Page 52 of Covert Affair

Unless…

“What if I said, I didn’t want to do this anymore?” I spit out while Cody packs up his bed.

“What?” he freezes. “What do you mean you don’t want to do this anymore?”

“The secrecy thing. When I come home this time, I want us to be able to go out together. To do things like going to see a movie. Grocery shopping. Normal couple things. I don’t want to come back to Nashville and hide behind closed doors whenever we’re together.”

“I…” Cody runs a hand through his hair. A classic nervous habit, I’ve learned. “I don’t know what to say about that.”

“Areyouready to take that step? Think of how much easier it would make all of this. Granted some things may get harder, for a while, until people get tired of hearing about us and move on. But, wouldn’t it be nice to not have to worry about someone finding out about us?”

“Yeah. Of course it would. I mean, I’m looking forward to the moment I can take you on a real, proper, date. I just thought that…”

“Who the fuck cares what everyone else thinks? You’re the one who said that everyone grieves in their own way and that there isn’t a timeline on that grief. I have grieved, for the loss of what I thought I had. And I’ve rejoiced in what I’ve found. Because of you. So, maybe it’s time that I use my voice and come forward. Tell my story to the world and let them know that…I really did find my happily ever after. It just wasn’t with a man who was nothing more than a fraud.”

Cody continues to stare at me in silence for a minute before he speaks. “You want to go public with our relationship?”

“And, I want to tell the world my side of the story that happened with Waylon. I’m finally ready for the world to know the real me.”

“I’ll stand beside you, 100%. I support whatever choice you want to make. If you’re ready for the world to know, then I’m ready.”

“Good, because…uhm…that’s not the only thing I wanted to tell you before you go.”

I nervously bite my lip as I hand him the plastic stick that was processing on the bathroom counter.

“Stacey…”

“Cody.”

“Is this…”

I nod. “Surprise?”

“You’re pregnant.”

I shake my head yes again.

“We’re having a baby?”

“Yes.”

Cody runs a hand over his face and blows out a breath. “We’re having a baby.”

“Are you…” I’m almost too afraid to say the word because if he is angry, I’d almost rather not know.

“I’m…surprised. That’s all.”

“It’s still early. I was actually due to get my period a few days ago but when it didn’t show up, I thought I should take a test to be sure.”

“We’re having a baby,” he cracks a smile. “Damn.”

“You’re okay with this? It happened kinda fast. I know. We haven’t really talked about the whole having a family thing and it wasn’t planned.”

“I don’t care,” hefinallywraps his arms around me and gives me a hug. “It doesn’t matter as long as you are okay with this. Do we need to talk about…options?”

“What? No. Oh. No. Uhuh. I don’t want you to think this means we need to run off and get married or anything. And this isn’t the only reason why I want the world to know about us, either. I know it’s not the best timing.”

“It’s the perfect time,” he assures me. “Of course, now I’m going to spend every waking minute worrying about you and our baby. Wondering how you’re feeling, if you’re eating enough, drinking enough water…”

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