Page 136 of Mr. Charming

“You found out?” I don’t know how he found the pregnancy test, but he doesn’t have to do this just because we’re having a baby.

He lowers the box and sits back on his heels. “Found out what?”

“Oh, you didn’t? You don’t know?” Excitement builds inside me, like fireflies sparking to life when it gets dark.

He blows out a breath, forehead creased. “Know what, Tedi?”

I wave my hand. “Nothing. Carry on.” I cross my legs and wait with a smile and joy in my heart, but Tweetie just stares at me. “Here, let’s start over.” I pick up the journal. “A journal, I love it. Oh, you want me to read yours. I’d love to.” I put my journal down and pick up his, opening it to the first page with his handwriting on it. “Oh, Tweetie, you didn’t…”

He doesn’t move, just staring at me.

“This is where you’re on bended knee with the ring.” I motion to him with my hand.

“This isn’t a play, Tedi. Tell me what’s going on.”

I rock my head back and my shoulders slump. “I just ruined your entire proposal.”

“You’re dodging. What piece of the puzzle am I missing?”

I cover my mouth and stand, overcome with excitement. “Hold on, let me get something.” I walk out of the room but come back and point at the bed. “You sit.”

“So now I’m a dog. Great.”

I go to the bathroom, and of course the pregnancy stick is still where I shoved it. He never saw it. I’m the worst girlfriend ever.

When I walk back into the room, Tweetie is sitting with the ring box clasped in his hands, his eyebrows raised all the way to his hairline.

“What is going on?” he asks with exasperation.

I walk up to him, and he opens his legs, letting me slip in between them. “Are you ready?”

“Tedi,” he seethes.

I bring the pregnancy stick out from around my back and put it right in front of him.

The ring box drops to the floor with a thud, and Tweetie looks from the stick to me, then back to the stick. “This is yours?”

I nod.

“How?”

I shrug.

“When?”

“I’m pretty sure it was that first time when you came to my apartment.”

“How long have you known?”

“A couple hours. I took the test today.”

He takes the stick from my hands and stares at it. “A baby?”

“Yeah.” Tears well in my eyes. “Which explains why I’ve been so emotional lately…”

He winds his arms around my waist and brings me toward him, hugging me hard and kissing my stomach.

I brush his hair away from his face. “You okay with it?”

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