Page 47 of Puck the Halls
But is she saying…
“I’m pregnant. We’re having a baby, Wade.”
In my most profound statement ever, I say, “Whoa. That’s crazy.”
Her face falls a little. “That’s it?”
“Give my brain a second to catch up.” I stare deep into her delectable green eyes and say…
“I love you with all my fucking heart and in the immortal words of the Queen of Christmas, all I want for Christmas is you and our baby. You couldn’t give me any better gift.”
“Really? You’re happy? Because I wasn’t sure…”
I’m actually kind of…thrilled. “Are you kidding? I love kids. And this is fate, babe. Just total fate.”
“Good. Because I’m actually happy too.”
“You’re going to be the mother of dragons,” I murmur, in awe at the entire concept.
Erika gives a watery laugh. “You’re an idiot.Myidiot.”
I kiss her because there’s nothing else to say.
And it’s the only thing I want to do.
We’re chilling on the massive couch after spending two hours mostly naked and totally in love.
I’ve never been so happy in my whole entire life. “This is the best Christmas ever, babe,” I tell Erika.
“This setting is just so perfect,” she says, snuggling into my arms.
We’re watching Home Alone on the giant TV in joggers and sweatshirts, cuddled under a blanket together. We just finished breakfast and it’s Christmas Eve. Nathan and the rest of the fam will be home soon so this is our last little bit of time together.
“All these trees,” she says. “Six of them.”
Oh, wait. I finally get the tree symbolism. “Six trees,” I say. “One for each member of their family. Now that’s cool.”
“By next Christmas we can have a mini tree for our little mini.”
Holy shit. “That’s an awesome idea.” I kiss the top of her head. She smells like cinnamon.
“I don’t want you to move to Dallas, Wade. I want to move here, to Chicago. I’ve already graduated and you’re still in school. Plus, you have your job with the Racketeers and I’m going to have to resign as the Dallas Dragon. I can’t be a pregnant mascot. It’s not a good look.”
“Not unless your mascot marries another mascot.” I squeeze her closer to me. “Are you sure? I’m cool with moving to Texas if that’s what you want.”
“I’m sure.”
The front door suddenly swings open and a pile of people seem to tumble in.
Immediately, I see Isabel. She runs straight toward the couch, hauls herself up with a strength that amazes me considering her height and the height of this massive couch, and exclaims, “Wade!”
Then she spider crawls across the couch with so much speed she’s like the chick in the Exorcist and jumps square on my gut.
“Hey, Is! Merry Christmas Eve!”
Dr. Hughes’s parents are in the doorway. Michael’s mother is holding Oliver, who is barely visible in a snowsuit. There’s just two eyes and a slap of pink on each cheek sticking out.
“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, it’s nice to see you. Merry Christmas.”
