Page 155 of More than Friends

“Is his last name Collins?” I am not going to fight about this. It’s her decision.

She bites her lower lip and shakes her head. “No, Sterling.”

I jerk my head back in shock. “Really? You want my last name, not yours?”

“Originally, I wanted my last name, but I’ve been thinking about it. It should be Sterling.”

I lower my brows a little. I don’t understand. “Why?”

She sits up on her elbow a little and says, “I feel like I’m a part of the Sterling family even though I’m not.”

She is. She is a part of our family whether she thinks she is or not.

“I like to think of myself as an honorary Sterling,” she continues. “I don’t know. It just feels right.”

I want to pull her into the biggest hug right now, but I stay still. “Let’s make Collins his middle name.”

Her eyes widen in surprise. “Really?”

“Yeah. I want him to have your name too.”

She blinks back tears and then says, “Ian Collins Sterling. I love it.”

“Me too,” I whisper.

“Oh,” she jumps a little.

My heart pounds. “Contraction?”

She shakes her head and then grabs my hand. “Feel.”

She places my hand on her stomach. “He’s kicking.”

Neither of us says a word until he kicks again. I laugh out loud. “Does that hurt?”

“Depends on where he kicks,” she says with a laugh. “Don’t love my bladder being kicked.”

I laugh and feel him kick again. She moves my hand a little and says, “Watch. Sometimes you can see it through my shirt.”

Sure enough, we watch her stomach ripple as he kicks again.

“What’s he so excited about?” I whisper.

“Maybe he likes his name?”

I put my hand back on her stomach and say, “Is that it, Ian? Are you happy we decided on a name?”

I pull my gaze from her stomach up to her eyes. The air has gotten thick – the room smaller suddenly. I know I shouldn’t. I know I’ll regret it, but I lean forward and press my lips to hers. She moans so softly it’s barely audible.

I pull back, and she just blinks at me a few times. Before she can say a word, I hop up and say, “What do you want for breakfast?”

She blinks again and then says, “Whatever you’re serving.”

“Okay, I’ll be back soon.” I rush out of the room as quickly as I can. Once I reach the kitchen, I lean against the cabinets and clutch my chest. My heart feels like it’s about to pound right out of my body. I long for her so much there’s a physical pain inside me right now.

“Hey Declan,” she calls.

“Yup,” I call back.

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