Page 12 of Teasing a King

“You don’t?”

He shakes his head and reaches over to take my hand in his. “No. I don’t. I could never. Mya, I think you’re amazing. And I think you’re going to be a wonderful mom.”

“Really?” I feel dangerously close to tears. Again. Which pisses me off. I swallow away the lump in my throat. I’ve cried enough for one day.

I sigh, most of my anger gone now. “I wish I’d had a better way of breaking the news, but I don’t think there is one. I’m sorry about that.”

His mouth quirks up in what might be amusement. “Yeah, I’m not sure there is an easy way to do that.” His face turns serious again. “But that doesn’t matter. I still reacted badly, and I shouldn’t have. I didn’t even ask how you’re doing with all of this. You’re the one who’s been going through it alone. Then here I come, acting like a jackass when all you were trying do is tell me the truth.”

I give him a wry look. “You might have been a little insensitive,” I concede.

“More than a little,” he says. He turns those devastating blue eyes on me. “I’m sorry, Mya. I can’t promise I won’t be a jackass again. But I can promise I’ll work really hard not to be one.”

I smile. “I guess that’s all any of us can do,” I say. “And I can try not to overreact so quickly. Though, I make no promises.”

He gives me a quick nod. “Good,” he says briskly. “Because I want to be the best dad I can possibly be and that means I have to set an example. I want our baby to know he or she has two parents who can be counted on.”

I ignore the way my heart trips on the words ‘our baby’. He’s just stating the facts. It doesn’t mean anything. We’re having a baby together. Nothing more.

“I know our journey to parenthood didn’t start in the traditional way,” Van goes on, his voice growing in excitement. “But I’d like for us to parent together. I want to be a father.” He blinks a few times as if surprised to hear himself speak the words.

“Wow,” he muses. “I never thought about it before. But yeah.” He grins at me. “I want to be a father. I want us to raise our child together. Regardless of our relationship, we can be civilized adults and raise our baby together, right? What do you say?”

I take a moment to think about his words and what they mean. Van wants to be a dad. He wants to help me raise our baby. I picture family life with Van King, wondering just what that might look like. Immediately, my thoughts go back to the memory of us in bed together. Falling asleep in his arms and waking up to the feel of his lips on my skin.Whoa.I halt those thoughts in their tracks. That’s not what this is about. This is about our child. Not the past. He’s been nothing but friendly since he came here to find me. It’s clear he wants to put the baby first. So, do I. That’s what’s best.

I push aside any lingering thoughts of a sexual nature and nod. “I’d like that,” I say, proud that my voice isn’t shaky.

My gaze doesn’t waver as I look at him. “That’s why I came here. I’ve decided to move to Oak Hill. I want to raise this baby with two parents who love him or her. I want to know my baby is loved, and not just by me. Hope is the only family I have, and she’s here. And this baby’s father, aunts, uncles and cousins are all here in Oak Hill.” I shrug. “I can write and run a website from anywhere with the internet. So, here I am. Here we are.”

Van’s face is still slightly awed at his realization from moments ago. He turns that awe-stricken expression on me and his gaze travels down to my belly as if he’s remembering all over again that I’m pregnant. He nods slowly, bringing his gaze back to mine. He smiles.

“I’m glad you’re both here,” he says, making me smile. He shakes his head as though clearing it. “I didn’t think it was possible,” he says.

My brow wrinkles in question. “What?”

He huffs out a surprised little laugh. “To love someone you haven’t even met.”

My heart stutters in my chest and I open my mouth to speak, though I don’t know what to say. It’s not until his hand tightens on mine that I realize he’s still holding it. As though realizing it at the same moment, Van drops it and takes a tiny step back. Before I can evaluate the little pang I feel at his sudden distance, he shoots me a smile.

“I was just trying to think of how I could be a good dad when my child lives three hours away,” he says. “You’re really okay moving to this little town?”

I nod. “I really am. Besides, I’ve been lonely since Hope moved in with your brother. She’s been my best friend for nearly a decade.”

Van’s expression is one I can’t place. It’s part surprise, part wonder and part bemusement. “Thank you,” he says.

“Um, you’re welcome,” I say, confused. “For what, exactly?”

“For everything,” he says. “You’re making these monumental changes for our baby. I feel like I should be doing something.”

I shake my head with a laugh. “There isn’t much you can do until after the baby gets here.”

Van’s eyes narrow. “I’m sure that’s not true. Come to dinner Sunday,” he says, surprising me with the sudden change of subject. At my look of confusion, he elaborates.

“Family dinner,” he says. “We get together every Sunday at Mack’s. All my brothers and my sister will be there. Hope, Hannah and Quinn too. I’d like for you to come.”

He looks so hopeful and eager, eyes shining with that same awed excitement. I curve my own lips into a smile, though I’m not sure it matches his. But, I came to Oak Hill for a reason. I wanted to be closer to Hope, yes. But I also wanted to give Van a chance to be part of the baby’s life. Now, he’s saying he wants to co-parent with me. It’s exactly what I hoped for. Right? So, why do I feel like something is missing?

“Okay,” I hear myself say.

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