Page 73 of Baja
Later that night, I sit in a chair beside the living room window, sipping tea while I wait for Nash to get home. He texted me thirty minutes ago and said he was closing shop and would be coming home soon.
I’ve been nervous since Sukie dropped me off after our lunch date with the girls. Sitting through lunch with Sage, Juniper, Ophelia, and Lily was torture, not spilling the beans. It didn’t feel right to say anything before I have a chance to tell Nash. Especially since I have no idea how he’s going to react. I know the girls will be thrilled when they find out, but I honestly don’t know what I will do if having this baby is something Nash doesn’t want.
The beam of a singular headlight flashes through the window as Nash brings his bike to a stop in the driveway beside my truck. I watch as he climbs off and walks up to the porch. Ozzy, sleeping on the back of the couch, jumps down and saunters over to the front door to greet his human.
As Nash walks inside, Ozzy winds his way through his legs, demanding attention. Doing as he’s told, Nash bends down and gives Ozzy a good rubdown. Straightening, Nash slips his cut off and hangs it on the hook by the door. I do my best to fix my faceand appear normal, but Nash, who is intuitive, knows instantly something is off.
“What’s goin’ on, baby?”
As soon as the question is out of his mouth, I cry. In part because I’m nervous but mostly because my emotions are everywhere.
“Alice, what the fuck is goin’ on?” Nash is in front of me within seconds. He drops to one knee and cups my face. “Baby, talk to me? Did the doctor find something wrong?” Nash fires question after question, but all I can do is sob.
“Jesus Christ, baby. Say somethin’. I’m about to lose my shit. Are you sick?”
“No.” I shake my head. “I’m not sick.”
Nash visibly relaxes. “Then why are you cryin’?”
“Because I have to tell you something, and I’m scared that when I tell you, you’ll be upset. And I love you so much, and I don’t want to lose you,” I blubber.
“Lose me? Jesus fuck, Alice, what do you have to tell me?”
“I’m pregnant!” I blurt out.
Nash stares at me, unmoving, and I swear I see his lip twitch like he’s holding back a smile.
“Did you hear what I said?”
“Yeah, babe, I heard you. Although I don’t know why you’d think you havin’ my baby is a problem.”
Now it’s my turn to stare. “You… you’re not mad?”
A huge grin spreads across Nash’s handsome face. “Fuck no, I’m not mad.”
“But we talked about kids. I told you I didn’t see any more in my future, and you agreed.”
“I lied,” Nash confesses without missing a beat.
“You lied?”
“Yeah, babe. You think I’d tell you I want nothin’ more than to have a family with you?” He shakes his head. “I wasn’t goingto risk losin’ you. If I had told you the truth, you would have talked yourself into leavin’ me. You probably would have come up with some lame-ass speech about settin’ me free so I can find a woman who can give me kids or some shit.”
“Hey.” I narrow my eyes, but I can’t argue further. He’s right. I would have done precisely that.
Nash grips the back of my neck. “I can’t lose you, baby. And somethin’ you should know about me is I’m not above playin’ dirty to get what I want.”
I can’t help but stare at Nash in awe. “You’re insane. You’d give up any chance at having a family of your own to be with me?”
“In a fuckin’ heartbeat.”
Overwhelmed by emotions, I leap into Nash’s open arms. We linger in that moment, the world around us fading as time seems to stretch.
When we finally part, I gaze into his eyes. “We’re having a baby,” I breathe out, my voice barely above a whisper.
Nash’s face lights up. “Fuck yeah, we are!”
