Page 36 of Oops, My Professor Got Me Pregnant!

Nico had made dinner reservations at a small restaurant in downtown Paris with a view over the city lights. When they arrived, he pulled Lauren’s chair back for her, and she smiled at him.

“Such a gentleman.”

When they received their menus, Nico quickly selected one of his favorite dishes of roast beef and potatoes. Lauren took her time, though, her lips moving slightly as she read the French words. Nico sat back in his chair and watched her. He didn’t want to rush her, and he knew she could figure out most of the menu items herself.

Plus, this gave him a little time to look at Lauren. Usually, she became embarrassed if he admired her for too long and would wave him off with a self-deprecating comment or a change of subject. Now, though, she was focused on the menu and Nico could just look at her.

Lauren looked gorgeous, as always, in the restaurant’s muted candlelight. Her blond curls were slightly mussed from a day of roller coasters, and there was a little pink in her cheeks, perhaps from the sun. Her blue eyes sparkled in the light. And the dress she was wearing, a light-blue number with short sleeves, hugged her curves perfectly and accentuated her feminine form.

As attractive as Lauren was physically, though, it wasn’t the only reason Nico found her so compelling. Her kindness, her intelligence, and her enthusiasm drew him to her like a magnet. Lauren had turned his whole life upside down in a matter of weeks. He’d never have imagined that he’d be so completely, head over heels in lo?—

Nico cut himself off abruptly. He cared about Lauren, deeply, but love was a step too far. They were taking things slow. As much as Lauren fitted perfectly into Nico’s life, as much as he wanted to be with her all the time, he shied away from the word “love.” Amour. It was an essential part of Nico’s life, both the love he felt for his son and the love he felt for his mother and the rest of his family. Yet what he was beginning to feel for Lauren was different from anything he’d experienced before. It was like a tsunami or a hurricane, something destructive that turned everything he thought he knew on its head — then put it back together again, even better.

“You look thoughtful.” Lauren closed her menu and tilted her head towards him. “What’s up?”

“Nothing. You just look beautiful tonight.”

As expected, Lauren shifted in her chair and blushed crimson. She was adorable when she was embarrassed.

The waiter came to take their orders, and they fell into an easy conversation about birthdays past. Nico told Lauren about his best ever childhood birthday, when his mother had organized the party at an indoor climbing gym with all his friends and Nico had gotten to spend the whole evening afterwards curled up with all the new books he’d received as gifts.

“That sounds just like you.” Lauren grinned. “I can’t tell if you were more excited about all the cake and running around or the pile of books.”

“Oh, the pile of books, definitely.” Nico winked. “How about you? What was your best birthday when you were young?”

Lauren bit her lip thoughtfully.

“I have two that come to mind. One, when I was thirteen, was when my grandfather drove my three best friends and me to my favorite theme restaurant, then we went over to my friend’s house and soaked in her hot tub. While we were there, it started to snow, even though it was well into spring. It was magical.” Lauren pressed a hand to her chest and smiled. “The other is when I was nine years old. It has a sad start, because I had a falling-out with my friends at school and they didn’t want to come to my party. But my grandfather saved the day. He set up a scavenger hunt for me that took me all over our town and reminded me of all the people who loved and cared about me, from the librarian to my friends in gymnastics to my grandfather himself.”

“That’s lovely.” Nico smiled at her. “And I was so proud of myself for putting this together. I could never live up to your grandfather’s birthday legacy.”

“There’s no need to. You never need to be anyone but you.” Lauren smiled back. “I don’t know if I’ve said this yet, but this day means so much to me. I can’t believe you did all this for me.”

I didn’t even hesitate. I would do anything for you, because I love you.

Of course, Nico didn’t say those words aloud. Instead, he managed something about how it had been his pleasure to arrange the day for her and how Louis had been excited, too. The words felt somehow hollow, because they fell so short of the truth.

A truth that Nico couldn’t hide from any longer. He loved Lauren. He’d loved her for a while. This day was just the icing on the cake of his affection for her.

Nico felt, for a moment, as though he was standing at the edge of a wide ocean. The sandy, dry beach behind him was his past, his years of refusing to open his heart to love. The future was the dancing water in front of him — his chance at happiness with Lauren. If he took one step forward, if he spoke the words that he’d tried to deny, everything would change.

But Nico didn’t step forward. He didn’t admit his feelings for Lauren. Instead, he stayed safely at the edge of the water and looked out over his future. He’d take that step another day. After all, there was no rush.

CHAPTER 14

LAUREN

“And this is a classic Matisse,” Nico said, gesturing to the painting in front of them. Lauren tilted her head in hopes of getting a better view.

“Um, Nico? It says right here it was painted by Monet.”

They exchanged a glance that turned into a shared laugh.

“Okay, okay. I wanted to impress you with my art knowledge and I’ve clearly fallen short.” Nico shrugged. “Sorry, sweetheart.”

“Hey, you don’t have to impress me with your art knowledge. I’m impressed by your professorial skills already.” Lauren nudged him with her shoulder. “And it’s nice to know there’s something you’re not an expert on.”

“There are lots of things I’m not an expert on. How to read ancient Sanskrit, for instance. Or how to program an app. Or the basics of microbiology.”

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