Page 82 of My Ex's Best Friend

Her lips twitch. I'm glad I can at least amuse her a little.

"That French goatee was really something."

"In my defense, I barely had facial hair. I went through puberty at like twenty-two. But you were always there for me, at every step of the way."

I stop to catch my breath, because honestly, I'm still very overwhelmed. “We never became strangers, Kiera. We didn’t have that kind of transactional friendship.”

Tears start to gather at the corner of her eyes before slowly trickling down.

I hug her, pulling her into my chest tightly.

"This isn't a burden, Kiera. This is the best thing that could have happened to me."

She pulls back so that she can look into my eyes. "Do you really mean that?"

"Yes," I say. "Sure, neither of us had a baby in mind in our near future, but it was bound later sometime or the other. So, why not?”

"Really?"

"Yes," I say. "The baby is a blessing."

I press my hand to her belly while my forehead rests on hers. "I can't tell you how happy I am that you're carrying my child."

Kiera's breath hitches. Her eyes flutter closed as I lean in to brush my lips on hers. "You've made me the happiest man on Earth, Kie." I whisper against her lips while my fingers caress her chin before stroking up her hair. "And you have the opportunity to do something that will make me happier."

"Happier?" she asks, looking skeptical. “Because I mean, I know it’s all happening way too soon.”

I kneel down in front of her.

"No, no, this is perfect," I say. "Move in with me."

She stiffens a little in my arms. Her eyes widen, her gaze searching mine. "Do you really mean that?"

"Yes," I say, squeezing her arms. "You're here most of the time anyway, and now with a baby on the way—this just makes more sense. And I can easily spoil both you and the baby."

"The baby is probably the size of a pea right now," Kiera says, laughing a little. "Or at least I think she is. I'm not sure how far along I am."

"She?" I say.

She looks faintly embarrassed. "I mean, that's what I think of her as, you know?"

"Yes," I say. "Well, I'll be happy either way."

Kiera nods.

I take her hand in mine. I need to keep touching her. "So, will you move in with me?"

She looks a little apprehensive, biting her cheek. "You don't think that's crazy, right? We're moving way too fast here. Things fall apart—"

"Don't finish that sentence," I say, shaking my head. "You're the best thing that happened to me, Kiera, and I let you go. I messed up once, but I'm not making the same mistake again. Let me be here for you."

She remains silent.

Am I making things worse? Am I losing her?

"We'll do whatever you want us to do," I say. "If you feel bad about moving in here with me, you don't have to. I'll take some of my things and come live with you. Of course, if you don't want me to be living there full time, I can travel—"

"Stop talking, Jake," she says, shaking me a little. "I want to come live with you."

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