Page 65 of Misery In Me

“Hermosa? Princesa? ¿Dónde están mis chicas?”Gage calls through the front of the house, andZoe perks up, kicking out her feet at the sound of her father’s voice.

“Kitchen,” I shout back. I try so hard to keep the smile that keeps fighting to stay plastered on my face.Keep it together, Ale. Don’t give it away.

“Did you girls have a fun day today?” He walks in, and he’s all sweaty in his undershirt, pants, and boots.

Desire hits me fast and hard as I just appreciate every inch of him.Mind out of the gutter, Ale.

“Yeah, we did. Hot today on base?” I motion to his shirt.

“Fucking brutal.” He grips the hem of his shirt and pulls it over his head. “I swear it’s going to be the worst summer.”

God, are you trying to test me? Because my husband, shirtless right now, is really, really cruel.

“Oh, shit! Are we having steaks tonight?” He sees the meat on the counter and I pull myself together.

“Yep, actually, will you stay with Zoe while I put them on really quick?” I grab the board and he walks over to the sliding door to open it for me.

“Hey,” and I pause and turn towards him.

Gage leans in and gives me a tender kiss. “I’ve missed you.”

I roll my eyes. “You were gone for what, eleven hours?”

I missed him, too.

He knows it too.

“Eleven hours without you and Zoe. So basically the worst kind of torture.”

He closes the door behind me and that's when the nerves hit.

Pick her up and hold her.

Notice the shirt.

The steaks sizzle as they hit the grate and with my back turned to the back door of the house, I hear the door slide open and Gage’s boots hit the wood deck. Silently he crosses the space that separates us. Zoe blows wet raspberries and all I can do is smile as I absent-mindedly watch the meat cook.

“Ale,” his voice cracks and I can tell he’s holding back. “Hermosa, turn around. Please.”

I let out a breath and turn around. His eyes glisten and they stare into mine. “Yeah,Cariño?”

“Are you…” He clears his throat. “¿Estás embarazada con mi bebé?”

I smile, feeling a single tear fall from my eye. “Yes.”

Gage is on me in a split second, his lips on mine. Zoe is between us, squealing and trying to grab ahold of me. “The test the other day… I don’t understand.”

“So, when the test came back positive, I looked it up. If it’s early, test first thing in the morning. Something about later in the day there could be fewer hormones. But I need to see the doctor to be sure.” I caress his face, using my thumb to wipe his tear away.

“Sorry, I didn’t think I’d be this emotional.” He chuckles, kissing the top of Zoe’s head and then my lips again.

“Don’t be. You know you can cry,amor. To feel whatever you need to feel.” I reach for his hand and press his palm to my cheek. “I’m happy too.”

Everything I’ve ever wanted in life is coming to fruition, and I can’t wait to share it all with Gage and Zoe.

TWENTY-SIX

GAGE

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