Page 33 of While We Waited

“We should get married. Sprog can grow up with his parents in the same house.”

“I’m not marrying you because I’m pregnant. I’m not some football groupie who tricked you into getting pregnant to force you to marry me.”

Which leads to my next question. “How did you get pregnant?”

Her nose wrinkles. “Um, the usual way. We had sex.”

“I know we had sex.”

How could I forget? I can’t. I can’t forget how she tastes. How she feels. How she looks when she comes. It’s tattooed on my brain. “You said you were on birth control.”

“I am.” She doesn’t hesitate. “I have an IUD. I plan to ask the doctor what happened.”

I cross my arms over my chest and her gaze drops to them. Her eyes flare and I can’t help myself. I flex my biceps. She bites her bottom lip. What I wouldn’t give to be the man who has the right to pull her lip from her teeth and plunder her mouth.

But I’m not that man. I don’t want to blemish her sunshine. I want her to shine bright.

“My offer still stands. We can get married.”

“I’m not Chloe. I’m not having a fake marriage. When I get married, it’ll be real. We’ll be in love and unable to keep our hands off each other.”

I can barely keep my hands to myself now. But Nova doesn’t know how tempting she is.

“Okay. We won’t get married.”

“Good. The matter’s settled then.” She tries to scoot around me, but I shackle her wrist to stop her.

“You’re still pregnant.”

She beams up at me. “Yes, I am.”

“You’re happy about this.”

“I want a family. I’m sad Sprog won’t have a grandma or grandpa, but I’ll make it up to him. My mom raised me alone and I turned out pretty darn good.”

Better than good. But she’s wrong.

“Sprog will have a grandma and grandpa. And lots of uncles.”

Her brow wrinkles. “What?”

“My parents will be great grandparents. My brothers will probably be dangerous uncles. If Sprog is a girl, we probably shouldn’t let them babysit.”

Her mouth drops open. “Your parents? Your brothers?”

I close her mouth with my finger. Her smooth skin tempts me but I manage to drop my hand. I stick my hands in my pockets to make sure they don’t stray back to Nova without my permission.

“I’m not keeping my child a secret from my family.”

“Of course not.” She clears her throat. “I wasn’t thinking. I’ve been alone for such a long time, I guess, I forgot.”

I fucking hate how she didn’t even consider my family because she’s used to being alone. Nova shouldn’t be alone. She should be surrounded by beauty and love. All the things I can’t give her.

“I’m sorry about your parents.” The words are inadequate, but I don’t know what else to say. What do you say to a woman who lost her family before she graduated high school?

Pain flashes in her eyes and she ducks her chin. “Thank you.”

She blows out a breath and her smile is back. It doesn’t reach her eyes this time. “Your parents won’t be upset with me for getting pregnant?”

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