Page 114 of Just One Kiss

She looked like a goddess, like something out of one of his dreams.

Without thinking, his hand found his wallet, safe and secure in his back pocket—what was inside, a touchstone for times like this, times when his head couldn’t keep his emotions in line.

They’d never gotten married, but he had made her a promise. A few promises, in fact. The kind he didn’t take lightly. The kind he’d never forget.

Seven months pregnant and an emotional train wreck, Carly had begun the “freaking out” stage of pregnancy, and one night, Josh found her collapsed in a puddle, fear written all over her face. She leaned against the wall in the living room of the apartment above the flower shop—a place they could only afford because Mimi let them stay for free.

She looked up at him, then buried her face in her hands. “Don’t look at me. I’m a mess.”

He sat down next to her, put a hand on her knee. “What’s wrong?”

She wiped her wet cheeks with the sleeves of her sweatshirt, which he only just that second realized was actuallyhissweatshirt, then turned toward him. She was red-faced and splotchy, and he couldn’t help but smile.

“Are you laughing at me?”

“Are you kidding? I know better than that.”

She frowned. “Then why are you smiling?”

“You’re cute is all.” He shrugged. “Even when you cry.”

She gave him a shove. “You don’t even know why I’m crying. It could be something really serious.”

“Or it could be because you feel fat and unattractive.” He watched her as she looked away.

“You think I’m fat.”

“I think you’re pregnant, and I’ve heard you say you’re fat every day for the last two months, and every time I’ve told you I think you’re beautiful.” He picked up her hands and held them for a few silent moments. “Or did you forget?”

She didn’t respond.

“Scared?”

Her face crumpled and her voice broke.

He pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “You’re not alone, Carly. I told you.”

“That was months ago. Look at me now—you really want to have a wife who looks like this?”

He felt his jaw go slack. “A wife?”

“Or whatever.” Her cheeks turned pink and she looked embarrassed.

“Does that mean you changed your mind?” He leaned back and took her in. “Because we can go to the courthouse tomorrow.”

“Are you crazy? I can’t get married like this. I look like a barn.” Her voice cracked and tears streamed down her face again.

He told himself not to laugh—she’d likely throat punch him if he did, but she was so adorably pathetic, it was a struggle to hold it together. “I think you look beautiful.”Please let that be the right thing to say.

She shot him a look that said,Whatever. I don’t believe you.Rolled her eyes and looked away.

He slid his arm up to her shoulder and squeezed. “Carly, I’ve never known anyone as amazing as you.”

She sniffled, then wiped her nose on her sleeve. He made a mental note to let her keep the sweatshirt.

He stood and looked around the room until his eyes landed on a plain one-subject notebook with a blue cover. He opened it and began writing.

“What are you doing?”

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