Chapter 13 #2
The fear I had is fading away bit by bit.
“Our daughter,” he repeats. “I get the keys for my place tomorrow since it was an all-cash offer and the former owners were already out. I have movers ready to pack up what you need, I have all the furniture… wait, except the baby furniture.” He’s making a mental note that he forgot something.
This is another side of Vaughn. I’m still in a trance.
“I really don’t have a choice in this matter and guilt is taking over.
Plus, I really need to nest for the baby.
I was waiting for my baby shower next week to get everything in order.
We were supposed to have it a few weeks ago but had to postpone due to a lot of us out with the flu,” I point out blankly.
Vaughn pinches the bridge of his nose. “I’m not entirely sure what a baby shower entails, but fine. Look, we focus on the baby, but damn, Isla…” His look is now stern. “I didn’t sleep, I’m still numb, and you really fucking hurt me by keeping this all a secret.”
“Crap, oh no, we keep using bad word choices, and the baby can hear us.”
“Really? We’re still on that?” His tone is mundane.
He’s right, it’s silly. I comb my fingers through my hair. “I can say sorry a thousand times. I was scared, and every time it just didn’t seem the right moment.”
His look isn’t changing, he’s not impressed. “My cock inside of you while you were bouncing on my dick in my car didn’t seem like the right moment? We could be as intimate as can be, yet you couldn’t share the news?” he dryly highlights the replay of events.
Taking relaxing breaths, I remind myself to keep my debate from boiling up. My hands begin to rub my belly as I think of the best way to move on from this topic.
“Look, as much as I am ready to do this all on my own if needed, I still feared you wouldn’t want to be involved. I’m sorry. It is what it is.” I swim my eyes away from him because I can’t handle seeing the disappointment on his face.
It takes a few seconds before he responds. “Like I said, that issue still needs to simmer down inside of me. We should just focus on the baby.”
“I agree.”
A butterfly feeling flutters underneath my ribs before a hard nudge hits me from within. It causes me to smile, as it has done every single time.
“What’s wrong?” Vaughn moves to touch me, with panic appearing in his posture.
“Relax, she must be awake now and is just letting me know. Or it was the sugar kick from the ice cream.” I keep my hand steady on my belly to feel her shuffling her little feet inside of me.
Vaughn seems unsure what to do.
Without thought, I grab his hand and bring it to the spot where he will feel her.
“That little jab against your hand is her kicking. They say it will slow down once she is ready to rumble in her life outside of the womb. Her space is getting limited, so it restricts her from moving the way she did a few weeks ago.”
The warmest of smiles begins to stretch on his mouth. “Wow, she has strength.”
“Tell me about it. When she decides to kick me in the ribs at two in the morning, I’m wondering if she’s trying to escape already.”
I close my eyes for a moment and take in the fact that Vaughn’s hand is firmly planted against my body to feel the baby we created. Something about this feels promising… and special.
“Does it hurt?” he asks while he stares at my stomach to see the little pops of a foot from inside of me.
“Nah, it’s more of an ow that’s quick and just makes you laugh.”
“I guess we have to think of a name other than baby or she,” he mentions.
Is this happening? Is Vaughn Madden really sitting next to me, touching my body and promising he will be involved?
I hate how buried emotions that aren’t even his doing prevent me from fully believing him, but everything from the last few minutes gives me a little hope.
“A name, packing her hospital bag, installing the car seat, and ensuring the baby stroller is ready are all on my list. I have some stuff stored in my spare room.”
Vaughn can’t tear his eyes away from the spot where she kicked, even though she has stopped moving for a solid minute.
“Wow… so this is really happening.” He blows out another breath.
“You said the hurricane was nothing to worry about; turns out that it was way more than that.” I point to my stomach while his hand moves away to rake through his hair.
The corners of his mouth twist. “Guess so.”
We stare at one another in an intense way that’s filled with a lingering attraction, maybe even heightened because anger and fear tend to fuel it even more.
Vaughn clears his throat before he stands. “I need to head to the training arena.”
“Sure. I’m just doing a few things on my laptop today.”
“Good, you should take it easy. I guess I’ll need to keep an eye on you.”
My eyes bug out as I stand. “Vaughn, I’m an independent woman who won’t tolerate a possessive man.” It comes out a little too bouncy, and in truth, I kind of like it.
He chortles a sound before his smirk returns.
“I beg to differ. You will absolutely tolerate it. You don’t have a choice.
I mean it, Isla. I’m not going to play a game.
My mind is clear that I’m a little wounded from the secret you kept, but I’m choosing to focus on what matters.
You’re carrying our baby, and that’s what matters right now. ”
I nod gently and roll my lips in response.
His eyes draw a line up and down my body for a once-over before he begins to walk away. “It’s also fucking annoying that even in this situation, this attraction around us doesn’t seem to fade.”
A sly smile hits me. “Tell me about it,” I respond softly in the same casual tone he used.
“Within three days you better be in my house,” he calls out without throwing me a glance.
When he leaves, he is like the breeze that blows through a house on a summer day; chilly at first but then a welcome relief.
Let’s just hope it stays that way.