Page 378 of The Sinner: James

“To make a long story short, I was in the hospital with her the following day and sat across from the doctor who had her in his care. Turned out she was recovering exceptionally well, but there was something else, the doctor said.”

A mysterious smile curves his lips.

“What are you saying, man?” I murmur.

His grin broadens.

“Thea is pregnant.”

I look at him frozen before a laugh makes it to my lips, and I leap out of my chair.

“Fucking Preston. Are you fucking kidding me, man?”

He rises to his feet, and we‘re locked in a hug for a moment.

I tear away, jerking his shoulder.

“Congratulations, man. How could you keep it a secret all this time? Motherfucker. Lex is gonna fucking kill you,” I say, walking to the bar and pouring myself a drink.

I turn to him and lift my glass.

“To the most secretive motherfucker ever.”

We clink our glasses, grinning.

“Who taught you to be so sneaky? You surely didn’t learn it from me.”

We crash back into our chairs.

“It was a lot to take in,” he finally says.

“Are you happy?” I ask, his expression giving me the answer a thousand times over.

“Yes, I am.”

“Is she fine with it?”

“More than fine,” he says, smiling behind his glass.

My eyes stay on him for a moment, different thoughts bouncing around in my head.

“Who knew you’d beat us to the punch, man?” I say, laughing. “Oh. Lex is gonna have a field day.”

“I didn’t plan any of it,” he says, his smile fading.

“It’s all right. And stop thinking about what happened that night. You’re both fine. More than fine… Shit happens. And I don’t need to tell you that, but you were both lucky. Take it for what it is, and don’t think about it. Good thing she’s alive and well. Is she?” I ask, grappling with a pang of suspicion.

He nods.

“Other than dealing with the morning sickness, she’s fine.”

“That’s what I wanted to hear. Cheers to that, motherfucker. I can’t believe you’ve made me wait the entire week to find out this. So what about your proposal?” I ask after taking a swig of scotch and setting my drink on the table.

His eyes twinkle with a smile.

“I asked her that day after I told her the news. I didn’t want her to answer right away. I knew it would be too much to digest at once.”

He goes silent again.

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