Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Clover
I had one leg crossed over the other in the clinic waiting room. Three other patients waited for their appointments. I squirmed. I needed to pee thanks to my upcoming ultrasound, but I had to wait.
My phone buzzed.
Poppy: When’s your appointment?
Me: Tomorrow
Her sister’s radar was too strong. I tucked my phone away.
She wasn’t the only sister who’d been hitting me up this week.
Alder and his damn memory probably told them all he thought my big appointment was today.
I had told them when it was at Christmas.
And then after my New Year’s Eve humiliation, I had hoped they’d forget about it.
My embarrassment knew no bounds around Sullivan Wagner. The two worst times of my life had been witnessed by him.
First, getting ditched by Elijah. And getting dropped by Van.
The poor guy. He would be on his way to Denver at this very moment. Probably grateful to be taking off.
I’d put him in such a tight spot. We’d been wrapped up in the New Year’s Eve thrill, and I’d crawled all over him. I’d read into it all and put myself out there. He’d set me gently back down.
I bobbed my foot and stopped. That wasn’t helping the bladder situation.
Was my face hot over the memories, or was it hormones?
My phone buzzed again. I wasn’t going to look. I would let my family know how everything went after my appointment. It wasn’t like I was finding out the gender.
I’d just get to see Bean again. See how much Bean had grown. Hear the heartbeat. Get more pictures to hang on the fridge. It’d be exciting. Then I’d use that high to tell my sister what happened between me and Van.
The door to the exam rooms opened, and Emery popped out in lilac scrubs. “Clover. Come on back.” Her smile was just the right amount of friendly and excited. I needed that.
I smiled for the first time in a week and pushed out of my chair. This would be a good appointment. I’d have a pleasant time, get some blood drawn, and then I’d stare at the images tonight and think about my future. My very single future.
Emery stepped back to let me pass through and hit the handicapped button. The doors clicked all the way open. “How are you doing today?”
“Good.”
The hum of the door stopped, and another click sounded before they started to swing shut.
“Clover!”
I spun around just as the last guy I expected to see pushed through the door, ramming it with his shoulder. “Van?”
He was breathing heavy. “I’m sorry. I meant to come earlier.”
“What are you…” Emery and the other nurses were looking our way.
I’d moved to town, married to a different man than I’d planned to be.
Only Emery knew that, but the others might also know Van and I were no longer married.
And here we were on the verge of making a scene.
Yet I didn’t care. “What are you doing here?”
“Denver can wait.”
Everyone around us vanished. “No, it can’t.” A horrible thought bashed into my brain. “Did you cancel? For this?”
He formed a lopsided grin. “Yeah.”
“Why?” I screeched. Glancing around, I gave everyone an apologetic look. “Sorry.”
“Why don’t I bring you to an exam room?” Emery said. Her tone was the perfect amount of supportive and hopeful. “I’ll get your vitals in a few minutes and then take you to radiology.”
“Okay,” I said numbly, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Van. He was dressed in jeans and a sweater. Had he left the house without a coat? It was below zero outside.
He came closer, and I couldn’t move until he gently cupped my elbow. We followed Emery into an exam room.
When we were shut inside, I spun on him. “What are you—”
His mouth landed on mine. A high-pitched sound escaped me, only to be swallowed by him. He didn’t take the kiss further but slowly drew away. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” For ending the kiss? Me too.
“For running you off on New Year’s Eve. I thought I was doing the best by you.”
“You were. You were right. I need more time.”
“You’re a smart girl, Clover.”
Okay? Was this the beginning of a brush-off? I was so confused.
“You don’t make rash decisions. You came to my place that night to talk about us. Right?”
I nodded.
“And I got scared. I got scared you’d realize that you deserved more than me. But here’s the thing—I’m willing to work every day to be worthy of you. Because I fell in love with you.”
A small gasp escaped me.
“I’m so damn in love with you,” he continued. “I never wanted to divorce you. I never wanted to move out. I only did it because that was what you wanted.”
It wasn’t. “But your company?”
“I talked to them all. Explained everything.” He shrugged. “A couple pulled out.”
He didn’t have much more than a couple interested. “Van.”
“I’ll do it without them.” He pushed a lock of my hair behind my ear. “I’ve made it this far; I can keep going and continue building. As long as I have you.”
“But…” This wasn’t right, yet all of it was what I wanted. There had to be a way he didn’t lose out by being with me. “What about what you want?”
“I want you. I know you don’t want to depend on another guy, and I understand. We can do everything separately, as long as I’m right next to you.”
The last words chimed through my head. A pretty melody. “I want you right there with me, too.”
His grin spread wide. “Yeah?”
My vision grew blurry as happiness swelled so big I could burst, and it wasn’t just my bladder. “Yeah.”
He wrapped me in his arms, hugging me tight.
My face smashed into his shoulder, and there was nowhere else I’d rather be, except for the house we made into a home.
“I love you, sweet Clover. So damn much. I tried to be strong, but when it comes to you, I’m too weak to stay away.”
“That’s a confession I like to hear.”
His chuckle rumbled against my shoulder.
I hooked my arms around him. “I love you too, Van, but I can’t believe you did that.”
“Believe it. My Denver investor still wants to meet with me, and he said that if I can bring you, he’d like to meet you too.”
Smiling, I snuggled into him harder. “If it seals the deal for you, I’ll go anywhere.”
“That’s what I love about you. We’re a team. We’re a team in life, and we’ll be a team with Bean. I’m going to be the best uncle-dad a kid’s ever had.”
I pulled back. “It really doesn’t bother you?”
His gaze was solemn. “It’s an honor. Truly.” He released me and stepped back. “I was late because of this.” He dug a little black box out of his pocket and started to drop to a knee.
There was a knock on the door, and it opened. He paused in a half lunge.
“Oh, hey.” Emery’s eyes went wide. “I wouldn’t do that.
Not that.” She gestured to the ring. “Definitely do that. But the kneeling part. Don’t do it.
We clean and disinfect, but you know, it’s a general rule.
Never touch the floor in a clinic if at all possible.
” She backed out of the room. “Why don’t you two come out when you’re ready.
I’ll let the tech know it might be a few minutes. ”
“It won’t be that long,” I said. “I’m going to say yes.” He opened the box to a simple but gorgeous band of browns with a subtle blue. “Oh my God. Is that made from petrified wood?”
He took the ring from the box. “I drove as fast as legally possible so I could get to the gift shop, grab this baby, and get back before your appointment.”
I practically shoved my left hand at him.
He gently gripped my hand and slid the ring on. A perfect fit. “Once my company takes off, I can get you one with a gemstone.” He smiled. “But not a diamond for my geologist.”
Van kissed the back of my hand and pulled me into his side. “Ready to go see our baby, sweet Clover?”
“I’m ready for anything as long as you’re with me.”