Page 93 of The Last Thing
Wilson and I smile at each other.
“We sure can.”
Sophia runs a few feet ahead of us, and as we follow, Wilson wraps his hand around mine, and I get a glimpse of what my future could look like.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
WILSON
“Everything looks great.Your labs are excellent, and both the scan you had a couple of weeks ago and the one today show perfect growth—around the seventy-fifth percentile. And you haven’t had any bleeding since the day you went to the ER, correct?” Hallie’s doctor asks.
Hallie nods. “That’s right.”
“Then I think it’s safe to say it was just some mild spotting after sex. No cause for concern. But it’s good you were seen.”
Hallie squeezes my hand tightly.
“So you think it’s okay to share the news?” Hallie asks.
She nods. “Personally, I think it’s fine to do that anytime. It’s always good to have support. That said, everything looks good, so I don’t think there’s any reason not to.”
“Specifically, we’re planning to tell my daughter, who is eight.”
Hallie’s doctor smiles. “That’s very exciting. Yes, I think now is a great time to tell her. Do you think she’ll be excited?”
“Beyond belief,” I say with a laugh.
“That’s great. Yes, go ahead and tell people. Celebrate this time with the people you love. Everything looks wonderful,so you’re good to go. They’ll schedule you for your next two appointments at the desk.”
“Great. Thank you,” Hallie says as the doctor leaves the room.
She leans into my chest, and I wrap my arms around her.
Over the course of the last ten days, things have changed. The walls around her heart are gone, and while I can tell she’s still scared, she’s leaning into this. She wants this the same way I do. I can’t wait to tell Sophia, so we can finally stop hiding. I want to be able to kiss her when I get home from work and not have to hide from Sophia that she’s waking up in our apartment.
At some point, I want her to move in with us. Before the baby is born—whenever I can convince her. In some ways, we’ve moved quickly, but I know with certainty this is where we’re supposed to be. We’re meant to be a family.
I’m trying to believe in those thoughts—to revel in them—because they’re pieces of my dad. Pieces of who I used to be. I want to be that man again. One who sees the beauty in life and revels in it. I want to live life instead of just going with the flow and trying to keep everything perfectly together and controlled. That’s not who I want to be. Not for Sophia. Not for Hallie. Not for our baby. They deserve the best version of me. My dad gave me that, and I want to do the same.
“When do you want to tell Sophia?” Hallie asks, stepping out of my arms and taking my hand.
“Part of me wants to pick her up from school early and tell her right now, but the practical side of me says Friday would be better. Then we’ll have the whole weekend to be a family.”
My chest burns as I say the words. She could put up a wall, tell me that’s too much. This stage of our relationship still feels fragile, and I’m never sure what to expect.
She looks up at me, her face blooming into a troublemaking smirk. “Are you asking me to spend the night on Friday?”
“I want you in my bed every night, Hellion. But Friday, it’s official.” I catch the side of her neck with my hand. “You’re mine now, and I hope you understand I don’t let go of what’s mine. I keep it and cherish it.”
“Wilson…”
Leaning in, I brush my lips over hers. “Mm, if I could, I would fuck you right here and show you exactly how possessive I can be. But it’ll have to wait until we get home.”
I step back, and she lets out a shuddery breath.
Pulling open the door to the room, she looks up at me. “You better speed.”
Fuck, if I thought she was killing me before, now that she’s mine, she’s making me absolutely feral.
