Page 90 of You're All I Need

“You are?” I whisper, afraid to let those words in.

He nods and smiles. “I don’t know when it happened exactly, but when I walked away from you, I knew I was making the biggest mistake of my life. Even then, I couldn’t turn around and try to make it right. I needed time to process and think.” He takes another deep breath. “You’re nothing like Dawn, Adrienne. Absolutely nothing. When you told me about the baby,” he closes his eyes, a pained look crosses his face, “I went back to that day. To that moment she told me I wasn’t going to be a dad after all, despite telling me I was for six months. I let my fear take control, and despite knowing in my heart this situation was completely different—thatyouwere completely different—Ilet that heartache control my reactions and my words. I ruined what was supposed to be a beautiful, happy time for the both of us, and I’m so fucking sorry. If I could go back and change it, I would in a heartbeat.”

His words wash over me like spring rain, and while my heart hammers in my chest as hope threatens to take over, I’m still wary. I’m still scared too.

“I would never lie to you about something like a baby, Caden,” I reiterate.

He takes a step closer, conviction filling his voice. “I know, I do. I promise to do better at controlling my emotions and fears.”

“You don’t have to control them, but you do need to be willing to talk about them,” I insist. “My past hasn’t been all roses and sunshine either. I’m scared and worried and completely overwhelmed.” My hands move down to cover my abdomen. “This baby wasn’t planned, but he or she isn’t unwanted. I will love this baby for two if I have to.”

He steps forward again. “You won’t have to.” His lips curl upward. “I already love him or her too.”

Tears fill my eyes, but this time, they’re happy tears. At least I know this baby will be loved by both parents. “I’m terrified,” I confess, because even though I’m elated to be having a baby, I’m also nervous. I’m anxious. And everything in between.

He moves closer again, standing directly in front of me now. He’s so close, he could wrap his arms around me, yet still makes no movement to do so. “Can I touch you?” he whispers, hope and worry mixing in the depths of his blue eyes.

I nod, craving his touch.

He moves slowly, setting what’s in his hand down, pulling me toward his chest, and wrapping me in a hug. His arms feel warm, familiar, and safe, all at the same time. He slides hishands up, his fingers diving into my hair. Holding my eyes, he whispers, “I love you, Adrienne. And I’m not saying that because you’re pregnant. Or because I fucked up. I’m saying it because it’s true. You own my heart. I love you so much it’s frightening. But I refuse to let that fear run my life anymore. I have too much to lose, and I can’t lose you now. My life would be shit without you.”

A single tear slides down my cheek, falling unchecked. “I love you too.”

“Yeah?” he asks, a smile on those full, kissable lips.

I shrug. “I’m pretty sure I’ve known for a bit now, but I was too afraid to tell you.”

“Well, then, right now, we make a pact. To never hold our feelings back from each other. We say what we mean and mean what we say.”

“Deal,” I reply with a watery sniffle.

“Can I kiss you now?”

“Please,” I beg, gripping his shirt for fear he’ll somehow slip away.

His lips meet mine in a flurry of emotion, raw and defenseless. He coaxes my mouth open, his tongue delving inside. It feels like a homecoming, a moment of passion mixed with familiarity. Like I’ve been waiting for his lips for too damn long. And even though I’d love nothing more than to kiss him forever, he breaks free, leaving us both gasping for air.

“This might sound crazy, but there’s something I need to do.” Before I can ask what, he releases his hold on my head and drops to his knees in front of me. He wraps his hands around my waist, gently running his thumbs over my stomach as he carefully exposes my abdomen. “Hello, Baby. I’m your daddy.” Then, he leans forward and places a kiss against my bare skin. “I’m going to love you my entire life.”

More tears fall, catching his attention. “What’s wrong?” The look on his face is full of worry.

“Absolutely nothing,” I insist, wiping at my tears. “I’m just…happy.”

He stands up and wraps a single hand around my neck. “I am too, sugar.” Before he leans in for another kiss, he says, “Oh, I almost forgot.”

Bending down, he retrieves the birthday bag and hands it over. “Sorry about the bag. I just grabbed the first one I saw.”

Smiling, I place the bag on the table and look inside. I know I need to pull out what I see, but my heart is beating so wildly in my chest and my hands now hold a slight tremble, I can’t seem to do it.

“Let me,” he says, as if reading my thoughts. Caden pulls the first item from within the bag and holds it up for me to see. It’s a yellow onesie that reads “My Daddy Loves Me.”

“I was walking around Target earlier and saw this. I was still battling my emotions and fears and stumbled upon it. The moment I held it in my hand, I knew. I wasn’t going to fight my feelings or run away from you, because it wasn’t about me anymore. It was about this baby. You. Me. Together. It was about my family.”

I reach out and run my finger across the words. There’s a little elephant on the tiny shirt. An elephant with a heart on the end of his trunk.

He places the onesie on the table and grabs the next item out of the bag. It’s a swaddle blanket in a soft green color. The material looks comfortable and stretchy, and I can picture a little one who looks just like his daddy wrapped up inside. “When I was over at Jack’s, he said something to me. He said to wait until the first time my son or daughter curled up on my chest and fell asleep. I know I probably won’t be able to feel it as well in thiscontraption, but still. It made me think of that moment, and I can’t wait to experience it for the first time.”

Again, he dives into the bag. “I got all this stuff too.” He starts pulling out pacifiers and bottles and washcloths. Even a little elephant stuffy and a baby wrap carrier. “I almost bought the entire baby section at Target,” he adds with a sheepish grin.

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