Chapter 15 #3
“Hold on, Tiger,” Tanner said. “You need to let me get her seatbelt unfastened. You’re going to choke her.”
“Oh,” Kenzie said, looking slightly abashed. “Sorry about that.”
“You need to pay attention, Kenz,” Tanner scolded. “Don’t be so impatient.”
As soon as Tanner had Junie’s seatbelt unlatched, Kenzie grabbed her arm again. “Come on! The girls are all waiting in Kip and Trace’s room. We have snacks and everything!”
Tanner muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like “God protects fools, drunks, and Littles,” but Junie didn’t have time to process it.
Kenzie dragged her up the stairs, and as soon as they started toward Kip and Tanner’s room, the sound of excited female voices filled the air. Whatever Tanner had planned for her later would have to wait. At least for a little while, she wouldn’t have to face Tanner.
When they walked in, Kip was sitting on the edge of the big bed, looking pale and nervous, clutching a pregnancy test stick in her shaking hands as if it might bite her. Joy perched right beside her, rubbing Kip’s back in slow, soothing circles and whispering encouragement.
“Well, what does it say?” Tildi paced back and forth in front of them, unable to sit still, her hands waving excitedly. “If you are pregnant and it’s a girl, don’t name her Seraphina.”
That sparked an animated discussion about baby names and nursery ideas.
Poppy sat on her knees by the bed, practically bouncing with anticipation. All in all, the air buzzed with overlapping voices, nervous giggles, and the kind of hopeful energy that only a group of close-knit women could create.
Junie’s heart squeezed at the sight. This was what she had always wanted. A real family of women who showed up for each other.
Kip looked up, eyes wide. “I can’t look. Someone else do it.”
Tildi snatched the test from her. A moment later, she let out a happy squeal. “It’s positive! Kip, you’re pregnant!”
The room exploded. Kenzie and Poppy hugged Kip tight while Joy wiped happy tears from her eyes. Junie’s eyes stung, but this time they were tears of happiness. Kip was going to have a baby.
“Somebody better go tell Ruby,” Kip said. “I don’t want her to feel left out.”
Junie could already picture Kip’s belly growing round, Trace hovering over her like the protective Daddy he was, the whole family celebrating with ridiculous enthusiasm. But right there in the middle of all that joy, a small, secret ache twisted deep inside her chest.
She wanted that, too. Oh, not today. But someday. She wanted a baby, maybe lots of them, and a real family. But the most important part of this family was having Tanner as her Daddy. The longing hit so hard it made her breathless.
She could almost see it. Tanner resting his hand protectively on her swollen belly. A boy with Tanner’s stormy blue eyes and that same crooked, trouble-making grin, or a little girl with his dark hair and her own stubborn chin.
She could almost hear him murmuring low, sweet things to their babies while he rocked them in the middle of the night.
Don’t go wishing for things you don’t know for sure will happen.
That was a tall order when she wanted it so bad.
As if reading her mind, Kenzie turned to her with a knowing grin. “So… Tanner brought you to the ranch to ‘keep you safe’ until the danger passes, huh?”
Junie’s cheeks burned hot. “It’s just a precaution,” she said, the words rushing out too fast. “It’s not because he wanted me to move in. He’s just being careful.”
The girls all exchanged those knowing, amused looks that made her stomach do a nervous little flip.
Tildi laughed softly. “That’s what I said, too. Right before Boone moved me in and never let me leave.”
“Same,” Joy added gently. “Chance told me it was only ‘temporary’.”
Kip winked, eyes sparkling with mischief, her hand absently rubbing her still flat belly. “Welcome to the club, Junie. Once a Daniels man decides you’re his, there’s no going back.”
Junie’s heart gave a wild flutter of hope, then she shut it down with fear. Was it possible she could be waking up every morning tangled in Tanner’s sheets, hearing him call her “Cupcake” in that deep, rough morning voice while he pulled her closer.
Could lazy Sundays, his big hand resting on her belly, and his laughter filling the house really be in her future?
But the second she let herself picture it, the old fear reared its ugly head. She’d spent years longing after Tanner when he’d come back home, waiting for him to notice her. Although they were definitely headed in the right direction, nothing was set in stone.
What if she let herself believe it? What if she opened her heart that wide again, only for him to realize one day that she wasn’t enough? That she was too much trouble, too needy, too… her.
“Well?” Kip prompted, still waiting for an answer to her question. “Don’t you think Tanner wants you as his Little girl?”
Junie forced a bright, shaky smile. “We’ll see.”
She was trying really hard not to count on anything, but deep down, a tiny, stubborn, hopeful little voice kept whispering.
Maybe… just maybe… they’re right.