Chapter 14 Two Lines #2
But the moment he saw Riley, his expression softened.
"Hey."
"Hey."
Adrian set down his bag.
"How was your day?"
"Good."
He studied Riley.
"Are you okay?"
Riley nodded.
"Yes."
"You look nervous."
"I am."
Adrian stepped closer.
"Why?"
Riley held out the box.
"I got you something."
Adrian looked at it.
"For me?"
Riley nodded.
"Open it."
Adrian smiled.
"You didn't have to."
"I wanted to."
Adrian carefully opened the box.
He saw the card first.
Then the tiny shoes.
His smile disappeared.
He looked at Riley.
Then back at the box.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Riley's heart pounded.
Adrian slowly picked up the card.
He read the words.
You are already loved more than you know.
His eyes moved to the shoes.
Then to Riley.
His lips parted.
"Riley."
Riley couldn't stop smiling.
"We're having a baby."
Adrian went completely still.
The silence lasted only a few seconds, but to Riley it felt much longer.
Then Adrian's eyes filled with tears.
He dropped the card carefully onto the table and stepped forward.
Riley barely had time to react before Adrian wrapped his arms around him.
The embrace was almost overwhelming.
Adrian held him tightly.
Riley laughed through his own tears.
"We're having a baby."
"I heard you."
Adrian's voice broke.
Riley held him.
Adrian buried his face against Riley's shoulder.
"I can't believe it."
"I know."
"I can't believe it."
Riley smiled.
"It's real."
Adrian pulled back enough to look at him.
"Are you sure?"
Riley laughed softly.
"Yes."
"Did you take another test?"
"Yes."
"How many?"
"Two."
Adrian closed his eyes.
"Of course."
Riley laughed.
"I knew you'd ask."
"I'm a doctor."
"And I'm carrying your baby."
Adrian smiled through his tears.
"That too."
He touched Riley's face.
"How long have you known?"
"Since this morning."
"You've known all day?"
Riley nodded.
"Why didn't you call me?"
"I wanted to tell you properly."
Adrian's eyes filled again.
"You made me wait all day."
"I wanted to see your face."
Adrian shook his head, smiling.
"You really know me."
Riley leaned into his hand.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Adrian kissed him.
The kiss was gentle.
Almost reverent.
When they separated, Adrian looked at the gift box again.
He picked up the tiny shoes.
"They're so small."
Riley smiled.
"I know."
Adrian turned one shoe over in his hand.
"Our baby will wear these."
"Maybe."
Adrian looked at him.
"Definitely."
Riley laughed.
Adrian placed the shoe back into the box.
Then his expression changed.
He looked down toward Riley's stomach.
There was still no visible bump.
Riley was wearing a soft sweater that hid everything.
Adrian slowly reached toward him.
"Can I?"
Riley understood.
He nodded.
Adrian lowered himself carefully.
He knelt in front of Riley.
For a moment, he simply looked at him.
Then he placed both hands gently over Riley's still-covered stomach.
His palms were warm.
Riley's breath caught.
Adrian looked up at him.
Neither spoke.
Then Adrian lowered his gaze again.
"Hello, little one."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
Riley's eyes filled with tears.
Adrian smiled.
"It's Dad."
Riley laughed softly.
"You've already started."
"I think I'm allowed."
"You are."
Adrian kept his hands there.
"We've been waiting for you."
Riley touched Adrian's hair.
"We didn't know if you'd come so soon."
Adrian smiled.
"But you're here."
Riley nodded.
"You're here."
Adrian rested his forehead lightly against Riley's stomach.
Riley's fingers moved gently through his hair.
The moment was quiet.
No dramatic words.
No grand promises.
Just the two of them standing together in their home, beginning to understand that their family had already changed.
Adrian eventually stood.
He pulled Riley into another embrace.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"And I love our baby."
Riley smiled.
"I know."
Adrian held him close.
"Are you scared?"
Riley nodded honestly.
"Yes."
"Me too."
That admission made Riley feel better.
Adrian kissed his forehead.
"We'll figure it out."
"Together."
"Together."
They spent the evening sitting on the sofa with the tiny shoes between them.
Adrian asked questions.
Riley answered what he could.
They talked about appointments.
The pregnancy.
The nursery.
The studio.
The hospital.
Their schedules.
Everything seemed important.
Yet neither wanted to rush through the moment.
At one point, Adrian picked up one of the tiny shoes again.
He smiled.
"I never thought I'd have this."
Riley leaned against him.
"Neither did I."
Adrian looked at him.
"Thank you."
Riley smiled.
"For what?"
"For trusting me with this dream."
Riley's expression softened.
"You trusted me too."
Adrian kissed him.
They sat together until the room grew quiet.
The affirmation card remained beside the tiny shoes.
A message of care beside the first gift for their child.
Riley looked at them and smiled.
Their story had started with one exhausted man learning to accept tenderness.
Now that same man was kneeling before the person he loved, greeting the child they had created together.
The future was still uncertain.
There would be appointments, worries, changes, and difficult days.
But tonight, none of that mattered.
Tonight, they were simply two men holding each other and learning how it felt to become a family.
Adrian placed his hand over Riley's stomach once more.
"Goodnight, little one."
Riley smiled.
"Goodnight."
And for the first time, the home they had built together felt as though it was waiting for one more heartbeat to fill it.
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