Page 70 of Military Daddies' Nanny

Drew shakes his head once more and moves another step closer, but he doesn’t close the gap, nor does he try to touch me.

“No, Nancy. I’m so sorry that I ever made you feel that way, but I promise it has always been you. My efforts with Karen were my attempt at giving the children what I thought they wanted.”

He looks down at his hands, defeated. “I thought if I could give her a chance with the kids, they would be happier and complete, but I was only deluding myself into thinking I knew what was best for them.”

He laughs, the sound devoid of all humor. “Turns out they knew better than I did. They knew what and who they wanted in their lives, and it wasn’t Karen. It’s you. For them…and for me. It’s always been you and it will only ever be you.”

Drew reaches to take my hand but stops himself at the last second, letting his outstretched hand fall back to his side.

I shake away the dejection and pity I feel. I cannot allow myself to be weak.Not yet, at least.“I was excited to go on that date with you, but you didn’t care to even explain anything to me. You never even tried to come after me all this time.”

“I’m so sorry, Nancy. I should have known better than to think you would be fine with everything without having any questions. I regret not taking you on that date.”

He looks at Carlos and Nathan who stand to the side, watching us silently.

“I was looking forward to going on the date with you and spending some time alone. I mean, I enjoy being with the guys, but I wanted to have a moment where it was just the two of us. I hadn’t been that excited in a long time.”

“I had it all planned,” he says, his eyes boring into mine. “I was going to confess my love to you and tell you that you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me since the kids. But how could I go confess my love for you and tell you that you mean the world to me when Karen had just shown up out of the blue? I was lost and didn’t know what to do, but I’m not confused now. I know what I want, and it is you. No one else but you.”

His words are spoken with conviction and I want to believe him so badly, but fear holds me back. "And what about Carlos and Nathan? This arrangement we had...it was complicated, Drew. Are you sure you can handle that?"

To my surprise, he laughs softly. "Nancy, I don't care how complicated it is. I just want to be with you. All of you," he adds, glancing at Carlos and Nathan. "You're all my family. I was an idiot to think I needed anything else."

His words break something open inside me, and suddenly I'm crying. Drew is there in an instant, his strong arms wrapping around me. I bury my face in his chest, breathing in his familiar scent.

"I'm so sorry," he murmurs into my hair. "Can you ever forgive me?"

I pull back slightly, looking up into his warm brown eyes. "I love you too, Drew," I whisper. "But there's something you need to know."

Concern flashes across his face. "What is it? Whatever it is, we'll face it together."

Taking a deep breath, I step back and smooth my shirt over my belly, emphasizing the curve there. "I'm pregnant, Drew."

His eyes widen in shock, darting between my face and my stomach. "Pregnant?" he whispers. "How...when...?"

"I’m about four months along," I say softly. "I found out after...after I left."

Drew's face cycles through a range of emotions—surprise, joy, confusion, and finally, guilt. "Oh, Nancy," he breathes. "I'm so sorry. I should have been here. I should have..."

I place a finger on his lips, silencing him. "It's okay. Carlos and Nathan have been taking care of me."

Drew glances at his brother and best friend, gratitude and betrayal evident in his eyes.

“You knew all along, and you didn’t tell me,” he accuses, glaring at them.

The guys glare back at him, not backing down.

“With the decisions you chose to take at the time, did you think it would have been a good idea to tell you, or that it was better for you to come to the realization that you want to be with her, not because she’s carrying your baby, but because you love her?” Nathan’s voice is rigid as he continues to fix him with a glare.

Carlos is calmer. “We didn’t want to put you in a tough position where you felt like you needed to choose between Nancy and Karen. You needed to make the decision for yourself without any external influence.”

He’s still frowning, but he nods. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I should’ve been with you when you found out, and every day since then.”

I smile, relieved. “You’re here now. That’s what matters.”

I know that it will eat at him for a little bit, but he has accepted what happened as something that could not be helped.

He looks at me, his gaze intense. "And the baby...is it...?"

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