Page 140 of Feels Like Home

“Yeah? Then what’s with the tears?” He wipes at my cheeks with his thumbs then kisses mesoftly.

I shrug my shoulders, not wanting to admit how self-conscious I feel about… well, everything. He raises his eyebrows at me, not satisfied with my lack ofanswering.

“Talk to me,” his voice quiet and so damnsexy.

I glance around the room and notice that six pairs of eyes are onus.

“Don’t mind us,” Barrett says with a cheeky grin. “Just keep talking, pretend we’re nothere.”

Tess rolls her eyes, softly hits Barrett in the stomach, and walks over tome.

“We’ll let you two chat. Incredibly happy for y’all. You’re gonna be amazing parents. That’s one lucky kiddo you got growing in that belly of yours, mama.” She leans down and kisses my cheek then squeezes Andy’s hand, turns and grabs a grumbling Barrett, and shoves him toward thedoor.

Everyone else says their congratulations and good byes, and soon we’realone.

“Talk to me,” he says again. “It’s just me here.” He’s so reassuring andthoughtful.

“It’s just… you’reamazing.”

He gives me a crooked grin and winks. “And this makes youcry?”

“No! I… you really want this? Withme?”

He looks at me with furrowed brows. Just last night I was blissfully happy for us. I couldn’t wait to tell everyone that I was carrying his child, and less than twelve hours later I’m a nervous wreck. No doubt he’s experiencing some whiplash of his own. “Christine, where is this comingfrom?”

“I don’tknow.”

“Bullshit.”

I scoff and roll my eyes, scrunching my nose up at him. “You’re so annoying. Why do you knoweverything?”

“I love it when you do that, scrunch your cute little nose. I wonder if she’ll do that,” he says, glancing down at my stomach. “And, I don’t know everything. I just knowyou. And I know you’re getting inside your head right now. Are you having second thoughts about me? Ithought…”

“What? No! Why would you thinkthat?”

“Well, gee, I don’t know. I walk in after we’ve told our friends about the baby, and you’re not exactly shouting your happiness from therooftops.”

“No way. Don’t go there, honey. Not evenclose.”

“So, we’re still good? You andme?”

“Yeah,” I say, but I can hear the doubt in myvoice.

“Christine,” his voice less soft than itwas.

“I don’t know how to say this outloud.”

“Tryme.”

“Ugh! These stupid damn hormones! One minute I’m perfectly sane then… this!” I gesture to myself and he says nothing, simply gives me a look of understanding. I take a deep breath and rip off the proverbial band aid. “I wanna get married!” I shout then cover my face with myhands.

“Now?”

I remove my hands and look at him. His chocolate brown eyes shine, his smilewide.

“What do you mean?” I ask him in a whisper, fearful that I’m misreading hisresponse.

His eyes soften, and he turns his head slightly. He leans in close, resting his forehead against my own. I inhale deeply, taking in his warm comforting scent that’s all him. “Christine, you’ve gotta know. I’d marry youyesterday.”

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