Page 95 of Leave Before I Love You
“You’re pregnant?” I ask, my voice catching on the emotion welling up in my chest.
She nods, her fingers white from their pressured twist among themselves.
“We’re pregnant?” I repeat, closing the distance between us. “Me and you, we’re having a baby?”
She nods again, her eyes searching mine with a different kind of sheen as hope starts to blossom at my tone, and I don’t make her wait to know for sure.
This is divine intervention—a miracle and a blessing and a physical cue from the universe that the life-changing experience of the island wasn’t temporary and it wasn’t metaphorical. It was guidance.
Toward each other and toward a dream of a fucking life.
Without pause, I pull her into my arms, wrapping her tightly against me. “Avery,” I murmur into her hair, my voice filled with awe and rapidly forming tears. “We’re having a baby.”
“You’re not upset?” she asks, her voice trembling as she pulls back to look at me.
I cup her face gently, my thumbs brushing away the tears on her cheeks. “Why would I be upset? The woman I love more than anything in this world is havingmy baby.”
For so long, I’ve felt so alone in this world. As a kid, when my mom left. And not that long ago, again, when my father took his last breath.
But now, I have Avery and our soon-to-be son or daughter and a future filled with memories I’m determined to make good.
“You’re my family, Avery,” I say soundly, the only break in my voice a catch of unbridled happiness. “Me, you, and that little baby inside your belly. We’re afamily.”
“We’re a family,” she repeats, and her lip trembles. As her tears return, their sentiment changes, a burst of happiness pushing her onto her toes to get closer. She wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me, hard and fierce, pouring everything she’s feeling into our connection.
I kiss her back with everything I have, moving my hands to cradle the back of her head as I press her closer. “I love you, Avery,” I whisper against her lips. “I love you so damn much.”
She pulls back just enough to look at me, her eyes shining with tears. “I love you too, Henry. So, so, so much.”
I lean my forehead against hers, catching my breath as I drift my hand down to her belly. Gently, I press my palm against it, my heart swelling at the thought of what’s growing inside her. “There’s a baby in there,” I say, my voice filled with wonder. “Our baby.”
She places her hand over mine, and her smile is so radiant it feels like the sun has come out just for us. “Our baby,” she echoes softly.
I kiss her again, this time slower, savoring the feel of her lips against mine. “I love you,” I whisper again, because I can’t say it enough.
The kiss deepens, and I feel her hands move to my shoulders,holding on to me like she doesn’t want to let go. I don’t want her to either. I don’t ever want to let her go.
And I won’t.
I slide my hands to her waist, then to her hips, and I lift her into my arms. She lets out a soft laugh against my mouth, and I can’t help but grin as I carry her toward her bedroom.
When we reach the bed, I lay her down gently, like she’s the most precious thing in the world. Because she is. She’s my world. My everything.
I climb into bed beside her, trailing my hands over her body as our kisses grow more heated. But it’s not just about the heat. It’s about the love—the overwhelming, all-consuming love I feel for this woman.
“I love you,” I tell her again, my voice rough with emotion.
Her eyes shine as she looks up at me, sliding her hands into my hair. “I love you too, Henry.”
And then I’m lost in her. In us. In the love we’ve always shared but are finally ready to embrace completely.
I make love to her with everything I have, and for the first time in my life, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
Avery
“I can’t believe our baby is in there,” Henry says, his hand resting gently on my belly. We’re completely naked, cuddled up together in my bed, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt more at peace than I do now. “Our baby,” he says again, his voice all soft and dreamy. “How lucky are we.”
“I’m really lucky, but you’re, like, the luckiest person in the world, you know?” I tease, smiling down at him. “I mean, not only do you have me, but I’m having your baby.”
