Page 78 of Cruel Devotion

I wanted to cry. I was on the verge of breaking down into big, fat tears of pure joy. My heart was about to burst with all that he was declaring right now, and I wanted her to be gone so I could tell him the same.

Me and him.

Forever.

With one last sneer, she gave us both a look that could kill. Then she turned and rushed out of the house, letting the front door slap back and bounce after she slammed it with the lock catching and blocking it from closing.

“Eli—”

He left me, going to close the door so no more cold air came in, but he didn’t release my hand, pulling me to move with him. “It will be okay.”

“I know, but…” I hugged him close, squeezing him so tight.

His arms wrapped around me, not letting me go. He sighed, calming down as we stood together, and I smiled against his chest.

“So, a baby, huh?”

I looked up at him, smiling. “Surprise?”

He laughed once, then lowered to kiss me. “Yeah, it was a surprise, and not how I imagined I might have found out, either.”

I quickly explained how this morning went, and he listened with a lopsided smile at my wonderment and marvel that the pill hadn’t worked, that he and I would be parents.

“They say there’s that point-zero-zero-one chance, right?”

“Yeah, but believe me, I’m more surprised than anyone else.”

He kissed me again tenderly. “It just means that it’s meant to be. Like you and me. I can’t wait to raise our child together, Haley.”

“Even though the timing isn’t ideal?” I winced, picturing how we would be young parents starting a family and our careers in a new place.

“It’s not ideal. It’s perfect. Everything with you is perfect.” He sighed, stepping back to run his hand through his hair. “But speaking of timing, she wasn’t giving me an idle threat. I need to go to the dorm and get my stuff out. I bet she’d have my dad go there and throw my shit out.”

“Do you want me to help?” As I asked it, my stomach tensed and I blanched.

He furrowed his brow. “Are you still not feeling too hot?” He framed my face, gazing at me with concern. “Morning sickness?”

I nodded, recalling how Natasha felt it quickly too. “It should pass within a few months. Hopefully.” I scrunched my face.

He kissed me and led me to the couch. “You relax. I should be here helping you, comforting you, not worrying about getting my things from the curb.”

“And you’ll bring it here.” I nodded once. I had yet to ask Aunt Cindy, but she wasn’t the same breed as his mother. Aunt Cindy would understand. She might frown and nag a little, because she was a parent, but she would let him stay. It went without saying that she would open her heart a little more. She might be shocked that I was pregnant, too, but she would come around. I had faith that she would.

“Maybe ask Cindy?—”

“No. You will not be put on the streets, Eli.”

He sighed, standing and moving back. “Text me. Call her and at least ask her first, and we’ll figure it out.”

We would figure it out. We’d figure it all out.

After I kissed him goodbye and we both agreed to talk more about this news that I was pregnant, I didn’t contact my aunt. Instead, I called my sister.

Natasha answered on the first ring, probably freaked out because I never called her during the work day. “What’s wrong?”

“Well, nothing iswrong, per se. Not according to me.” I bit my lip, nervous to tell her. “Do you have a second to talk, though?”

She nodded. It seemed like she was already walking into another room on her end. “Yeah. What’s wrong?” she asked again.

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