Page 28 of Sold to My Best Friend's Dad

They hadn’t used any condoms, and he couldn’t think of a moment when Clara had attempted to refill her birth control prescription.

Within the last couple of weeks, Clara had been feeling sick in the morning. Every time she woke up, she rolled over and then had to scramble to the sink to throw up. He’d held her hair back several times. At first he thought it was just a stomach bug, but days had turned into weeks, and then the scent of coffee started to affect her.

It was little things, like how sensitive her breasts were becoming, and then, the final straw was the skirt she’d tried to put on for work. With her nausea, he knew she had barely eaten, and she had complained that the skirt wasn’t zipping all the way up anymore.

Grayson had then felt incredibly dumb, because he hadn’t put the sensitive breasts, the vomiting, and the new aversion to smells, down to one simple thing—Clara was pregnant.

He hadn’t scared her on that day. He had come to realize with Clara, it was better with slow, baby steps. So, he’d pulled out a skirt that had a nice stretchy elastic waistband and helped her to dress. Once that was done, he then taken her to work, being sure to offer her plain crackers after a breakfast of toast and some juice. She could handle juice. Coffee and tea were off the menu, even her love of spicy food had taken a back seat.

He kept an eye on her, but at lunch, he’d gone to the pharmacy for a pregnancy test. After work, he took her home, made her a lovely meal, and then he’d sprung the news on her.

Clara had gone pale, and she’d laughed at him, saying it wasn’t possible. There was no way she was pregnant, but then her face had gone from pale to … uncertain.

So, the test came in a box of two. Both had come back positive.

After that, Clara researched how accurate they were, and that had resulted in a doctor’s appointment for bloodwork. Now, twenty-four hours later, as per their scheduled appointment, they were about to be told the results of that test.

Grayson was excited. He didn’t realize he wanted more kids. After raising April, he figured his time to be a dad was over, but now, son or daughter, he was looking forward to a baby. He never experienced the joy of raising a child with a woman he loved.

He had already texted April the news, and she was now waiting to see if she was going to have a brother or sister.

Grayson lifted Clara’s hand to his lips.

“Are you not nervous?” she asked.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I want this. Those positive tests gave me the result that I want.” He pulled her close. “One day, you’re going to realize just how much I love you, and that all of this is what I want.”

Clara nibbled her lip. “You’re sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.” He reached into his jacket pocket. “I’ve been wanting to give this to you for the longest time.”

“Grayson?”

“I want you to be my wife, but not because you work for me, or because you’re having sex with me, or because you’re going to be the mother of my children. I want to marry you, Clara. I want you to be mine. I want you to belong to me in every single way. From the moment you entered my life, you have completely enraptured me. I tried to fight it. You’re so young, and you’ve got your whole life ahead of you, but I know no one out there is going to love you like I do. I love you more than anything. I want to grow old with you.”

“Yes,” Clara said.

Grayson paused and stared into her eyes. They were full of tears.

“I love you so much, and yes, I want to marry you. I want to have your children. I want to be with you. I want it all with you.” She cupped his face, and this time she kissed him and he reveled in it.

The only reason they had to stop was because their name was called.

Clara released him, but he captured her hand, sliding the engagement ring on her finger. He was never going to let this gem go.

She meant the whole world to him, and he held her hand as they walked into the doctor’s office where they got the news he’d been hoping for.

Clara was pregnant with his child.

And Grayson knew, deep in his soul, this was going to be the first one of many, because he was never going to allow her to get away from him.

She was the love of his life.

His soulmate.

The End

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