Page 102 of I Want You
My gaze scanned her face, her entire body from head to toe.
“What do you mean? You don’t want to do this?”
“I can’t.”
I looked at the people on the obstacle course, fully harnessed and helmeted up. The little girl going across the rope bridge couldn’t be more than eleven years old; her brother was maybe thirteen.
“Letty, you’ve done things a lot riskier than this. If you don’t want to do it, we won’t do it, that’s fine. But what’s up, baby?”
“I didn’t say I didn’t want to do it. I said I can’t,” she said. “I can’t sign this waiver, Luke.”
I looked down at the paperwork, reading through it again to see what clause was prohibiting her from participating.
“Bullet number three,” she said quietly, tapping the pen on the bullet in question. Her chin quivered. Her eyes glistened with tears.
I read it again. “Letty…”
“I’m pregnant.” She blurted out the words so fast it took a second for me to process what she said.
“You’re what?”
“Pregnant.” Her whispered words were almost timid-sounding.
“Is this a joke?” My heart was beating wildly inside my chest. I think I was sweating. I wasn’t even sure anymore.
She shook her head, her hands picking at her nails nervously.
“Are you sure?”
“That it isn’t a joke? Yes, I’m sure. That I’m pregnant. I’m ninety-nine percent sure. Four tests all said that I am.”
I dropped my clipboard on the ground, the pen clattering right along with it. I needed Scarlett in my arms immediately. I held her tightly to me, tears prickling behind my eyes.
“You’re pregnant,” I said reverently. “We’re having a baby.”
“Seems like it. If you need a little while to process, I completely understand.”
I held her face in my hands, my lips crashing into hers. “How long have you known?”
“About two days. Full disclosure, Maeve and Claire know too. They were with me when I did the first test. But I swore them to secrecy so I could tell you before your brothers found out.”
“Baby, I don’t give a fuck who knows. This is amazing. We’re having a baby.” I kissed her again tenderly, the mother of my child, my entire world. The anxiety I had been feeling from her, the wanting to talk, it all made sense. “Oh fuck, I fucked you like an animal yesterday. I should have been gentle. Shit.”
“No. That was phenomenal. The baby will be fine. I’m almost positive.”
“Have you been to the doctor yet? Do you have vitamins?”
“Not yet. I made an appointment yesterday, if you want to come with me.”
“Fuck yes, I do. Holy hell.” I still couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t believe what she was saying. I was going to be a dad. “I love you, Scarlett Ruth Hart. I love you so fucking much. I love this baby already. I hope he or she is just like you.” I kissed her again. “I love you.”
“I love you, Luke.” Tears trailed down her cheeks, and I kissed them all away. “We’re doing this, then?”
“No question, baby. We’re doing this. All of this. Move in with me. I know it isn’t technically my house, but fuck it, Wyatt won’t care. Move in with me today. I want to be there for all of it, Letty. The morning sickness, the weird cravings, the belly kicks. Please.”
She searched my eyes, her blue irises wet with emotion. “Okay. Yeah, okay. Let’s go all in,” she laughed.
I wrapped my arms around her, spinning her around with me. This was the best day of my entire life. I never wanted to let her go.
