My heart is hammering in my chest, wondering if I heard her correctly. “What?”
Her smile widens, and she brings my hands to rest on her stomach. “You already did, Ari. I’m pregnant.”
“You’re pregnant?” My tone is laced with disbelief, but my grin stretches ear to ear.
“Mhmm.” She nods excitedly, eyes glassy.
Lucia starts crying as I scoop her up and spin her around. “Oh my God, you’re fucking pregnant, Lucia!”
She laughs lightly as I kiss her again. “I just found out the other day. I wanted you to focus on the World Series, though.”
“When are you due?” I ask excitedly.
“Early July. I should go on maternity leave around the All-Star break and be back for the postseason.”
I wipe tears from my cheeks. “We’re having a baby.”
“We’re having a baby,” she repeats, almost as if she’s still trying to process the fact that it’s true.
I set her back on her feet and then fall down to my knees. I lift up her shirt and press a kiss right over her stomach.
“Hi, baby. This is Daddy.”
Lucia looks at me sweetly. “The baby can’t hear you yet.”
“And it’s not going to stop me. You’ve got nine months of me talking to your stomach like this, sweetheart. Better just get used to it.”
She runs her fingers through my hair and smiles. “I love you so much, Ari.”
“I love you, too, Lucia.” I kiss her stomach and speak to the baby again. “I think I have the perfect way to show Mommy how much I love her. Do you think I should show her?”
“I don’t think you’re going to get an answer,” she laughs.
“I think they want to say yes, so that’s what I’m going with.”
Since we’re on my side of the bed, all I have to do is reach into my bedside table for what I want.
“Ari…” Lucia gasps when she sees the black velvet box in my hand.
“This can’t be a surprise, sweetheart.”
She starts crying harder now. “I knew you wanted to do it eventually, but I didn’t expect that to be right now.”
I smile at her before repositioning myself so I’m only on one knee, and I open the box to reveal the yellow diamond engagement ring inside. “I’ve had this for months, Lucia. I’ve just been waiting for the right time. And you telling me you’re pregnant with my child is the absolute perfect time for me to do this.”
“And what are you doing?” she smiles, prodding me to actually say the words.
I take her left hand in mine. “I’m asking you to marry me. I love you more than I knew was possible. I didn’t think this level of love existed until I finally got to know you. You’re the absolute love of my life, Lucia, and now you’re going to be the mother of my child. I want to spend eternity with you. Marry me, Spitfire. Make me the happiest man alive.”
Lucia can’t get the words out through her tears, so she nods instead. I slip the ring onto her finger with a giant smile on my face before I stand up and take her lips in a searing kiss.
“We’re engaged now,” she says softly, absorbing everything.
“Engagedfornow,” I assure her. “We’ll get married whenever you want to.”
“I don’t want anything big.” She presses her forehead to mine again. “Let’s elope. It can be you, me, and our baby. That’s all I need.”
“That sounds fucking perfect.” I peck her lips lightly as I start scooting her backward to the bed. “So tell me, sweetheart,” I murmur, laying her down underneath me. “Is fiancée sex better than girlfriend sex?”