Page 24 of Love Unexpected

As I walk into the kitchen, I'm jolted back by the sight of Noah sitting at my table, looking as handsome as ever with a warm smile on his face. My heart does a happy dance.

“Oh my God, Noah! You scared me. I thought you left.”

“Good morning to you too, Emma,” he replies playfully, flashing me that charming wink I’ve become obsessed with. “I went to grab us breakfast. Hope you’re hungry.” He gestures to the array of bags on the counter.

“I’m starving, thank you,” I reply, still in disbelief that he’s actually still here. Closing the distance, I hug him from behind, inhaling that delicious cologne that still barely lingers from the day before.

“Sit,” he commands with a playful tone as he begins plating our food. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I got a little of everything. I also brought you hot coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice.” He sets a plate in front of me and pecks me on the cheek. He takes the seat next to mine and I'm left staring at him completely dumbfounded.

“What?” he chuckles, the sound warm and inviting.

“Nothing. This is all perfect,” I reply, sinking my fork into the buttery soft pancakes. A moan escapes my lips as I take a bite. Noah watches me, a smile on his face laced with unspoken thoughts. The silence is comfortable as we eat our buffet of food together.

Once the table is cleared, I secretly watch as Noah strides confidently toward the back door with the trash bag in hand. He moves around the space as if this were his own home, and I love how comfortable he seems here.

Somehow, we end up back in bed. This sanctuary is undoubtedly my favorite place to be—just the two of us, nothingoutside this warm cocoon matters. We lie on our sides, our faces just inches apart, the cool sheets wrapped around us. Noah's finger traces a line up and down from my shoulder to my hip and back again. His touch is featherlight and comforting. I can't help but notice the way he carefully avoids the curve of my stomach.

“You know, tomorrow night I leave for California for a few days,” he says, his voice tinged with regret as a frown tugs at his lips.

“I know. I am in charge of your calendar,” I tease in an attempt to keep the mood light, although I’m dreading his absence already. “I wish I could go with you.”

“I wouldn’t be leaving you behind if your doctor hadn’t said no to traveling this far along,” he replies, exhaling slowly as if he’s dreading it too. “There's something I’ve been wanting to ask you for a while now, but I keep telling myself it’s none of my business…” He looks up at me, silently asking for permission.

“You can ask me anything, Noah,” I assure him, rubbing the crease between his brows in an attempt to ease the tension.

He hesitates, carefully deciding how to phrase the question. “Is the baby’s father still in your life? Does he even know where you moved to?”

The weight of his question hangs between us, and now it’s my turn to exhale slowly. “Oh wow. Umm... Where do I start with that one?”

Noah's gaze remains steady, his expression warm and inviting, encouraging me to share.

“No, the baby’s father isn’t around. He passed away."

“I’m so sorry, Emma. I had no idea.”

"It’s okay. His name was Lucas, and we worked together at my last job. We became pretty good friends over the years. We had a little too much to drink at a work function one night and went back to his place. One thing led to another, and we crossed that line. We only slept together the one time, but apparently that was all it took to change everything."

I take a moment to regain my composure. "When I found out I was pregnant, I really struggled with it. I was barely twenty-three, still figuring out my own life, and I wasn’t sure I even wanted kids at that point." My voice trembles as I recount the details. "One Saturday

night, Lucas and I had a big fight. I invited him over to my house so we could talk it out and I was planning to tell him the news about the baby in person. I waited up all night, but he never showed."

I pause to swallow back the tears. "The next day, I found out his car veered off the highway and struck a tree. He was traveling in the direction of my house. They told me he died instantly on impact.” I inhale sharply, feeling the pain I felt that day. “He never even knew about the baby—our baby. And I can't help but feel partly responsible. Was he upset from our fight?Was he speeding because he was upset or angry? Or because he was in such a rush to talk to me?"

Noah gently wipes a tear off my cheek, his eyes filled with empathy. “I'm so sorry you're having to go through this.” He closes his eyes for a moment, as if absorbing my pain.

“He was a really great guy. I have no doubt he would have been a great dad too.”

We lay in each other's arms, the silence wrapping around us like blankets before he speaks again.

“What about your family? Parents, siblings..?” His words trail off, as if he’s afraid to pry too much.

“It’s just me, Noah. I’m an only child, and I was never particularly close to any of my aunts or uncles. As for my parents… well, they aren’t speaking to me. They’re ashamed of me, having a child out of wedlock and all. They begged me to have an abortion, but I just couldn’t do it. At least Lucas’s family does want to be involved in the baby’s life. They're excited and that gives me comfort to know my child will have some family. They live in Arizona though, I don’t expect them to be around for more than the occasional holiday or birthday.”

Looking down, I place my hand over the swell of my bump that lies between us. "It’s mostly just me and the baby now,” I say, forcing a smile. The reality of my situation devastates me, but I know I'll do everything to give this baby the best life filled with so much love.

"You're so strong, I admire that about you. You already are an amazing mother." Noah grabs my hand and softly kisses my palm. The tenderness of his gesture warms my heart.

I laugh awkwardly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to trauma dump on you just now. That was a lot.”

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