to sink in.

“You want me to buy lottery tickets? Babe. Do you have a fever? I’m sorry but I’m?—”

“I’m pregnant!” I shouted. Unfortunately, at that same moment, the noise from his crew had stopped and instead of the moment being between the two of us, I had announced to half a dozen men that their boss had knocked me up. I covered my face as another rush of tears leaked out.

“That’s, that’s…awesome. I mean, are you okay? Tell me what you’re thinking?” Colton’s expression flashed from confusion to shock and back to concern. “If you’re worried about me, don’t be. This is good news. Why wouldn’t I want the woman I love to be carrying my baby?”

Applause broke out along with shouts of congratulations. “Guys, give me a second here. And thanks.” Colton picked me up and carried me over to his truck, set me on the seat, then followed me in and shut out the world. Cocooned in the space where we’d unknowingly created our baby was almost too much. Suddenly, I wasn’t worried about his reaction. I was worried that I’d been too stubborn not to tell Colton my true feelings.

“Here, blow your nose and take some calming breaths and start from the beginning.” Colton handed me a tissue.

“I’m sure I look awful. Sorry for collapsing into a blubbering mess.” I wiped my nose and took a couple shaky breaths, then found the courage to look into his eyes. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you before. I would have handled this whole announcement better.”

“When did you find out?”

“I’m pretty sure from that first day when we collided.” I gave him a watery smile and, for the first time since I found out, I felt a sense of relief and peace.

“Wait, how could you, we…are we talking about the same thing because I’m pretty sure you didn’t get pregnant that first day.” Colton scratched his chin. He hadn’t shaved that morning, and he had that sexy scruff on his handsome face that I loved so much.

“Oh, no. Based on my cycle, I’m positive I got pregnant that first time we were together. Right here.” I patted the seat. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you how much I care about you sooner. I love you Colton Lynch and I’m sorry it took me until today to let you know I couldn’t imagine a better man to be the father of my baby. Our baby.”

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