Page 65 of Teasing a King

I smile. “I hope so.”

After I leave Hannah’s place, I go back home to wait for the rest of the supplies to be delivered to the house. While I wait, I think over what I’m going to say to Mya. I need to make sure she knows exactly how I feel. I’ve got to get this right.

By the time 5pm rolls around, I’m a nervous wreck. Mya will be here any minute. My plan is in place, but now I’m worried it won’t be enough. What if I can’t convince her to give us another chance? What if she still thinks we’re better off going back to being friends? Can I do that? Can I go back to being her friend when I know how amazing we can be together? I’ll have to. I’d rather be her friend than nothing. If that’s all she wants to be, so be it. I can do that for her, no matter how badly it’s going to hurt.

I look around the room, checking everything one last time. It looks amazing. Flowers adorn the entryway and lead all the way back to the living room. Soft candles illuminate everything, giving it a romantic glow. Hannah outdid herself. I owe her big time. I’m going to have to get her an incredible birthday gift next month. Especially if this works out.

I hear a car door close outside and my heart jumps into my throat. I wait until I hear the front door open, then close again before I press the button to activate the twinkle lights leading from the front door back to the living room where I’m waiting.

“What the—” I hear Mya say in a low voice.

I’d left a note telling her to follow the lights, but what if she turns around and walks out? What then? When I hear her footsteps growing closer, I relax slightly. She’s not leaving. Not yet, anyway. I wait until I see her in the living room doorway before pressing the button to play the video on the TV. Mya’s eyes go from me to the television screen, watching the video I’d spent most of last night compiling for her. I watch her instead of the television. I already know the video by heart. The first thing she’ll see is my face.

“Hey, Little Bean,” the me on the screen says. “It’s your dad here. I know this might be a little weird, but I wanted to talk to you. Your mom just told me about you two days ago. Wow. I wasn’t sure I was ready to be a dad, but to tell the truth, I’m actually excited. I can’t wait to meet you. I doubt I’ll always get everything right. But I’m going to be the best possible dad I can for you. I promise.”

Mya’s eyes are glued to the screen. She brings a hand up to cover her mouth. Tears fill her eyes as the video shifts to a new one. This time it’s me, standing in the empty room that Mya and I turned into the nursery.

“This is your room, Little Bean,” I say. “I know it doesn’t look like much just yet, but your mom and I are going to make it look amazing. She’s moving in with me tomorrow. But just as friends. She has rules. And I agreed to them. Because I’m a glutton for punishment. Not that I expect you to understand what those words mean. You’re the size of a grape, or something right now. I can’t remember exactly. I need to look it up. Anyway, I just wanted to show you your room. Don’t worry. When you’re a teenager and you go through an emo stage and want to paint it black, I promise to help you.”

Mya smiles and swipes a hand across her damp cheek.

The screen flashes to another video of me sitting on the back porch. I smile into the camera.

“Good morning, Little Bean,” I say. “Your mom is still asleep, so I came out here to chat with you. It’s early, but I couldn’t sleep. I went to the doctor with your mom yesterday. She tried to tell me I didn’t need to go, but I wanted to. Just between you and me, she’s kind of an independent woman. It’s one of the things I like about her. She’s strong. Tough. You’re a lucky kid. I can already tell she’s going to be the best mom.”

My smile grows wider. “I heard your heartbeat yesterday. One second, there was static and the next second, there you were. Your tiny heart was beating so loud and fast. I swear, mine stopped. It was just for a second, but then it started up again.”

I shake my head. “I don’t know how to explain what I was feeling. It was the most amazing, most terrifying feeling I’ve ever felt. I’m scared I’m not going to do it right, but I also can’t wait to be your dad. I hope you know how much you’re already loved, Little Bean.”

Mya sniffs loudly as the video switches to another scene. This time, I’m in the kitchen. “Hey kiddo,” I say with a smile. “Listen, this video might be a little awkward for you, but I had to tell you the news. Some things have changed with me and your mom.” My smile grows wider.

“I’ll just tell you that we’re no longer just friends. To be honest, I’m kind of crazy about her. It’s only been a week, but it’s been the best week of my life. We did things a little out of order, but this feels right. Everything about this feels like it’s right where we’re supposed to be. I don’t know if your mom feels the same way. I haven’t told her how I’m feeling. I don’t want to pressure her. It’s not easy, though. All I want to do is hold her close and tell her how much she means to me. How I might just be falling for her. But I won’t. Not yet, anyway. I don’t think either of us are ready for that. We’re taking things slow.”

Mya turns to look at me. Her expression is a mixture of surprise and curiosity. I know she probably has a ton of questions, but I gesture back toward the screen. There’s one more video I need her to see. The screen shifts to an image of the ultrasound picture I’ve been carrying around with me since the day I saw our baby for the first time.

“That’s you, Little Bean,” I say, wonder in my voice. “There’s your little face and your hand. I know I’m biased, but you are one adorable baby. Probably the cutest one ever. I’m sure your cousin is going to be a cute kid, but he’s got nothing on you. Trust me. Dad knows best.”

Mya laughs. The video shifts from the ultrasound image to a video of me standing in my bedroom. I grin into the camera.

"I’m also totally in love with your mom. I’ve known for a while now. I want to tell her, but I know she'll think I'm crazy. She’ll say it’s too fast. Or worse, she won't believe me. She's a tricky thing, Little Bean. I don't know why, but she seems to think she's not enough for me. Which couldn’t be further from the truth. She’s perfect for me. She just hasn’t realized it yet.”

I pause the video and turn to look at Mya. She’s standing there, brown eyes shining with hope and unshed tears.

“I wanted to talk to our baby,” I say. “Let him or her know how much they’re loved. Even before we’ve met. Something just between the two of us. I know they say moms love their babies before they’re born because they bond during pregnancy, and dads figure it out after they hold their baby the first time. But that’s not true. I fell in love with our baby that first day.” I shake my head. “After I screwed things up, I mean.” I shake my head and sigh. “I’m still pissed at myself over that one.”

Mya’s lips curve into a half-smile. “Don’t be. I forgave you.”

The sight of her smile sends a swell of hope through me. This might work after all. I keep talking. “I figured I could make videos of me talking to him or her and then later, maybe he or she would want to watch them. I don’t know—”

“She," Mya says, cutting off whatever I’d been about to say.

Confused, I turn to face her fully. "She?" I repeat.

She nods, a watery smile on her face. "She," she says again, hands on her belly. It takes me another second to understand.

When her meaning finally dawns on me, I feel a swell of emotion slam through me. My throat tightens and I feel my eyes fill.

"A girl?" I manage to choke out the words past the lump in my throat.

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