Page 71 of Can We Try?

“Yes. I can’t think of a better way to end the day.”

“Go pick something, and I’ll bring the ice cream.” A quick kiss, and he’s stalking toward the kitchen to get our sweet treat.

“I think Sean is going to have a sweet tooth like yours,” I say a while later. “I’ve never craved ice cream like this before in my life.” I hand Lachlan my now-empty bowl to place on the table because I’m too full, too comfortable, and too pregnant to move right now.

“Aww, my boy wants to be like daddy.” Lachlan grins. He rolls over to his belly and lifts my shirt. “Daddy loves you,” he tells my belly. He places his hand over my bump and smiles up at me. Sean kicks, and Lachlan’s eyes widen.

“Was that? Did he just? Did that really happen?” he asks with reverence in his voice.

“He was telling you that he loves you back.”

His voice is gruff when he says, “I love you so much, little man. I can’t wait to meet you. Can you kick again for Daddy?”

Our boy does as his daddy asks and kicks hard.

“Holy fuck. I saw that.”

“Yeah, he thinks he’s playing soccer in there sometimes.”

“Buddy, you have to take it easy on Mommy,” Lachlan tells our unborn son. He kicks again, and the awe on Lachlan’s face will be a look I’ll forever remember.

This moment, seeing the wonder and the love in his eyes, will forever be replayed in my mind.

Lachlan sits up and takes my hands in his. He swallows hard, and the expression on his face tells me something big is about to happen.

“I love spending time with you. I love our nights with ice cream and movies. I love it when we’re with my parents and your grandmother. I love it when we’re with our friends or just the two of us. I love you here in my house.” He brings my hands to his lips and kisses my knuckles. “Maggie, you make this place feel like home.”

“I love our time together too,” I tell him when he finishes his speech.

“Can we try?” he asks.

“Can we try what?”

“Us. This. Being a family. Can we try? I know you probably think this is because of the baby, but it’s so much more than that. This is about me never wanting to be away from you. This is about me not being able to sleep unless you're in the bed next to me. This is more than just the fact that you’re the mother of my son. Maggie, baby, you’re the owner of my heart. I’m so in love with you. So in love with you that you’re all that I see. I want this with you. This life. Nights hanging out on the couch, or with our friends and family. I don’t want to co-parent with you. I want to raise our son together. In this house. In our house, because it feels like ours. I want you. I want our son, and I want a life with you. So, I’m asking you if we can try. Let me show you that you’re my person.”

Hot tears prick my eyes. He loves me. I can see the earnest look in his eyes. The man I’ve fallen madly in love with loves me back, and he’s asking for a future with me, the one I’ve come to hope for the last few months. I can tell by the way his jaw is locked that he expects me to fight him on this, and he’s right. Six months ago, I would have assumed it was because of the baby, but I know his heart, and I trust mine.

There is no question in my answer.

“Yes.”

“I’ll be—yes?” he asks, his mouth dropping open.

I nod. “Yes. I don’t need to try, Lachlan.” Leaning forward, I cup his cheeks. “I love you too.”

“Move in with me. Make this our home.”

Again, I don’t need to think about my answer. “Yes.” I want this. I want him and the life he just described for us. I want it all, and I’m not letting my past or my fears hold me back.

“Yes?” His smile could light up all of Ashby. “You said yes, right? I’m not just hearing things?”

“Yes. To all of it, yes.”

“Sean, you hear that, buddy? We’re a family. Mommy and Daddy love you so much, and we can’t wait to meet you.” He kisses my belly and then raises his lips to mine. The kiss is slow and easy. He shows me with his touch, with this kiss that I’m precious to him.

“I love you. I love how you put me and our son first. I love how you take care of us, and I love that you want this life with us as badly as I do. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know that I want us to figure it out together.”

Lachlan stands, and lifts me into his arms, making me laugh. “What are you doing?”

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