Page 74 of The Comeback

“Do you have paintbrushes and a drop cloth?”

“Nope.” One corner of my mouth raises into a smirk. “I don’t have anything, and I’ll probably be a shitty painter. Do you swipe up and down or left to right?”

“Maybe you’d better stick to football.” She places her hands on my chest and smiles.

“Maybe.” I nod, and for the first time in three weeks, I see a glimmer of hope for a happy future.

Chapter Forty

Charlotte

The baby. He might love me, but what about a baby? “Listen.” I jump back and drop my hands to my sides. “I need to tell you something, and I don’t know how you’ll react.”

“Shit.” He rakes a hand through his hair, and pain fills his eyes. “Is it another guy?”

A guy? The expression on his face floors me. Oh…. A guy. He thinks I cheated on him. Well, it wouldn’t be cheating because he dumped me, but whatever.

“I mean. It doesn’t matter.” He paces the floor. “I broke up with you, so it’s my fault if you had sex with someone else.” He groans and rubs a hand over his eyes.

“Stop.” I march over to him and grab his biceps. “It’s not what you think.” I shake him, not that he moves. His brows arch upward, leaving deep lines in his forehead. Just rip it off like a Band-aid. “I’m pregnant.”

His eyes round. “I think I’m going to pass out.”

“I’m sorry.” I drop my arms to my side. This is not how I envisioned tonight going. “I wasn’t aware you were this opposed to kids. I’m sorry.” I cross my arms over my chest as protection from the pain. “I mean. I didn’t intend to get pregnant, and a part of me hoped you’d be happy about the baby whether we were together or not. I mean, you’re close to your mom and sister….” I trail off as the first tear spills down my cheek. The thought of our baby growing up without a father breaks my heart.

“It’s mine?”

I unlace my arms and raise my hands in exasperation. “Of course, the baby is yours. Who else would it belong to?”

“The guy you saw while I was at training camp.” He blinks as if he’s trying to put everything together, but he’s struggling.

“You’re ridiculous.” I roll my eyes and tap the toe of my shoe on the carpeted floor. “I didn’t go out with anyone while you were at training camp. I love you, and I can’t turn it off like that. I mean, if I could, I would, but it doesn’t work that way. I didn’t see anyone while you were gone. I didn’t have sex with anyone else. I haven’t had sex with anyone but you in nearly two years, so the baby is yours.”

“Thank God.” A slow smile curves up to his cheeks, and he hauls me against his chest. “I promise I’m going to get something right. Someday,” he sighs and threads his hand through my hair as his body shudders against mine. “Give me a minute. My life flashed before my eyes and not in a good way.”

I throw my arms around his neck and pull his face down to mine. “Weston, I love you, and wherever you go is where I belong. Where our baby and I belong.”

His lips cover mine as he holds me closer. When his tongue swipes along the seam of my hips, I expect him to dive inside, but he doesn’t. His mouth is firm, but he demands nothing from me. He inhales and runs his hands along my back, caressing me until my knees wobble.

“I’m guessing I should have purchased new condoms.” He smirks. “I’m afraid to look and see what the expiration date says.”

“I’m going to take that as a compliment. You were too wrapped up in me to think clearly. And you weren’t screwing all the cleat chasers that were following you around.”

“Consider yourself complimented.”

Seconds turn to minutes as we stand there in the sweetest embrace I’ve ever experienced. It’s as if he’s too afraid I’m going to run off. Or he’s afraid he’ll hurt the baby.

I pull back, ready to read him the riot act. Women have given birth for an eternity, and I’m not going to break.

Before I can speak, he cups my face with his large hands. “I would love nothing more than to marry you and raise a family. Here. With your family. And mine.”

My heart soars with the clouds. “Here in this hotel?”

“Nah.” He winks. “I’ll buy you a big house. Your baby daddy got a contract for five years’ worth 90 million dollars. “

“What?” My mouth drops open. Holy cow.

“And without you, it would’ve never happened.” His face sobers. “I’m serious. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. We may have gotten off on the wrong foot when we first met, but since then, things have…. Okay, I’ve already proven how badly I can screw things up, and you still love me. It can only go up from here.”

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