Page 83 of Strike Zone

“Can we talk about your ex?” I’m so tired, but after what happened with Anthony tonight, Linc deserves answers.

“If we must.”

“What did he say to you, southpaw? You were crying. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

“I am now.” It takes me a few moments before I continue, my heart beating so hard I’m certain Linc can feel it fighting to break free. “He called me a whore. Said that I saw what I wanted to see, and if I’d really looked, I’d have known he was married.” He doesn’t push or try to placate me, giving me the space to continue at my own pace. “He said you won’t stick around.” A lump forms in my throat, making it almost impossible to speak. “He said my bastard child will be left with a whore of a mother, and you’ll move on… because I’m not the forever girl. I’m no one’s forever.”

I twist in his arms to face him, vulnerable as scared tears roll down my cheeks. “That’s what he said.”

He wipes my tears, caressing my face with his strong, callused hands. “You… are my everything, Diana. My yesterday, today, and all the tomorrows we have to look forward to. You’re not my forever girl… you’re my forever woman. Strong, bold, fierce, and so fucking beautiful inside and out. Someone like him will never understand what we have because he’s not worthy of being loved by a woman as amazing as you.”

I don’t understand why he always sees the best in me, even when I’ve given him no reason. “Linc… what if you change your mind? What if you think you’re in love with me now because we’re having this baby together, but maybe if we weren’t, I wouldn’t be the kind of woman you could love?”

He gently lifts my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze, and as his ice-blue eyes see through all my bullshit, I can barely breathe. When Linc looks at me, he doesn’t see what everyone else does. He sees me without judgment or expectation, accepting every part of me.

“Diana, I am so excited to meet our baby girl, but I’m not with you because you’re pregnant. I don’t love you because you’re pregnant with my child. Think back for a moment, and it’s staring you in the face.”

“What?”

“You’re pregnant because I’m in love with you. The night we conceived this little princess…” he says as he runs his hand down to my stomach, “… happened because I asked for more. I loved you even then when I barely knew you. My soul knew you were mine and that I wanted to be yours, forever. This baby was made with love, even if you hadn’t caught up yet.” My heart skips a beat.

“I want you to be my forever, Linc.”

“Like I told the OB, I’m your barnacle. There’s no getting rid of me now.”

“I’m good with that.”

“Then we’ll get you moved in tomorrow. How does that sound? I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for our forever to start now.”

“Me too.” Linc moves to reposition me with my back to his chest the way he knows I like to sleep, but I stop him in his tracks, overcome with the desire to be loved by him. “Make love to me, Linc. I want our forever to start the same way our love story did. A botched dinner and an earth-shattering orgasm.”

I kiss him with every ounce of love and devotion coursing through my veins—in every beat of my heart, giving myself to him mind, body, and soul.

* * *

“Southpaw, that’s the last of your boxes. I can’t believe it only took us two days to move you in.”

I’ve been relegated to unpacking my clothes while everyone else has been doing the heavy lifting. I tried to explain that I’m pregnant, not incapable, but when Linc has Brooke and Anders in his corner, I lose the argument every time.

“Why are you surprised? You could’ve fit my entire apartment in your living room.”

“Good point. Thank God you didn’t ask me to live at your place.” His playful smile makes me laugh.

“Would you have done it?”

“Fuck, yes! I’d live in a dumpster behind Applebee’s if it meant being with you.”

“Geez, you two are insufferable.” Anders pipes up as he stacks the last of my training gear in the hallway.

Linc and I exchange glances, knowing exactly what the other is thinking.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” That’s my man, always the height of diplomacy. I slink under his arm, relishing the warmth of his embrace. “We’ve had to play third wheel to you two since the moment you met. It’s nauseating at best. You and your smug relationship goals perfection. Now it’s time for you to get a taste of your own medicine.”

“They aren’t single anymore. How will we make either of them a third wheel exactly? Won’t we just be a whole car now? Or a go-kart? Do we even know what the wheel refers to?” I hate to be the one to burst his bubble, but they all start laughing, and it’s not at my observation.

Linc rubs my belly, his sly grin making his eyes sparkle in the twilight as it creeps in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. “Baby, a third wheel is an unwanted extra, therefore, a bicycle or something. If you’re a third wheel on a car, you’re a threesome in need of a fourth.”

“Don’t even think about saying it, Linc. I’ve assured my parents and my lovely knocked-up sister that you’re a good guy. If you make a joke about sister threesomes, I’ll have to retract those statements before kneeing you in the groin.” Brooke and I definitely know how to pick them. When she looks to Anders, he’s trying—and failing—to stifle his laughter.

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