Page 59 of Everything After
She cocked her head from side to side in consideration as we strode purposefully toward the metal gates to exit the park. “That’s fair, you ought to get out of bed with me since this is your baby as well.”
The park warden arrived right as we stepped out onto the sidewalk. “Huh,” I said, stopping when reality dawned on me as to the journey ahead of us. Turning Lily to face me, I cradled her head in my hands and gazed intently toward her, to hold her full attention.
“I know this wasn’t planned and you are doubting yourself right now, but we’re going to be amazing parents. I’m going to do all that I can to be everything you need, and to be a great dad to our kid,” I said, placing one hand from her head over my heart. “And I swear to you, I’ll do everything after the baby’s here to support you to keep doing what you love. Never doubt yourself, baby, because you can still be a kick-ass rock chick as well as a fabulous mom.”
To cement my point, I dipped my head and kissed her until she was breathless right there on the sidewalk. It was a toe-curling kiss for me since I hadn’t had intimacy in close to twomonths. When I let her go, I chuckled because Lily looked flushed and a little giddy.
A small, satisfied smile played on her lips as we began to head back to her parents’ place, then she stopped, stared up at me and shook her gorgeous head. “Alfie Black, what is this voodoo magic you weave around me. How can I go from doubting you in one single breath to hanging on your every word with the next? This morning, I was eighty percent sure I’d need to do this without you and I’m suddenly putty in your hands.”
“It’s because you have faith in me, Lily. And it probably helps that you’ve missed my big dick, these agile, piston hips and those skills that I have with my mouth and this,” I joked, wagging my tongue at her.
Lily swatted my arm as she bit back a grin. “If this child is a boy, and he inherits your self-confidence, you’d better sharpen those parenting skills because our son might be too hard to handle.”
CHAPTER 36
LILY
My stomach bubbled with excitement as we entered The Campaner restaurant, which was only a stone’s throw from my parents’ place. Fortunately, the paparazzi hadn’t caught up with us yet, and it felt great to go out to dinner with my parents like any other ordinary couple.
I’d supposed arriving early in the morning at the executive landing area without the band, and being transferred home by my father in his helicopter had helped me slip under the radar. However, I was surprised when Alfie’s arrival hadn’t attracted interest like it usually did, and that he hadn’t brought his bodyguard with him either.
Once the server had introduced himself, taken our drink orders then the order for our food, Alfie and I came under my mum’s scrutiny as to why we’d gone there.
“I saw your tours were finished,” she admitted. “Does this mean Christmas at home in London this year, or do we still need to fly to the US to get time with you both?” my mum asked dryly.
“Yeah, it’ll be Miami again, I’m afraid,” Alfie supplied, glancing toward me. My heart fluttered when he flashed me his sexy trademark smile, winked conspiratorially and squeezed my hand.
“Am I missing something?” Mum asked, narrowing her beady eyes at us both, while lifting her napkin and placing it gently in her lap.
“What’s going on with you two? You’ve been acting strange since Alfie arrived,” Dad demanded, shifting his gaze first to me then to Alfie.
Alfie’s wide grin reminded me how bad he was at keeping secrets from our friends. Turning toward me, he cocked his head in my dad’s direction and nudged me with his elbow. “They’re asking you,” he offered before his grin grew wider.
“Well,” my mum challenged in her no-nonsense voice, while she impatiently tapped her fingers on the table.
“You know how XrAid signed that new contract for three albums?” I asked quietly.
“Oh, band news,” her dad mumbled and rolled his eyes, immediately losing interest.
“Some band news, but not for the reason you think,” Alfie quickly stated.
Charlie held up his hands. “I give up, just spit it out. I’m cranky because I’m hungry, so let’s have it,” he muttered in a flat tone.
“Alright,” I said, nodding. I turned and smiled at Alfie and drew strength from him, to sound confident about my condition. “Next year,” I began, then stopped, huffed out a breath and nervously ran my free hand through my hair. “How would you feel about being grandparents?”
“Grandparents?” my mum carefully asked. “You’re planning to get pregnant next year?”
“No, we’re adopting four children from East Asia,” Alfie said, sounding enthusiastic and completely convincing.
“East Asia? Why, when there are plenty of children that are waiting to be adopted here?” Roslyn argued, looking affronted by Alfie’s suggestion.
“For goodness’ sake, Mum, don’t listen to him. I’m already pregnant,” I blurted, sounding far more confident than I felt in that moment.
“Pregnant,” Dad muttered, looking dumbfounded. He slowly rose from his seat like he couldn’t believe what I’d said, came around the table and kissed me on the cheek. “Congratulations, poppet. That’s wonderful news, isn’t it, Roslyn?” he gushed, ghosting his hands over my shoulders like I was suddenly made of porcelain.
I glanced toward my mum who was rapidly nodding, her eyes full of unshed tears. And for once, she was speechless.
“Say something, Roslyn, aren’t you going to congratulate them?” Dad asked, before turning to us. “Congratulations, when, where… how did that happen?”
