Page 77 of Honest With You

Like we meant nothing.

“Ava?” He attempts to reach for me again but this time, I hold a hand out to stop him.

“I need time to think about it, Jesse. Regardless of everything you just told me, you still lied to me. And to her. You still did things to protect yourself, risking us in the process. And the fact that you never told her about us bothers me.” I take a huge gulp of breath before continuing, “But right now, that’s not what we need to focus on.” I hesitate not knowing how to broach the subject, “We need to talk about the–”

“The baby?Ourbaby.”

He gives me a small smile, his hand tentatively reaching out, as if asking for permission to touch my belly. I nod, a knot forming in my chest as it registers that I’m truly pregnant with Jesse’s baby.

“How did you find out?”

“I’ve been having symptoms for a few weeks now. Then today at school, it escalated and I got worse. The doctor came and confirmed it.” Sighing, I rub a tired hand over my eyes, yawning. “And I guess somehow my dad found out and well, you know…”

I eye him. He seems almost happy about this as he strokes my belly over the pajama top.

“How are you feeling about all this, Jesse?”

“Honestly, I’m happy.” He shoots me a wide smile before he focuses on my tummy again. “This was always the plan anyway. Just came a little early.”

I inhale sharply. “Jesse.”

His eyes slide up to mine, his gaze unapologetic and wild with determination.

“Make no mistake about it, Ava. I plan to win you back. I will earn your forgiveness and trust. Even if it takes a lifetime.”

I fully expect him to keep pushing me on this, so I sit up a little straighter, bracing myself for what could be a long night of back and forth. He simply lays back, dragging my body down with him in the process and curling an arm around me. He rests my head on the crook of his shoulder, his hand massaging my back.

“For now, let me hold you so you can sleep, Ava. I’m not going anywhere.”

Iwake up to the feeling of someone nudging my shoulder rather forcefully, judging from the way Ava rolls away from me with an annoyed whimper.

I open my eyes to the sight of Ava’s older brother looming over us.

“You’re in our spot.” A small voice chirps and I spot Reese right behind him, her arms crossed as she stares warily at me.

“I-ah..”

“Give us fifteen minutes, please,” Ava’s groggy whisper comes from over my shoulder. The rich, low texture of her voice full of sleep is so sexy. Memories of being together intimately come rushing back, making laying here under the scrutiny of her siblings all the more unbearable.

Stephen raises an eyebrow but his unyielding gaze remains.

“We’ll be right outside.” Reese pulls Stephen’s arm until he relents and follows her out, but not before shooting me a murderous glare, both warning me and telling me my presence is unwanted.

As soon as they’re out the door, Ava sits up and pulls on the silk robe she has laid out on her bedside table before getting up to go to her vanity. She grabs two pill bottles and then her water bottle from her mini fridge.

“What is that? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I’m just trying to avoid another repeat of yesterday. These are just prenatal vitamins and anti-nausea medication.” She shakes her head, struggling a bit to swallow the second pill. “The prenatals are like horse pills though.” Making a face, she rubs a hand down her hair and grimaces. She sets her bottle down and picks up her brush. She runs the brush through her hair, pulling her hair up in a ponytail. The actions cause her camisole to ride up her abdomen, showing the expanse of skin now home to our kid.

I find myself smiling at that, which she notices when her head snaps up and she glances at me over her shoulder.

“What’s up with that look?”

I feel myself moving before my consciousness catches up, and I’m aware of wrapping my arms around her from behind.

“We’re having a baby.”

I feel her sharp intake of breath and she tilts her face sideways to peer at me, her curiosity making her forget she’s in my arms right now.

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