Page 73 of Strike Zone

“Diana! Are you okay?”

“What are you doing here? You scared the crap out of me.”

“I heard you swearing.”

“From across town?”

“No. I couldn’t leave. I didn’t say what I came here to say. I’ve just been pacing up and down out here like a pussy. Then I heard you swear at the top of your lungs, and here we are.”

“Oh.” I try to calm my breathing, my adrenaline in fight or flight after that scare. The throbbing pain in my foot fades away as he stands before me.

“It sounds really creepy when I hear it out loud. Sorry. I didn’t even realize how late it was getting. Where were you going at this time?”

It’s now or never. With a deep, steadying breath, I launch into a babbling stream of incoherent thought. “I was coming to see you.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. Can you just not say anything until I get through this?”

His body stiffens as he closes the door to my apartment, hesitating before turning to face me, his expression schooled in a blank stare. “Say your piece.”

“I was coming to see you because there were things I should’ve said earlier. And things I shouldn’t have said at all. I’m sorry I used your childhood against you. If I could take it back, I would. It makes me sick to my stomach that I was so cruel when all you’ve been is kind since you found out about the baby.”

“Apology accepted.” His quick response is unnerving.

“No talking, or I’ll chicken out again.”

“Sorry.”

I start pacing the length of the living room, my hands drifting to my growing baby bump. It’s not huge, but I’m starting to love it.

“We were never supposed to happen. Us… the baby… a relationship… of any kind. But then no matter how hard I fight it, you’ve become my best friend.”

“You said that earlier. I don’t need a recap. Trust me, it’s burned into my brain.”

Oh my God, he seriously can’t keep his mouth shut. I close the distance between us, grabbing his face with my hands and planting a hard kiss on his lips.

“Shut up! I’m trying to tell you that I’m in love with you, and you won’t stay quiet long enough for me to get it out. I’m terrified to want more from you. I don’t want to lose your friendship, and I don’t want to make it more difficult for us to co-parent, but here’s the thing…”

He sweeps an errant strand of hair off my face, tucking it behind my ear as he leans in with the softest caress of my lips. “What’s the thing?”

“I don’t want us to co-parent. We should be a team. A family, if that’s what you want too. Somewhere along the way, I’ve started depending on you and missing you when you’re not around. Friends with benefits wouldn’t be enough for me, Linc, because I want it all. Everything. With you. I’m stupidly, annoyingly, head over heels in love with you, and the thought of you with anyone else doesn’t make me angry… it breaks my heart. I’ve never felt this way before, and I don’t enjoy feeling like I’m on a rollercoaster without a safety harness. It’s uncomfortable and horrifying, but I want you more than my next breath.”

He doesn’t respond or kiss me. Instead, he remains frozen in place, his eyes searching mine for answers.

“Aren’t you going to say anything? I just poured my heart out.”

“I wanted to make sure you were done. Are you done?”

“Yes.” My voice is barely a whisper at this point.

“Good. Now, I can say what I came here to tell you tonight, and you’re going to listen.”

I drop my gaze to the floor, my chest sagging under the weight of his impending rejection. “Okay.”

He slides his index finger under my chin, coaxing me to look up at him. “You’re a mess, Diana. Brash, even cruel at times, and yet when I look at you, I see nothing but beauty, strength, and a softness you don’t like to admit is there. You can go from being a UFC powerhouse to a vulnerable, feminine beauty in the blink of an eye. You’re breathtaking. When you let your guard down, you’re stunning, and that’s the woman I’ve fallen for. Your heart and soul.”

“Really?”

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