Page 159 of Cougar

“No.” I gesture to the picture. “It was only just confirmed.”

“Cam’s going to be thrilled. He loves you.” He hands me the photo.

I nod, swallowing back my emotions. “I know he does. I love him, too.” I really do.

“Hey, babe.” Holly, Jay’s former nurse, comes up, curling her arm around Chris’s. “Hey, Emerson. How’s the wedding planning coming along?”

“Better than I expected on such short notice. Invitations will go out later this week. I hope to see you there.”

I also learned from talking to Holly that her younger sister is Olivia, who is one of Jay’s very close friends from the Project Mayhem class.

“I’ll be there.” Holly grins, then tilts her head back to look up at Chris. “I gotta get back to work. I was heading back from my break and thought I’d come say hi.”

“Hi.” Chris dips his head and kisses her chastely on the lips. He seems happy. I like this look on him.

Holly starts to walk away but then turns back to face us. “By the way, congratulations.” She points to the picture in my hand and snickers, probably because of the look on my face. “I won’t say a word.” She makes the universal gesture that her lips are sealed.

“Thank you.”

Holly turns and disappears into the pediatrician’s office where she works.

“Judging by that grin on your face, I’d say Holly makes you happy,” I state.

“She does.” His brows furrow. “Do you think she’s too young for me?”

I frown. She’s not much younger than Cam.

A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth, and I realize he’s joking. We throw our heads back and laugh. A wave of happiness washes over me, and I realize in this moment how happy I am to have my friend back in my life.

“She’s lucky to have you.” I reach out and squeeze his hand. “I’ll see you at the wedding.”

Emerson

“I missed you,” Cam breathes against my lips.

My eyes pop open and I instantly wrap my arms around his neck. “You’re home,” I say with a mixture of disbelief and excitement. “I’ve missed you so much.”

He reaches between us and grabs the book smashed against my chest. “What are you reading?” He scans the cover, and I bite down on my lip and hold my breath. His eyes flick to me. Blink. Another blink. “You’re pregnant?” His bright blue eyes fill with unshed tears and wonderment.

“Yes.” I smile.

“Seriously?” he whispers as he pushes up my T-shirt. “You’re having my baby.” He presses a kiss to my bare stomach, then pops his head up with a smirk. “It is my baby, right?”

I snort and roll my eyes.

He presses another kiss to my stomach. “What does this mean for us?”

“It means we’re having a baby.”

“I know that. I want to know where we go from here.”

“Tell me what you want, Cam.”

“Ideally, I’d like to put a ring on your finger and move you into my house, but I know it’s not gonna be that easy.”

“I’m not ready to get married, and not for reasons you think.” I sigh. “We spent the majority of our relationship hiding it. We never got to just be a couple. I want us to be a real couple. I want date nights. Sunsets and picnics on the beach. I want to be able to walk down the street holding your hand. Can we do that for a little while?”

“On one condition. You have to move in with me. I’m not okay with my child not living under my roof.”

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