Chapter 9
Graham
Iknew from the minute Charley told me she was pregnant that I wanted this baby, but I didn’t know just how strongly I felt about it until we drove away from the clinic and tension melted from my shoulders.
The relief was indescribable, and even though I can tell Charley is still freaked out, I think she’s relieved too.
We stopped at a drive-thru and grabbed some lunch before parking at this lookout I saw signs for, and we’ve been eating for the last ten minutes, not really saying much, but my mind is still in that doctor’s office, reliving that moment.
I didn’t mean for the forehead kiss to happen, it just… did.
It just felt so…easy.
And natural.
The way everything has always felt easy and natural with Charley.
Glancing over at her, she’s staring out the windshield, and I can practically hear her thoughts from here. She’s spinning, but silently, and I hate it. “Talk to me,” I say, wanting nothing more than to dissolve the stress she’s experiencing.
Charley heaves a sigh and looks over, then shoves her fries at me. “Here, I can’t eat these.”
A chuckle bubbles out of me that I cover with a cough as I take the container from her and set it down on the center console. “Tell me what’s going through your mind right now, Sunny.”
Clenching her jaw, Charley swallows before saying quietly, “You can’t call me that.”
“What?” My brows dip. “Why not?”
“Because it’s confusing, Graham,” she explains, as if that clears anything up at all. “If this”—she gestures between us—“us doing…this…co-parenting or whatever is going to work, there needs to be boundaries and rules.”
“But I’ve always called you that.”
“Graham.” She groans my name, and it really shouldn’t turn me on, especially with everything we have happening. But it does.
“Okay, okay.” I hold my hands up. “Boundaries and rules, got it.”
Pointing a finger toward me, she sternly—and adorably—adds, “And no more sex.”
“I vote another rule is honesty,” I throw out, half teasingly, half truthfully. “And with that rule in place, I’d like to point out that I’m pretty sure you made the first move that night.”
Charley’s eyes narrow and her lip twitches. “I don’t think I like your tone,” she mutters.
Chuckling, I ask, “Is it my tone you don’t like, or the fact that I’m right?”
She juts her chin out before taking a sip from her Sprite.
“Okay, but really,” I say. “Tell me what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours.”
“Graham.”
“Charley.”
“No flirting,” she spits out. “That’s another rule.”
I arch a brow. “Answer the question, Charley.”
“Fine! What I’m thinking is, I just… I don’t know how this is all supposed to work, okay?
Not only do you have an entire life already, but I do too.
There is so much on my plate right now, with school, my exams that are sneaking up on me way too fast, and work.
Not to mention, I’ll be starting as an EMT soon!
Oh, and my lease is almost up, and I just found out my landlord is raising the rent, and I can’t afford it.
” Blowing out a breath, her body sags in the seat. “So, that’s what’s on my mind.”
“Move in with me.” The words roll off my tongue effortlessly.
“What?” she hisses. “Graham, no. No, I can’t do that.”
“Yes, you can,” I push with zero hesitation. “There’s plenty of space, a spare room, a huge yard, and then you have help and support. I may not be able to take school and exams and work off your plate, but I can offer you a place to live and make sure you, and our baby, have everything you need.”
There’s a moment of pause as Charley seems to digest what I said, icy-blue eyes red rimmed and misty again.
“That would be too weird,” she finally murmurs, shaking her head.
“It’s not like we’re dating. We’re having this baby and raising him or her as co-parents and friends.
Besides, don’t you think it would confuse Ellie Mae? ”
My heart squeezes at the mention of my daughter, knowing Charley’s considering her in all of this.
“We can raise the baby and be co-parents under the same roof,” I say.
“There’s no rule that says we can’t or shouldn’t.
As for Ellie Mae, she’s not even two yet.
Not only do I not think it’ll confuse her, but I also think showing her that family can look many different ways is a good thing. ”
Heaving a sigh, Charley drops her head against the back of the seat.
“Goddamnit, Graham,” she grumbles, angrily swiping a hand across her newly wet cheek.
“Why do you keep saying all the right things? Why are you so nice and perfect and…ugh! And why the fuck do I keep crying? These hormones are no freaking joke.”
I reach over and grab her hand, knowing it’s probably against a rule of hers, but it feels like she needs it.
Charley turns her head, tear-soaked eyes finding mine as her chin trembles.
“We don’t have to figure it all out today, but I promise you, we will figure it out.
You aren’t in this alone, you won’t go through any of it alone. We’re in this together, okay?”
Charley nods. “Okay.”
“I’m serious about you moving in, though,” I say. “Please say yes. It’ll save you so much money, you wouldn’t have to look for another place when you know there ain’t shit available, and it would take some stress off.”
Lips pinched together, I can see it in her eyes that she wants to argue. “Fine,” she grits out. “But I’m helping with the bills and the house payment. That’s a rule.”
We’ll see about that.
“Good girl.”
“Graham Thomas Astor,” she scoffs, whacking me on the side of the arm.
“Yeah, yeah.” Using air quotes, I say, “The rules.”
Holy shit. She’s moving in.
Charley’s carrying my baby, and we’re going to be living under the same roof.
Teenage Graham is bursting at the seams.