Page 49 of Summer Nights

"Yeah." There was something about the tone in her voice. She was upset.

I waited for her to finish getting dressed, and then I stepped closer. "What's wrong?'

She blinked away tears. "I'm responsible for this human being."

"We're responsible. I'm in this with you," I assured her.

"It's so scary. I never intended to be a mother. I don't even know if I'll be a good one."

I tipped my head to the side, feeling a little incredulous. "You're amazing with your siblings. You spend time with them, you plan for their future, and you provide for them. If that's not the definition of a good, caring mother, then I don't know what is."

She blinked up at me.

"I have no doubt you'll be an incredible mother. No one will be fiercer than you in protecting this little one."

Ivy shook her head. "You sound so confident about that."

"That's because I am."

She rested her head on my chest, and I wrapped my arms around her. This was one of the first times she'd allowed herself to be vulnerable with me. She'd admitted to feeling scared and unsure. I reveled in the opportunity to be there for her. I wondered if there would be more chances as she allowed herself to relax around me. To lower her guard.

Her stomach growled.

I leaned back to see her face. "You want to grab lunch?"

"Sure." Ivy stepped back, and I missed the contact immediately.

Other than sex, she never allowed me to linger. There was no cuddling. I wanted to get her in a bed in the worst way.

Lunch was an opportunity to discuss what things would look like as co-parents. Would we each need a nursery? Would she allow me to watch the baby in my place or spend time at her place, to help her? I was getting a little ahead of myself, but I was a planner. I wanted to take care of everything so she didn't need to worry.

We chose a food truck so that we could sit on a picnic table with our toes in the sand. We ordered fish tacos and lemonades.

Ivy took a bite. "What is it about being pregnant that makes everything taste better?"

I chuckled. "I hadn't heard that."

"I'm speaking from experience." She took another large bite of her taco.

"Now that we know the baby is real, do you want to talk about logistics?" I asked her.

Her brow furrowed as she chewed and then sipped her lemonade. "What logistics?"

"Do you want me to move in with you at some point so I can help at night? I've read that babies can be up at all hours. I don't want you to handle that alone."

Ivy shook her head. "I haven't even thought that far ahead."

"I can set up a nursery at my place too." I had plenty of money saved up to do whatever was necessary. "Do you want me to get two of everything and have it delivered to your house? I can assemble everything for you too."

Ivy chewed her lip thoughtfully. "I have lists of things I'll need. I've already researched the safest items."

"I didn't realize you'd done that." I'd hoped to take something off her to-do list.

"I've been looking at that since I first found out. Research helps me relax."

I filed that information away for later. "So you know what you want?"

"I just need to order everything. I've been holding off because I'm worried it will jinx the pregnancy."

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