Broken Hearts (Light in the Dark 5)

“That you’re a fucking warrior,” he repeats with a grin. “You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

My hair falls forward, hiding my face. “I don’t think so.”

He pushes the hair behind my ear. “Trust me, I’d never lie to you, in fact I think I’m considered brutally honest at times.”

“How’d I get so lucky with you?” I breathe.

“Lucky? I’m a fucking handful. I’d say you were cursed.”

I laugh. “Cursed. Blessed. Same thing.”

I finish my toast and clean up. I stifle a yawn and Jace grabs my hand. “Come on, let’s get you in bed.”

He drags me over to our bedroom and rifles through the dresser drawers, pulling out a pair of pajamas. I’m not surprised when he pulls out a tight t-shirt and shorts. He loves seeing my belly.

“Arms up,” he demands.

I do as he says and let him strip me of my clothes before he helps me into the pajamas he picked.

“You. Bed. Now. And no hanky panky so don’t get any ideas,” he warns.

“Me? Ideas? Never?” I gasp as he pulls back the covers and all but pushes me into the bed before covering me back up.

He takes off his shirt and kicks off his jeans, climbing into bed beside me and curling his body around mine. He presses his lips to the skin where my neck meets my shoulders and his hand goes to my belly.

I sigh contently. Right here, I finally have everything I’ve ever wanted.

A family of my own.

Jace

When you want life to move slow so you can enjoy and embrace every moment, that’s when it decides to speed the fuck up, everything passing by in a blur.

Nova’s hand squeezes mine as we ride up in the elevator to her doctor’s office. She bounces on the balls of her feet with nervous excitement.

She bites her lip and looks up at me. “What do you think the baby is?”

“Girl,” I answer resolute. “I’m positive.”

“Really?” She raises a brow.

“What?” I probe. “You don’t think so?”

She shakes her head. “I honestly don’t have a gut feeling for either. I guess since I already had a boy I see myself more with a son than a daughter, but I’d be happy either way.”

The elevator dings happily and we step out. Nova goes to sign in and I take a seat.

The room is full of women in all stages of pregnancy, a few spouses and partners, and even a couple of kids running around.

Nova comes and sits down beside me. I immediately put my hand on her belly. I can’t help it. I haven’t felt the baby move yet, but Nova is beginning to feel flutters, just no big kicks yet.

Nova looks up at me, her brown eyes bright and happy. “We’re going to find out if we’re having a son or daughter, it’s … crazy.”

“Life’s crazy,” I reply.

Life is a series of ups and downs, goods and bads, epic fucking moments, and ones that shatter you to pieces. This is an epic fucking moment. It’s one of those moments that changes your life and there are very few moments like that.

“Novalee Clarke,” they call thirty minutes later—because doctor’s offices like to make you arrive fifteen minutes early and wait double the time.