Page 81 of The Red Zone
He scooted over to make space and I slipped into the stiff bed next to him, curling up against his side. I made it all of a minute before a handful of hot tears flooded to my eyes, pouring down my cheeks faster than I could wipe them away.
“Hey… what’re those for?” He lifted a finger under my chin and tipped my face up towards his. The sorrow that was laced in his stare only made my tears fall harder. “I’m fine, baby. I promise.”
“I’m sorry,” I sucked in a breath, and then another. “I was just so…”
“Scared?”
My frown deepened and I gave him a weak nod. “Don’t ever do anything like that ever again. It was terrifying.” I laughed, but my words were coated in truth. “Can’t you switch to kicker or something? I feel like their chances of getting hurt are much less.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s because we broke my seasonal celibacy.”
“You can’t believe that’s real.”
“It is,” he said, so sure of himself. “I knew I shouldn’t have given into your taunts.”
Unfortunately for him, he was really going to have to get out of that mindset, because there was no way we were going to abstain from sex for seven months every year for the foreseeable future.
We could try all he wanted, but the guy couldn’t be in the same room as me at a party or event without sneaking over to whisper all the dirty things he wanted to do to me once we got home.
Doubtful he would make it seven months.
“I told the doctor I was your sister.” I laughed, pitifully, placing my forehead against his.
“It’s going to be really awkward when you kiss me then, isn’t it?”
Pressing my mouth against his, a calm, secure feeling washed over me knowing he was going to be okay.
“I love you.” He pulled back, whispering against my lips.
“That’s a horrible decision on your part, really,” I countered, pulling back with a playful smile.
October leaned in, kissing me gently before pulling back and giving me a weak smile that tugged at the corner of his lips. “Just say likewise.”
“Likewise.”
EPILOGUE
Two years later
Mae
“You’re tellingme that you got pregnant on my wedding night and I didn’t?” Scarlett’s mouth fell open as she grabbed the positive pregnancy test from my hand with widened eyes.
“Don’t give me that look… you were already six weeks pregnant on your wedding night. It’s not my fault you didn’t know!”
“Fair point.” She nodded in agreement, still staring at the test while blinking rapidly.
I peered over her shoulder to get another look at the dark lined plus sign on the blue and white stick, eyeing it with disbelief. When Scar and I finally drew our gazes up to each other after a beat, our faces softened and small smiles tugged at the corner of our lips, almost like we were mirroring each other’s expressions.
“You’re having a baby.” Scarlett’s lower lip started to tremble. “I’m so happy for you.”
“We’rehaving babies.”
“And they get to grow up together.” She bit her lip to control a sob, and I wasn’t far behind her.
At this point, my eyes were completely clouded with tears. “All of our kids are going to get to grow up together—Lea’s included—just like we did.” With one blink, warm droplets began rushing down my cheek. I tried to brush them away with the back of my hand, but they fell faster than I could manage. “Oh, God. Is this what the entire pregnancy is going to be like? Am I just going to be a crying, blubbering mess for the next eight months?”
We both laughed to hold back the tears that stung the back of our throats. As kids, we dreamed of raising our children the same way our parents had raised us, and now that was going to become our reality.
