Page 85 of Between the Stars

But does he? Because he seems awfully distracted now.

We’re called back moments later and I’m laid on a table. I don’t remember much about what’s asked, or said, my focus is on Jace and his reactions. I don’t know why, but I’m so terrified he’s going to be “oh, just kidding. We can’t do this.” He’s done it before. But since he crashed my wedding, he’s given me no reason not to trust him.

Look at the dude standing next to the exam table as the doctor runs a wand over my lower stomach. His stare is a million miles away.

He lifts his eyes to mine and I see the truth behind the smirk. He’s scared. He went from not having me at all, to me and a baby. Does he want to run away?

“You’re about fifteen weeks, correct?” the doctor asks, his gaze intent on the screen.

“I think so. Or maybe it’s fourteen? I know I got pregnant around Christmas.” I shrug, and my cheeks heat at the memories of Jace in the cabin, snow falling outside and him begging me to stay. I should have and we could have avoided so much hurt, but like Jace’s dad told me late one night as I cried over a glass of milk, ‘there’s healing in the hurt. It happens for a reason.’” And even though I haven’t had many conversations with Einor Vaughn, I listen when he speaks to me. There’s a reason Jace is the way he is—headstrong, living for the now and not an undecided future—and it has everything to do with the man who’s been married to the same woman for thirty years.

My eyes drift from Jace to the monitor and that’s when I see why the doctor is asking. Two… heartbeats.

My eyes shoot to Jace. He looks terrified as he runs his hands over his face. “Are you fucking serious?” My heart pumps rapidly behind my breast bone and I struggle to breathe normally. Two babies? Two. Freaking. Babies? No way. This has to be a joke.

The doctor nods with laughter, seeming to read into our panicked expressions. “I’m positive. Congratulations.” He points to the screen and turns up the monitor sound and there, in the silence of our breathing, is the sound of our love, beating vigorously inside me.

Jace and I lock eyes and he half grins, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

I’m dying to know what Jace is thinking, but I’m afraid to ask. The doctor hands me a towel. I take it from him and wipe the excess goo off my lower stomach. “The babies look healthy. I can see their sex, but I’d like to wait for your anatomy scan before I confirm.”

My eyes flick to the screen to see if I can tell, but I see nothing but their heartbeats. Two of them beating strong and letting me know this is real. I’m having two kids.

Two.

I think I’m in shock. Jace and I say nothing to one another. We take the pamphlets, the prescriptions for different prenatal vitamins, schedule appointments and all the while, Jace says absolutely nothing to me with his hands in his pockets.

“Are you nervous?” I ask once we’re in his Jeep.

He’s staring out the windshield and I have a flash of a memory. One of him sitting outside my condo with Griff two weeks ago when I wondered if he was having second thoughts about his decision. Now where would this leave us?

His eyes dim and I’m afraid of his response. “No.”

“Are you lying?”

He smiles and winks at me. “Yep.”

I laugh and touch his rough jaw, making him look at me. “I know this isn’t planned but—”

“You’ll never be alone,” he whispers into my palm, cutting me off and repeating the words he said to me the last time we saw two pink lines. Only this time it’s different. Now there’s two heartbeats.

An unexplained fear flashes in his eyes. “Two?” he blows the question out with a breath. “Wasn’t expecting that.”

I nod, my hand resting on my swollen stomach. There’s no hiding I’m pregnant anymore. “Crazy, huh?”

My heart beats furiously in my chest. “You’re curious,” he notes, reading my thoughts.

Tears immediately sting my eyes but I fight them back. I’m terrified. “Is this too much for you?”

“Come on, Abbi.” He groans and leans his head back against the seat. “You gotta give me some room here. You’re creating these scenarios in your head where I leave, and while I’ve earned some reluctance on your part to give you what you want, I’m here now.”

I nod, tears rolling down my hot cheeks. “I know. I guess maybe I’m scared.”

He shakes his head gently, running his nose along my jaw. And then he cups my face in his palms with both hands and the sincerity in his eyes is as if he’s holding the world between his fingertips. “I would get on my knees and ask you to marry me, if I thought it would convince you, but I don’t think it’s time.” He exhales a slow breath and draws back. “Part of me is glad you loved him. It gave me a chance to show you that love wasn’t anything like what I can give you.” Eyes locked, he bends so his lips are in line with mine. “Do you believe me?”

I curl my hands around his wrists and smile. “I do.”

“I know you, Abigale Lockett, because the same girl who chased me in the field and swore me not tell anyone I saw her boobies, is the same girl looking back at me—terrified of a future we don’t understand yet.” He presses a soft kiss to my lips before adding pressure. I comply, losing myself in his kiss, savoring the sweetness of his touch. When he pulls away, I see nothing but trust, in me, us, and the lives inside me. “We’re not going about this the way most do, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. It’s us. Abbi and Jace. The two wild country kids who snuck around under the light of the moon,” he whispers softly, his voice full of determination when he speaks and then draws me back into another kiss.

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