Page 83 of Savage for You

“Baby, I hate that I have to leave you, but I called Autumn, and she’s on her way over, okay? I’ll email your professors if you want me to. Let’s get you set up on the couch.”

All I can do is nod my head and he lifts me with ease and places me on the couch with my favorite Harry Potter blanket and turns on the fourth movie in the series. Personally, I prefer the Goblet of Fire it’s the best one. Fight me.

“I love you.” He kisses my forehead.

“I love you too. Thank you, baby. I’ll be okay. Go to practice.” He gives me a look telling me that he doesn’t want to leave my side, but they’re getting ready for the Las Vegas Bowl game.

One more kiss to the top of my head and he’s gone.

I pull my phone out to text Autumn.

Me: Hey, can you add a pregnancy test?

Autumn: OMG!!! Yes, I’ll be there soon, Boo.

Thirty minutes later, she’s walking into the house with bags full of stuff, including a pregnancy test.

I take the test from her, and head to the bathroom. I sit on the edge of the tub and look down at the test before I take it. I cannot remember how we got here. I thought we were being safe.

I use a little cup to catch the pee so there is no mistaking if I have enough on the test. I set it down and it tells me to wait for three minutes. I wash my hands and open the door for Autumn to come in and wait with me. She’s holding my hand when the timer goes off.

“No. Fucking. Way,” I say at the same time Autumn yells, “I'm going to be an aunt!” Two pink lines. I’m going to have a baby. Holy shit. I break down crying because I’m freaking out. We are still so young, and he has a whole career ahead of him. I have so many things I want to do before having kids. I know my life isn’t over…but damn. As I place my hand over my tummy, I also feel peace.

Autumn grabs my other hand and I look up at her. “Hey, it's okay. This baby will be so loved. You and Rocky will be amazing parents. He loves you so much, I know you are still young, but you have our family supporting you and we all love you so much. I love you.”

“I love you too, Autumn.”

“Holy shit, I'm going to be a mom.”

No wonder I haven’t been feeling the greatest. At least now I know what’s been going on. The nausea would hit at random times, but I just thought it was stress because I have been doing a lot with school, and working with authors to make sure their book covers are everything they ever wanted.

“Shit, how will I tell Rocky?”

“I have an idea.”

And we plan how I’ll tell the love of my life that he’ll be a daddy. I place the order for the things I need. I grab one of my decorative boxes and place the stick inside.

thirty-five

Montana

“Aunt Valentina, are you home?” I call out when I walk into her house.

“I'm in my office, baby! Come on up!”

Walking up the stairs, I see pictures of me and Talon from when we were younger and next to them are photos of my mom and aunt. Taking a deep breath, I walk into her office and see that she has a bunch of fabric samples all around. She’s sitting criss-cross-applesauce on the floor. I always get teary eyed when I see her because she and my mom were identical twins. Looking at her raven hair and blue eyes that match my mom’s is never easy. She has the same light brown complexion, but she is more on the fair side like Talon and me.

I’m getting tears in my eyes. I haven’t stopped by in a while, but she understands. To look into her face, knowing it's not my mom talking back to me guts me every single time.

She is often away, working with the clients she has all over the world. She’s one of the best interior designers. She also has a magazine that she runs from home too about all the up-and-coming designers in the area. From interior, clothes and even baking she will feature it. I should see if Autumn would be interested in being featured.

“I need to talk to you.”

“You know you can talk to me about anything, baby. I’m listening.”

“Okay, well…it’s a long story.” I sigh.

I go on to tell her about meeting Rocky and falling in love with him and keeping my identity a secret. All of the things, about meeting Karissa again and if she remembers how he was the boy who proposed to me with the ring from the vending machine. She laughs and nods. How he was there for me during the one-year anniversary of my parents' death and taking me to Valleyfair.

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