Page 82 of Press Your Luck

"I’m at your door."

What? I got out of bed, and with my phone still to my ear, I hurried to the front door. I pulled it open to find Pierce standing looking tired, but at least not so angry.

"I was knocking but you didn't answer."

I used my hand to push my hair away, deciding I had to look like a mess. "I guess I was really tired." I held the door open to let him in. "Can I get you something to drink? I have coffee and tea. Sorry I don't have anything stronger, but I’m not supposed to be drinking now."

He rolled his shoulders, and I wondered if it was an attempt to loosen tension. "I wouldn’t mind a coffee."

I headed toward the kitchen where I found a pod and stuck it in the coffee maker, then I put a mug under the spout and pressed the button. While I was there, I pressed the lever to heat up my teakettle thinking I would have a cup of tea.

"Where's Porter?" I asked.

He frowned a little. "Are you afraid I left him home alone? Don't think I can be a good father?"

While I knew I deserved his anger, I was getting tired of his petty sniping. "It was just a question, Pierce." I turned away as I felt the tears pool in my eyes again.

He let out a breath. "Sorry. I asked Bo and Ruby to take him so I could come down here."

I nodded but didn't respond as I pulled his coffee mug from the coffee maker and handed it to him. I turned back to pour hot water over my teabag.

I gripped my mug in both hands like somehow, the warmth of it would guard me from Pierce’s cool demeanor. "Would you like to sit at the kitchen table or out in the living room?"

"Wherever you’d be more comfortable."

I made a beeline for my living room, sitting down on the couch and tucking my legs underneath me. Pierce followed me in, sitting down on the other side of the couch. His body faced forward, as if he couldn't look at me.

"It was pretty amazing to hear those heartbeats today."

This statement surprised me and for a moment gave me hope. "It was." I pressed my hand over my belly. "Seems like such a miracle that life is growing inside me."

"I meant what I said before. I want to be a father. I want to be in their lives, and not just for every other weekend." He turned his body toward me, his blue eyes staring intently at me.

"I want that too." I wanted so much more, but clearly, whatever he had felt for me was gone. Then it occurred to me that while he had told me several times about how he felt, I had never shared my feelings. No wonder he was still hurt and angry.

"Pierce, I—"

He shook his head. "We don't need to rehash the past. As you said, this wasn’t planned. You’re being accommodating, considering."

“Considering?” What was he getting at?

He shrugged. “All I’m saying is that you’re stuck with me for the long haul. I plan to be involved, and considering the risks to you and the babies, we need to start planning.”

I swallowed hard. I’d really messed up by trying so hard to resist him. He believed I felt stuck with him.

"I have something I need to tell you. And even if you're not going to believe me, I need to say it.”

His eyes narrowed slightly and his jaw ticked. "All right."

"First of all, I’m not stuck with you, Pierce. I know my behavior in the past suggests that I didn’t want to be with you—”

“You said it was wrong.”

I nodded because it was true. “The truth was, I had plans, goals, and you came into my life and distracted me from them. The fact that I kept being with you must prove that—”

“The sex is good, Naomi. I get that. Hell, there was a time, around your age, that it was all I wanted too. I get it.”

Ugh. No. He wasn’t understanding me. “Pierce, it’s not just sex. Not for me.”

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