Page 69 of Ghosted By Texas

“I missed this,” he whispered into my hair.

“Me too,” I admitted because there was no point in being stubborn. It was obvious, by the way I clung to his waist, and nuzzled my face into his chest to inhale his intoxicating aroma. “You always smelled so good. It’s addicting.”

“Good to know,” he teased. “And right back at you, Trouble.”

I chuckled. “Jesus, that was the dumbest costume to ever wear to a college party and Clea never did show up because her Game of Life spinner wheel kept falling off her costume.”

“I wouldn’t say it was the dumbest costume. It caught my attention from across the room, remember?”

“Yeah, I guess it did.”

We stood there clinging to one another for what seemed like hours but was probably only a few drawn-out moments. Then, reluctantly, I pulled away before I lost my heart to the infuriating man again.

“So, I guess the next thing we need to decide on is a name for our son.”

“I imagine that’s going to be one of the first questions my family ask after they find out that he’s a boy on Sunday.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me. The thought of going there to your family’s house for their Sunday dinner makes me want to hurl.”

“Tell me how you really feel,” he said, though I could hear the hurt in his tone at the callous way I’d just implied his family made me sick.

“I didn’t mean it like that. I meant my nerves are going to get the best of me, especially having to wait four days.”

“You’ve met my mom and my brothers. That’s half the family already.”

“Yeah, I also met your older sister, and she wasn’t exactly pleasant.”

“When did that happen?”

“I ran into her and your mom at the grocery store a month or so ago.”

“Fuck. If that ever happens again, I want to know about it right away. Victoria is in the middle of her own shit, and she won’t talk to anyone about it, but it’s clouded her judgment on a few things.”

“Like Jordan,” I insisted.

“Among other things.” He huffed. “I’m sorry she was a brat, but I promise she won’t be this weekend. Everyone already ripped into her the last time she tried to defend Jordan and insinuated you might be faking your pregnancy as well.”

“So, I heard.”

He smiled then. “Clea told you?”

“Yes, but not until recently. I don’t think she wanted to hurt my feelings by letting me know that someone in your family was less than thrilled about my situation, but it slipped out, and I made her fill me in. I promise, she’s not spying for me.”

“Oh, I know. She has a pact with Houston. Neither one of them will get too involved in our shit, beyond being supportive. Houston put his foot down about meddlesome involvement.”

That made me laugh. “I wondered why she hadn’t been pushier about things.” I held my hand out to Austin and he placed his in mine without question. “Come on, let’s go get settled in and see if we can’t decide on what we’re going to call our boy, so he doesn’t get tormented throughout school.”

“I’m guessing, we shouldn’t name him Christopher Robinson then?” He teased.

“Ew, I would poke your eyes out with Eeyore’s missing tail, thumbtack and all, if you tried to Winnie the Poo our son.”

Austin laughed. “Noted. Besides, I kind of hoped he could have my last name,” he admitted.

“I figured as much, and you won’t get an argument from me on that point because my family isn’t that great. Yours apparently is, and I’d rather him feel those ties.”

“My mom and dad would love the shit out of you for that answer.”

“Good, you can let them know I said that, and butter them up before I have to meet your dad on Sunday.”

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