Page 56 of Worthy Now
Jake pauses his preparations and steps up to me, lifting my chin and shaking his head.
“None of that tonight. Only forward. Remember?”
“Right,” I say, flashing him a small smile.
“So,” he says, returning to his late-night snack preparations. “Now that we’re officially husband and wife. What do you say we get serious and add a baby to the mix?” He says this in such a nonchalant way, I almost miss the significance behind the question.
“What?”
“I love you,” he says simply. “I married you and made you mine. The next logical step would be to start a family. If this is moving too fast for you, I understand. I just wanted to let you know I’m ready whenever you are.”
“Jake,” I breathe, feeling myself tear up as I gape at the man intent on making my every dream come true.
“Shit.” He lowers the knife he was holding and tilts his head at me, looking both concerned and a little scared. “I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just… I’ve watched Carter and Megan raise their little ones, and I’ve spent a lot of time wishing I could have that. And now that the option is on the table, I figured, why waste time, you know? But if you’re not ready, I don’t mind waiting a few more years. We can take it slow. Fuck,” he sighs, shaking his head with regret. “I’m sorry if I ruined the moment.”
“Would you let me get a word in?”
Jake’s eyes whip to mine, and he snaps his mouth shut, a slight frown creasing his brows.
“I’d love nothing more than to have a baby with you. I’ve been picturing you holding our child since I saw you handling Ariana like you were made for it. You were always meant to be a father. Watching you chase Nathan around the park and hearing Josie’s delighted giggles when you made those silly voices during story time, made me yearn for the day I finally get to watch you interactwith our own children. I’d give you a baby right now if it didn’t take nine months to grow one.”
Jake’s entire face lights up, and he rounds the counter in two strides before he pulls me against his hard chest.
Staring down at me with a hopeful expression, he asks, “So, we’re really doing this? You’re getting off the pill?”
“I’ll throw them out right now if that’s what you want.”
“God, yes. I love you so much, Tessa,” he tells me as he hugs me tight. “Our baby is going to be so damn cute; it’s almost not fair to everyone else.”
My breathy laugh turns into a surprised yelp when he picks me up like I weigh nothing and starts for the stairs.
“What about my sandwich?” I cry, throwing a longing look over my shoulder.
“Fuck the sandwich. Get your priorities straight, woman. I have some impregnating to do, and I feel like my swimmers are strong tonight.”
“You do know it’ll most likely take several months for me to get pregnant, right? I’ve been on the pill for years.”
Jake throws me onto the mattress with a huff. “O ye of little faith,” he drawls, already unbuttoning his dress shirt to reveal his mouth-watering physique. He looksunreal. Like he belongs on the cover of Sports Illustrated. It just isn’t fair.
“I’m a Nelson. When we set our minds to something, we’ll get the job done,” he tells me with a confidence I can only admire.
“Alrighty then. Show me what you got,husband.” His eyes blaze at the sound of his new title, and he pounces, crawling over me with a cocky smirk.
“You better hold on tight,wife,” he says, sending a shiver of anticipation through me. “This is going to be a wild ride.”
Epilogue
Tessa
Five years later
My fingers fly over the keys of my MacBook as I sit in my favorite spot and type out the final chapter of my newest novel. Anna’s reading nook has become my place of inspiration and seeing as she’s only home about three months out of the year these days, she doesn’t seem to mind my friendly takeover.
Anna has been accepted at UCLA, where she’s currently studying psychology. She’s dating a sweet young man Jake actually approves of and is well on her way to becoming the force of nature I alwaysknew her to be.
Jude was offered a contract with an NFL team straight out of college and has a serious shot at winning his first Super Bowl this season. Being the polar opposite of his sister, he still can’t make a relationship last to save his life. Taking advantage of the perks of being a high-profile athlete, he brings home a different girl every time he comes to visit, which drives my husband up the wall.
He almost had a coronary the last time his little brother graced us with his presence, when we walked into our ensuite bathroom and got an eye full of Jude screwing his flavor of the month on our vanity. I can’t help but chuckle as I remember Jake’s outraged tirade.
