Page 61 of Zone Protection

However, my child needs to be near his or her father, and that notion currently trumps all other feelings I have.

Archie must feel the unease in my body at my father’squestioning because he squeezes my hand and sits up to level with my father.

“Look, I care about your daughter, and I can’t wait to be able to spend more time with her and get to know her as we go through this together. I’ll do whatever it takes to be there for them both. She will never have to doubt me.”

And … my damn eyes are leaking again. Freaking hormones.

There’s not much left to say after his declaration, so my parents seem satisfied by the answers he’s given them for now. So, we watch the Cowboys game when it comes on after the halftime show, and then a few hours later, Archie needs to head back.

I’m debating on whether or not I want to go with him or stay here one more night.

After he says his goodbyes to my parents, I walk him out to his truck. “Thank you for coming today. And thanks for being a good sport with all the questions.”

He opens the door of the truck and tosses his cowboy hat onto the passenger seat. When he turns around, he sits sideways on his seat, and then he reaches for me and pulls me closer so I’m standing between his legs. “You don’t have to thank me; I should be thanking you. It was nice to meet your parents and get to know my baby’s grandparents.”

I wrap my arms around his shoulders. “I think they like you, so that’s good.” Leaning in, I kiss him. “I like you too, by the way.”

“Is that right? Emma Tucker likes me? Hmm … must be the orgasms.” He grabs my ass and brings me into him so we’re as close as we can be in this position. “I like you too.” Then he kisses me and sucks on my bottom lip.

My mouth drops open slightly, and I’m about two seconds away from pushing him down on that seat and straddling him.

With a pop, he releases my lip and pulls back, smiling. “Are you coming back tomorrow?”

“Yes, I think so, but I’ll let you know for sure.”

“Okay, darlin’. I’ll text you when I get home, but if you’re asleep, I’ll talk to you after practice.” He smacks my ass lightly.

I step back from the truck, and he shifts to face the wheel.

“Bye, Archie.”

“Bye, darlin’.” He shuts the door and starts the engine.

I watch him drive away, missing him already. Maybe learning to depend on someone else isn’t all that bad.

CHAPTER

THIRTEEN

ARCHIE

December is flying by.Between wrapping up the semester—and really, my college career—practice, and games, I’m pretty much running on empty.

The brightest spot in my day is the time I get to spend with Emma. We’ve gotten into a pretty good routine together, and there’s barely a night we don’t spend together. I know her roommates like me, but I’m not sure they planned on having another roommate this year. And not one who eats as much as I do. But I do bring groceries, and I’ve even cooked for the girls a few times.

Although they haven’t been around much lately either. Mia and Peyton are still hanging out with the basketball players; they’ve been around a few times and seem like decent guys. And Livi has been spending time with a guy from one of her classes. He’s been over a bunch of times, but we don’t really hang out with them.

Emma is nearing the halfway marker on the pregnancy and is slowly starting to show even though the doctor said she’s still a little on the smaller side. She’s hid it well with baggy clothes, butwhen we’re alone, she doesn’t hide it, and I get to see her gorgeous belly carrying my baby.

Tonight, my roommates and I exchanged gifts for Christmas. Casey got me a box of condoms. For a minute there, I thought Liam was gonna break and tell everyone about the baby, but he didn’t.

It’s getting harder for me not to tell my friends. I spend every day with them on and off the field. And I gotta admit, I’m getting even more excited the more Emma shows. It’s becoming more real every day.

I just left my house after our gift exchange, and I’m on my way over to Emma’s, but I made a quick stop at the store. She was craving some ice cream, and what my girl wants, she gets.

Archie: I’m at the store now. Is there anything else you need before I go in?

She doesn’t reply after a few minutes so I try her again.

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