Page 18 of Hope's Heartlands

I heard Roxanne’s motorcycle pull in a while ago. I knew my Cat was with her. And just like any other time, I knew that she would come to the garage to hang out with me before her shift. It took her a little longer than normal, but I wasn’t expecting this.

I hold my head and roll out from underneath the car. “What did you say?”

She’s antsy, bouncing foot to foot. I know my girl is up to something.

She stops moving for a second and holds her hands out in front of her. “I said, do you want kids?” She’s blushing all the way to her ears.

I’m wiping off my hands, walking to her. “Why are you asking me that?”

She starts bouncing again, foot to foot, and I know that whatever she’s hiding is a doozy. “Well, I mean, you asked me to marry you, we started looking for a house, and well, I mean, we just never talked about kids, so I need to know, do you want kids?”

I stop in front of her. “With you?” I tease her.

She just rolls her eyes. “Yes, with me.”

I pretend I’m thinking about it long and hard. The longer I think about it, the more her smile drops from her face. Something is definitely up.

I reach for her but realize my hands are still dirty, so I pull them back. “At least four. If you want more, I’m good with that too.”

Her eyes widen and her mouth drops. “Four?”

I lean down and kiss her upturned nose. “Four. At least.”

I know I’ve shocked her. When she’s finally recovered, she says, “When?”

I lift my shoulders in a shrug. “Now is good. As soon as you’re ready.”

She jumps on that little tidbit. “Are you ready? I mean, like now, are you ready to be a dad?”

My heart starts beating double time. Just to hear her say the word dad makes me feel all kinds of things. Things I’ve dreamed of and always pushed to the side because I just thought it would never happen for me. I ignore my dirty hands and grab her. “What are you trying to tell me, Cat?”

“I’m pregnant,” she exclaims.

I pull her up in my arms and her legs go around me. I’m kissing her all over her face, swinging her around. The excitement of it all takes over, until I’m stopping, setting her down on her feet. “Oh fuck, Cat, are you okay?” I ask her with one hand around the back of her neck and one on her belly.

She laughs. How can she laugh at a time like this? I’m like a crazy person. I don’t know anything about babies, but I know I probably shouldn’t have been swinging her around.

Her hand slides up my chest. “I’m fine, don’t be crazy. Nothing’s changed.”

I pick her up, carrying her over to the empty chair in the corner. I set her down in it and start pacing. “Nothing’s changed? No more bike rides with Roxanne. No more sex, oh my God, does this mean no more sex?”

She gets up from the chair and pushes the button to close the big bay door. She starts taking her shirt off.

I’m drawn to her and even though I meant it, no sex, I don’t know how I’ll survive without touching her, being inside her.

She stares at the buttons on my pants and pulls them open. Then she slowly pulls down my zipper. “Actually, right after I took the test, I called the doctor. Sex is fine. Actually, the nurse said I’ll be horny and for us both to enjoy it.”

I stop her hands. “Horny? Really, she said that?”

She yanks on my pants. “Yeah, in so many words. But I know it’s true, because I need to have you inside me, Saint. Right now. And then when we’re done, I’m going to want to probably go another round because seeing you crawl out from underneath that fancy car is doing something to me, babe.”

I start pulling up my pants. “Well, c’mon then, because I’m not fucking my baby mama in this greasy garage.”

I try to pull her to the door but she doesn’t budge. No, instead her hand slides between her legs, pulling up her skirt, showing me that she doesn’t have any panties on and her folds are already soaking wet. “That’s okay, I’ll just take care of it myself.”

I watch as she pushes one finger inside her. She’s tempting me like only she can. There’s no way I can walk away from her now.

“Did you go into town like that?” I ask her, pointing at her seeping mound.

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