Page 48 of Calamity Rayne Knocked Up

“Okay, Rayne.” He dropped the rib and wiped off his hands. “What’s going on? Did I miss something? The candles, the 90’s rap, the weird food…”

“It’s not weird food.”

“It’s weird that you’re cooking. Since when do you do that?”

“I was in the mood for baby-back ribs and baby carrots and baby spinach.”

“You have to admit, that’s a weird combination of cravings?—”

I watched the moment his words registered. His head lifted as the blood bleached from his face.

“Wait.” He looked up at the speaker in the wall. “Baby Got… Oh, my God…” He jumped to his feet. “Are you pregnant?”

I laughed, and he gave me no time to answer. Scooping me out of my chair, he kissed my messy mouth. I still had a sloppy rib in my hand, which got sauce all over his collar and ear. “Sorry.”

“Fuck the rib. Are you really pregnant? We’re going to have a baby?”

I nodded, and he howled with the joy of a thousand touchdowns. His hands flew into his hair as he grinned widely. He was speechless and beyond happy, which made me the happiest woman alive.

“This is amazing! When did you find out? How?”

“Well, you see, Hale, when a boy puts his penis in the girl’s vagina?—”

“I mean, how could this be? You took a test?—”

“The test was wrong.”

“You tookanother one?”

“I had to. Marta totally freaked me out.”

“Marta?”

I told him the whole story about the chili and what his father’s housekeeper said. “She’s always had eerie intuition. Does anyone else know?”

“Just you, Tyler, Willow, and Marta. Oh, and the doctor. I wanted to make sure it was official before I told you.”

“Wait, how long have you known?”

“A little over sixty hours. But you can’t get mad at me for keeping it a secret from you. I wanted to tell you in person.”

“I can’t believe you could keep it to yourself for that long.”

“It nearly killed me. We have to tell everyone else soon because I hate keeping secrets. I bought Elara the cutest big sister shirt to wear at your dad’s tomorrow.”

His hand went to his chest. His hair was a mess, and he had crap all over his face. It was rare to see Hale so shaken, but I loved it. He looked like a true father.

“I can’t believe this.” He covered his mouth then wiped his eyes. “We’re having a baby!” When our gazes locked, he crossed the room and hugged me tight, his face wedginginto the curve of my neck as he sniffled. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too.”

He drew back and wiped his eyes. “We should celebrate. Champagne?”

I smiled at the irony of his question.

“Oh, wait.” He laughed. “You can’t drink. Right. I forgot.”

“You can, though. Don’t let me stop you.”

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