Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Reid
“We should probably tell them we’re coming,” Foster says.
“Why would we do that?” Landry glances at him in the rearview mirror. Foster, Baker, and I are in the back seat of his truck, while Landry and Knox are up front.
“You’re crashing girls’ night,” Foster explains. “We’re men.”
“Camden’s there,” Landry argues.
“My son is not even a year old yet.” Baker laughs.
“Still, they’re doing women shit, and we’re just going to barge in on them.”
Knox turns to face us from his spot in the passenger seat. “I haven’t seen my wife in five days. Five long fucking days. We’re going.”
“I’m not saying we should turn around, just that we should warn them. Besides, it was your choice to stay at camp and not come home every night.”
“It’s what we do,” Landry speaks up. “We build camaraderie, but what he said.” He tilts his head toward Knox, keeping his eyes on the road. “Five long fucking days.”
“I miss my kid,” Baker says. “I don’t care if we call or don’t, but I’m hoping my boy is awake.”
“Of course, he’s going to be awake. He’s going to be surrounded by five beautiful women,” Landry says. “He’s my nephew. He’s not going to want to miss a single second of their cuddling him.”
Baker laughs. “True enough. He does love to soak up attention.”
“I’m just saying,” Foster continues. “When we walk into that house and find your wives half-dressed with shit all over their faces, don’t gouge my eyes out when I look.”
“Don’t look,” Knox says, his voice gruff.
“I mean, five beautiful ladies,” Foster says, and I can hear the humor in his voice. He’s teasing them, which is not something Foster does often. He’s the serious one in our group. He leans over Baker to look at me. “What about you? Excited to see your girl?”
“Five long fucking days,” I say, and we all laugh.
I’m excited as hell to lay eyes on her. I’ve called her every single night, but we haven’t seen each other since I left her place last weekend.
I didn’t know it was possible to miss someone like I miss her.
She’s not my wife. But fuck, she’s my everything.
One day, if I’m lucky, we’ll be there. I understand Knox’s and Landry’s obsession to come home, even though our asses have to be up and watching film at six tomorrow. The visit will be worth it.
Landry parks his truck, and we scramble out and to the front door. Knox pushes the door open, and we follow along behind him. The house is too quiet, which is surprising for five ladies who are supposed to be having a fun night, and a baby.
Stepping into the living room, we find everyone gathered around the couch, hovering around— “Bellamy?” I rush toward her.
The other ladies step back as I fall to my knees.
“What’s wrong? Why are you crying? Are you hurt?
” My eyes rake over her, looking for injury.
Did someone pass away? Coach is fine. He was at dinner earlier.
Is it her mom? My hands rest against her cheeks as I wipe at her tears with my thumbs, but it’s no use because they keep falling unchecked.
“Bell.” My voice cracks. “Baby, tell me what’s wrong? Please,” I plead with her. Her tears are tearing my heart to shreds. She shakes her head, more tears falling, so I turn to ask the others what the fuck is going on, but we’re alone. The room is clear of everyone but us.
Standing, I sit next to her on the couch and pull her onto my lap. She comes willingly, snuggling close as she rests her head against my shoulder. My arms band around her, holding her with all I’ve got.
“I don’t know what’s wrong, but whatever it is, we’ll face it together,” I tell her. “Can you at least tell me, are you hurt?” I scanned her for injuries and didn’t see anything, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t miss it. Maybe it’s a pain I can’t see.
“No.” Her voice cracks. “I’m not hurt.”
“Fuck,” I say, holding her tighter. “Whatever it is, you can tell me. I’m right here, and I’ve got you. We’ll get you through this. Tell me what’s causing these tears, Bell. You’re breaking my heart, baby.”
“I got some news earlier,” she says, not lifting her head from my shoulder.
“Okay. What can I do? What do you need from me?” I don’t know what I’m dealing with here. I want to tell her that whatever it is, I’ll handle it. “Whatever it is, we’ll handle it together. You and me,” I assure her.
“You don’t even know what it is,” she says, her voice soft.
“I don’t care. It involves you, and you’re important to me. I’ll do anything I can to help you through whatever this is. You have to talk to me, though. I can’t help you if I don’t know what I’m dealing with.”
“What if it’s something that will change both our lives?” she asks.
“Will you still be in my life?” I ask her.
“Yes.”
“Then, let it change them. You’re the only thing I won’t change.”
“What do you mean?” she asks, lifting her head to stare at me with those big brown eyes. They’re misty with tears, and the sparkle is dulled. I hate it.
“I mean that you’re the only thing in my life I’m not willing to walk away from,” I tell her honestly.
I keep one arm wrapped around her, while the other palms her cheek.
“I mean, I don’t want to lose you.” Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t speak, so I keep going.
“I fell for you on an evening stroll on the beach. With each minute that passed, I fell harder. We talked, we laughed, and you saw me. I see you, too, baby,” I tell her.
“So, yeah, as long as whatever it is doesn’t mean I’ll lose you, then it’s all going to be okay.
Whatever it is that’s causing these tears, we’ll face it together. ”
“I didn’t expect you, Reid Montgomery. You crashed into my life like a tornado without warning, and you’re flipping the script for everything I thought I knew.”
“I won’t apologize for that. Meeting you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” More tears well in her eyes, and I curse myself for causing them.
“I believe you,” she whispers. “It goes against everything I ever said I would do, but I trust you, and I believe you.”
“Yeah?” I ask. My heart starts to race. “Does that mean you’re going to stop fighting me? Are you going to let me show you that we’re good for one another?”
“I have to tell you first. You might change your mind,” she says, biting down on her bottom lip.
Gently, I tug her lip free as I lean forward and press a soft kiss to her lips. “Nothing you could say is going to make me change my mind. Nothing,” I tell her, peering deep into her eyes, willing her to believe me.
“I’m scared to tell you. For the first time in my life, I want to break my own rules. For you.”
“Fuck breaking the rules, Bell. Destroy them. I am not him,” I say, referring to her father. “There will never be a time in our lives that I don’t put you first. Not ever.”
More tears spill. “I want to believe that.”
“Give me a chance to prove it to you.”
“How are you going to do that?” she asks.
“Move in with me.” I blurt out the words, but I don’t regret them.
“What?” Her mouth hangs open in shock.
“Move in with me. My schedule is insane, but you’ll be there every night when I get home. And when I’m traveling, I’ll know you’re in our bed. I’ll know that you’re with me, even when you’re not.”
Her voice cracks, “You want me to move in with you?”
“Yes.” No hesitation. The more I think about coming home to her, falling asleep next to her every single night, the idea sparks hope inside my chest. Is this fast?
Yes, it is, but am I certain she’s who I want?
Also, yes. There’s no timeline for this kind of thing, and I don’t care if it’s today or six years from now—it will still be here.
My night with her changed me, and no matter what her answer is, that truth will remain the same.
“That’s a big step.”
“These are big feelings,” I say, taking her hand and pressing it over my heart. “I’ve never been indecisive. I make a choice, and that’s it. That’s what I want.”
“And I’m your choice?”
I smile at her. “Yeah, Bell, you’re my choice. Do this with me. Give us a real chance at this.”
“I have to tell you first. You might change your mind,” she says again, her eyes closing briefly before they open again.
“Try me.”
She takes a deep breath, slowly exhales, and her words, “I’m pregnant,” change my world.
It takes about three seconds for her words to register, and I pull her into my chest, hugging her as tightly as I can. It’s probably too tight, considering she’s carrying precious cargo, but fuck me. We’re having a baby.
Finally, I ease up, and she pulls back. She’s sobbing again, and I swallow a lump of emotions in the back of my throat, because fuck, I’m going to be a dad. “We’re having a baby,” I say, my voice gruff.
She nods. “But you can take it all back,” she says. “I don’t expect anything or need anything from you. I can do this on my own—”
I place my hand over her mouth. “Don’t. Don’t insult me like that.
This is my baby, Bell. Our baby. He or she needs me, and so do you.
You won’t do a single fucking thing on your own from now on.
It’s you and me. Together. We’ve got this,” I say, then my mind goes another direction.
“You—” I swallow hard because fuck, I can’t even say the words. “You want this baby, right?”
“I do. But I didn’t do this on purpose to trap you. I don’t want you to feel obligated.”
“I want it all, Bellamy. You, this baby, and the life we’re going to build.” Leaning in, I kiss her. “I.” Kiss. “Want.” Kiss. “You.” Kiss. “And our baby.” Kiss.
She accepts each kiss, which creates an intense spark of joy and hope for what our future could be together.
She’s no longer pushing me away. Fucking finally, she understands, we are meant to be.
I just want to stay right here, with her wrapped in my arms. I’ve managed to do the impossible, and I tore down her walls.