My angel.
My sweet, determined girl standing on that stage with a smile that lights up the whole auditorium. I’ve never been prouder of anything in my life than I am right now. She’s holding her diploma like she just conquered the world, and all I can think is how fucking lucky I am.
There was no way I was going to miss this. Needed to see my girl claim her success. Everything she’s worked so hard to achieve. Be here when she closes this chapter and steps into the next.
When the ceremony ends, I push through the parting crowd, not seeing anyone. The moment I catch her walking toward me, smiling huge, her degree in hand, my chest swells.
Tyra throws her arms around my neck, and I lift her off the ground, holding her tight while her cap tumbles to the pavement.
“You did it, angel,” I murmur against her ear. “So fucking proud of you.”
She pulls back just far enough to look into my eyes; her smile turning shy. What the fuck? “We have more to celebrate, Daddy.”
My brows go up. “Yeah?”
She nods, then places my hand over her stomach. It takes me a second to understand. Then everything shifts.
“You…?” My voice cracks. “Angel, are you…?”
She nods, biting her full bottom lip. “We still need to go see the doctor, but I’ve been late, so I took a bunch of pregnancy tests and…” she blurts out, before shrugging, looking up at me with a smile that makes me feel like the luckiest fucking bastard in the whole entire world.
“A baby?” I breathe out hoarsely, my hand running softy over her stomach. “We’re having a baby?”
“We’re having a baby, Hav’,” she confirms, tears sparkling in her eyes.
I pull her against me, burying my face in her hair, trying to process this incredible news. My woman. My child. My family. “When did you find out?” I ask in a voice rough with emotion.
“Two days ago. I wanted to wait until today to tell you. To makeit special.”
“Angel…” I pull back to look at her. And something snaps inside me.
I don’t remember grabbing her hand. Don’t remember half-dragging her across the parking lot. All I know is she’s laughing breathlessly and stumbling behind me, and I’m hauling open the door to my truck like a fucking caveman.
“You couldn’t fucking tell me at home?” I snarl, lifting her by the hips and shoving her into the back seat.
“I wanted it to be special!”
“I’ll fucking show you special,” I growl, following her in, shutting the door behind me. “Me losing my goddamn mind because I knocked you up.”
“Daddy…”
“Take off the gown. Now.”
Her eyes go wide, but she’s already pulling at the zipper, letting it fall away. Under, she’s wearing the little white dress I picked out, the one that hugs her tits and shows off her thighs. My angel. My perfect pregnant angel.
“You’re not scared?”
I chuckle. “Of what? Making a family with you? I’ve never wanted anything more.”
She smiles through tears. “Really?”
“Really.” I cup her face in my hands. “You and this baby, you’re everything.”
“I love you,” she whispers.
“Love you too, angel. Both of you.”
Outside we can still hear the chaos of congratulations and cheers happening , lost in our own world. My hand stays protectively over her stomach, already imagining the life growing there.