Chapter 27
DANIELLE
Istare at the phone between us, shaking my head as Blake stares numbly past me, swallowing hard.
“Play that again,” I whisper, my hands moving to the mattress on either side of me.
The words replay, the same as they did before, but they refuse to sink in.
My head feels like someone has driven an ax into it, and the shock isn’t helping my damn virus.
“All blood results are normal, so we know it’s a virus Danielle has. However, we detected high levels of HCG. It’s a hormone that indicates pregnancy in women. Give me a call when you get this so we can discuss the next steps.”
Blake drags his hand over his mouth, moving his stare to mine.
“Is he saying that…” I lick my lips, trying to form the words. “I’m pregnant?”
Blake nods, reaching for my hands. “I think so, baby.”
I try to work out his reaction, but he’s giving nothing away. His eyes are glazed, and he lifts his eyebrows to me.
“But…I’m on birth control.”
Blake shrugs, his thumbs stroking my hands. “It’s not one hundred percent, and we’ve been pretty obsessive with fucking, right?”
Blake cracks a smile, but I know he’s overthinking.
I have a baby growing inside of me?
This is not okay.
This was never part of my plan.
“I don’t want to be pregnant, Blake,” I confess, tears stinging my eyes.
Blake snaps his head up, a frown taking over his features as his mouth drops open. “What?”
Panic takes over, and I burst into tears. “I wanted my own business! I know we have yours, but I wanted to do it myself.” I inhale sharply, wiping my eyes on the sleeve of my pajamas. “Being a mom is…God…I don’t even know what I’m doing!”
I’m trembling, my stomach flipping repeatedly at the thought of having a baby.
Not just a baby, a baby with Blake.
What if he leaves me?
Any trust I have for him fades at his expression. The unreadable, blank expression that tells me nothing.
“I don’t want to be a single mom. Not unless I was successful—”
“Danni!” Blake presses his forehead against mine, clutching my fingers together in his. “Breathe, baby.”
But I can’t.
I’m spiraling out of control, images of a screaming baby and an absent father making me want to vomit.
“I could get a termination.”
Then everything can continue as normal. I took my birth control—never missed a damn shot. This isn’t fair.
This time Blake’s face changes, and his emotions are clear.
His eyes darken, narrowing at me as he shakes his head.
“Hang the fuck on, sweetheart. Why the hell would you assume you’d be a single mom? Are you planning on killing me?”
“What? No, but you with a baby, Blake? You’ve only just…” I wave my hand in the air as he captures it, pinning my hands to the bed.
“Danielle. You carrying our baby is amazing.”
I look up, biting into my lip as I shake my head.
“I respect your wishes, baby, but don’t make them thinking you’re gonna be alone in this because you’re not. Single mom, my ass; I’ve got you. For life.”
His words soothe me, but my emotions are everywhere.
Something slams into my brain, and my face drains of color.
Blake watches me, groaning.
“Fuck, what now?”
I can’t even say it.
I stare down at my stomach, wishing I could find the answer without telling a soul.
But what if?
“How do you know it’s yours?” I whisper, closing my eyes so I don’t have to see his reaction.
“Wow.” He whistles, letting out a shaky breath. “Are you serious right now?!”
I nod, tears spilling down my cheeks. “It could be Isaac’s.”
Blake tugs me close, kissing my tears away until he reaches my mouth, holding my face in his hands.
I take it all because I need it.
I need him to tell me it doesn’t matter.
“That baby is mine,” Blake growls, his head dropping to my stomach as he kisses it softly. “You’re mine, and this baby is mine.”
“Blake…”
Blake looks up at me, the hurt swirling in his eyes.
“I don’t care, Danielle, it’s my baby. Not his.”
My body aches, and I fall back into the bed, wishing I’d never touched Issac.
Blake tilts my chin so I’m staring at him beside me. “And we’ll make more, Danielle. We’ll fill this fucking house with children.”
My heart slams into my chest at the thought of our children running around the house.
Would they have Blake’s eyes?
My hair color or his?
“I want to work, Blake.”
Blake shrugs, his fingers pushing up my pajama top as he stares at my bare stomach.
“We’ll do it together. I don’t expect you to be a stay-at-home mom.”
I’ve never loved him so much as I do right now.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, burying my face into his neck. “I wanted us to have forever.”
“Danielle James, we will have forever. As a family.”
His words are everything to me, but I can’t help but wonder if he will still mean them when there’s dirty diapers and two a.m. wake-ups, not to mention sleep deprivation…
But the more I think about it, the more I get excited.
Could I be having Blake’s baby?
Fear strikes, and Issac’s face fills my mind.
Or am I having Issac’s?