Page 28 of Pretty Little Disaster

“Works for me.” I nod in agreement as she moves over to the couch and unpops the top button of her jeans.

“Your sister cooked far too much food tonight, and all my willpower went out the window the second I stopped feeling sick.” She looks down at her open jeans and pouts.

“So it should.” I take a seat beside her and slide my hand into the opening so I can cradle her lower belly. It's ever so slightly sticking out, no doubt from the huge dinner and an extra slice of birthday cake she devoured before she left, but it’s giving me an indication of how it will soon look, and I like it.

“You're growing a little person in there, if your body tells you to eat, you should,” I remind her.

“Crazy, isn’t it? I was trying to imagine us as parents tonight and I have no idea how it’s going to look,” she admits, with a slightly awkward look on her face.

“I’m not going to fuck this up, you know that, right?” I need her to know how serious I am.

“Nic, you hate me and you’ve got me living in your apartment, I’m very aware of how serious you are taking this…and…” She places her hand on top of mine. “I really appreciate it.” Her eyes lift back up to mine and there's that glisten inside them that makes me want to kiss her lips.

“Listen, about this post-grad trip,” she sighs, “I was thinking, if you wanted to come, I guess I’d be okay about it. The guys were looking at going to Cass’s aunty's beach house in Malibu and, apparently, the signal there isn’t great. I figure if you come I won’t have to worry about checking in with you.” She looks down to where our hands are touching like she’s suddenly gone shy. “That’s if you still want to?”

“Yes, I still want to come.” I shuffle a little closer. Lorna has been looking even prettier these past couple of weeks, that pregnancy glow is really working for her and it makes moments like this very tempting.

“Nic.” She looks back up as if she can foresee what's coming. “We don’t want to complicate things.” She doesn’t pull away when my hand slides over her cheek and I move my face closer.

“Things are already complicated,” I whisper, letting my lips press into hers. “You’ve got needs, pretty girl, and while you're here, pregnant with my baby, it’s my job to satisfy them.”

“And what about your needs?” She pulls away from me. “Do you have other people take care of those for you?” The way she’s looking at me tells me that my answer could hurt her. “I know about the girls that hang out in the VIP section of the club, some nights when you’re working I wonder if?—”

“Do you want to know another secret?” I decide to offer her some honesty, even if it does make me sound weak. “Ever since the night I brought you home here, I…I haven’t been with another female, in fact, I haven’t even thought about it.”

“You really expect me to believe that?” She laughs until she sees that I’m very fucking serious.

“I want to be there for you through all of this, no distractions. Right now, you and this baby we’re having are my only priority.”

“That’s really sweet.” She smiles at me.

“It’s the least I can do, given all you're doing for me.” I glance down at her tummy again.

“Well, this is true, my waistline is going to hate you at the end of all this.” She laughs.

“I already know I'm going to love the way you look, how could I not?”

“Now, you're just talking crazy.” She shakes her head and laughs some more. It’s a sound I’m really starting to like.

“I’m being serious, you may be the horny one right now, but when you're walking around here in a few months with a cute, little tummy that I gave you, poking out,I’mgoing to be the one who’s suffering.”

“Nic, you're so full of shi–” She goes to stand up and I stop her by stealing a kiss from her lips, pressing her back against the arm of the couch and ensuring she can’t get away from me.

“I mean it,” I growl against her lips before taking my time and exploring her mouth with my tongue.

“Nic.” She eventually pushes me away.

“I don’t think I’m mentally strong enough to deal with this, right now. My hormones are a mess and in two days I have to explain to my mom that I’m having a baby with someone who isn’t my boyfriend. She’s not going to take that well, especially since she was a single mom for so long, herself.

“You're not a single mom, and you never will be. I tol–”

“I know you have every intention of being involved in our baby's life, but I’m still going to be a mom who’s single. That comes with its challenges,” she points out.

“What kind of challenges?” I’m constantly trying to assure her that I’m going to be there for her and she doesn’t seem to want to believe me.

“Work, dating. There's lots of things.”

“You want to date?” I try not to sound as if the thought makes me want to punch a wall.

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