Page 31 of Snow One Like You

My face fell, and I blinked rapidly, trying to stave off tears. Holy crap. The hormones were already rearing their ugly heads.

When Soren and I decided to be together, we’d talked about how to find a solution that made us both happy in our careers. He refused to even consider letting me walk away from my position at the new facility. But, while we tried to figure out his next career step, he’d have to take a new job, which meant we’d have to live apart during the week.

He’d come home every weekend, but it was still a less-than-ideal arrangement.

And now, we’d have another factor to throw into the mix.

“Hey,” he whispered. “What’s with the tears? I hate it when you cry.”

Well, he’d better get used to it. At least, for the next eight months or so.

“I changed my mind,” I blurted.

Soren huffed and shot me a look of reproach. “You are not leaving Winter Falls, Cambria. That’s final, and I’m not having this discussion again.”

“I just meant that I want to talk about my thing first.”

“Oh. Great, I can’t think about the other stuff right now anyway.”

He sat next to me on the bed, and I took a deep breath, trying to decide how to start.

“I want to talk about our future,” I stated, figuring it would be helpful to feel him out on the idea before telling him right off the bat.

“If you’re worried about my job?—”

“That’s not it,” I assured him, then realized that wasn’t exactly true, so I amended my statement. “Well, that’s mostly not it. Anyway, I realized we haven’t talked about a few things.” I tried to think of the best way to word my question, then just blurted it out. “Do you want kids?”

Soren looked taken aback, which was understandable since I’d thrown that at him out of thin air.

“I didn’t.”

My heart sank.

“I was happy being the best uncle in the world.”

Could I be happy just being the best aunt in the world?I wondered. It wasn’t something I needed to consider anymore, though.

“But…” He glanced away guiltily. “I probably should have said something at Christmas.”

“About not wanting kids?” I choked out, trying to hold back more tears.

“Well, no. I’d already changed my mind by the time I asked you to marry me.”

I snorted. “You mean demanded that I marry you?”

“Potato, potahto. That’s not the point.”

His passing comment suddenly popped to my attention. “Changed your mind?”

Soren nodded. “I know I should have mentioned it the moment I realized…but…”

“We never talked about kids, Soren. You don’t have to feel bad for not telling me you’d changed your mind.” I chuckled. “Especially when you went from not wanting kids to wanting them. The other way around would have been more difficult.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. Baby, you still haven’t realized it, have you?”

Perplexed, I shook my head. “Realized what?”

“I forgot about a condom that first night when I fucked you. Not that I had any there, and honestly, I probably would have done it anyway. But I didn’t even think about it until Christmas night when we made love and you agreed to marry me.”

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