Page 74 of Unexpected Redemption

My eyes snap shut, and my jaw clicks. “I know, babe. Iknow. I’ve been suspecting it too. The nausea is relentless. I asked around at Redleg, and no one has been sick. Except Sue, but she’s pregnant.”

His eyes double in size, and a tiny gasp gets stuck in his throat.

My eyes freeze in the shocked position. “Oops. Pretend you didn’t hear that from me. I wasn’t supposed to say anything.”

A salacious grin replaces his previously concerned facade. “How do you know?”

“She was crying in the bathroom the other day about peanut butter. It was a whole thing. But yeah, she admitted it because she’s a far worse liar than me.”

“Wow. Madeline is about to become a grandmother three times over. Sammy’s having twins, and now Sue’s pregnant.” He shakes his head, dispelling his thoughts.

“Anyway. Let’s focus on you.” He glances down my front, eyes lingering on my mid-section. “Rather than guessing, would you like to take a test? Or do you want to wait a few more days to see if your period comes?”

More gingerly than the last time I attempted this move, I collapse against his chest, taking care to avoid squishing my aching chest pillows. “Pfft. You decide for me. What doyouwant me to do?”

“Lettie, this is your decision. What I want doesn’t matter.”

My head pops off his chest. “The hell it doesn’t. Everything about you matters to me, especially your thoughts on this situation. I’m telling you that I can’t think straight about it. I’m terrified like a chicken shit and oddly excited at the prospect, which is baffling, especially considering how far off the handle I flew the night it happened. I’m seriously unable to decide. If it were up to me, I’d live in a permanent state of decision paralysis over this. I’d rather sandpaper a tiger’s ass in a locked coffin than make this decision.”

“Sugar—”

“Tomer,please. I need you to tell me what to do here. I’ll be...compliant.” I fake gagging, drawing a chuckle out of him. “Be my Dom right now and tell me what to do. Please. That’s what I need from you.”

For a long time, he stares into my eyes like he’s searching for something. And I let myself search his, although I’m unsure what I’m looking for.

Until I see it.

A tiny glint of joy twinkling behind his irises as if his spirit is becoming buoyant.

I don’t care what it is about this situation that’s making him happy. It could be how I’m submitting to him so completely or how I’m communicating my needs in certain terms. Or it could be the idea of me being pregnant.

Maybe it’s all of those things.

Finally, he complies with my request to make the freaking decision for us.

“I’d like you to take a test. If you’re pregnant, it’s essential we get you to a doctor and monitor your health. Vitamins. Food. That sort of thing. Plus, I imagine it’ll be quite an emotional shock, so you don’t have to worry about the logistics. Unless you want to. I’ll research it and guide you while you come to terms with your feelings.” He tugs gently at the padlock charm on my collar. “It’s my job to take care of you. And I will. I promise.”

Damn. That’s so freaking sweet.

My lips fold inward as my head nods of its own accord. “Okay. Should we go to the store to get a test now?”

He winks at me, adorable and cocky at the same time. “I bought one yesterday.”

“Of course you did.” Because he has his life together instead of mentally checking out to sing with the monkeys every chance he gets.

Unable to hold it in, I express how much he means to me in times like these. “Babe, you’re unbelievably perfect for me in every way. The sanity to my insanity. The responsibility to my irresponsibility. And the logic to my chaos.” I get lost in thedepths of his eyes for a second before adding, “I couldn’t love you more.”

Fun Lettie fact:My aim is surprisingly good. Didn’t expect to come anywhere close to being able to predict where my stream of pee would go. Nailed it on the first try.

Andyes, this is what my squirrel brain is fixating on since I can’t escape to unicorn land while waiting for the results.

I set the capped test stick on a tissue and rest it on the top of the toilet tank. After washing my hands, I exit the bathroom and join Tomer on the edge of the bed.

Tugging in a huge swell of air, I release the longest and most emphatic exhale ever. “And now we wait.”

For what will surely be the most excruciating three minutes of my entire life.

Inherently knowing I need comfort, he surrounds me with one arm, tucking me close to his side. The kiss he presses to my temple sends a soothing pulse of love through my body.

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