“I’m so sorry for not saying anything in the office,” I repeat once we are in the living room. “I wanted to tell you that I’m happy but I was just so shocked. I didn’t know what to say…”
“Yeah, I’m shocked as well.” She smiles and nods knowingly. “I guess we didn’t think of protection…”
“I did… I always do…” I insist. “But I don’t remember…”
“It doesn’t always work anyway,” she replies with a shrug. “So, I suppose it doesn’t matter now. I’m pregnant and we’re having a baby. It’s shocking for sure, but… I don’t know, also kinda good news, don’t you think?”
“Oh my God, yes.” I grab her and hug her, no longer waiting for permission. “It’s such good news. We both have lost people so close to our hearts. It seems only right for us to bring a new life in to the world.”
“Exactly.” Jill lifts her head up to smile at me. As I stare into her eyes, I can see exactly why I fell in love with her in the first place. Her eyes are filled with warmth and love. “I guess this means that we both should finally have a conversation about us.”
I let out a little laugh. The conversation about us has been looming for a very long time.
“Well, I think that I have made myself clear, right? I am all for us. I don’t want to worry about fate anymore. Me and you have always been in love. We couldn’t stay away from one another when we were teenagers, even when we thought that it wasn’t the best idea, and it’s the same now, we have always been destined to be together.” I run my fingers lightly down her cheek. “I don’t want to waste another day being apart.”
“I don’t want that either.” This time as the tears stream down her cheeks, they look like happy tears. “I’m sorry if it seemed like I pushed you away when Dad died, I was messed up.”
“Hey, don’t worry.” I press my finger lightly to her lips to stop her from saying anything else. “I understand. If anyone can understand how strange grief is, it’s me.”
We both think back to the moment at Sadie’s funeral where I was a massive dick to Jill. I can see the shadow of the memory on her face just as it crosses through my mind. I was an asshole. At least when Jill pushed me away, she did it with such kindness that it makes me feel worse.
But we have survived every single storm that has come our way. We can do this.
“So, we’re really going to give it a go now, huh?” she smirks. “You and me. We’re going to have a baby. Wow, that’s going to be intense, plus, we work together…” All of a sudden, horror strikes her. “Oh my God, I think that Sam was asking me out earlier and I didn’t answer.”
A strike of jealousy grabs me. “We are going to have to go public then. Sam needs to know.”
She nudges me playfully in the side. “You don’t need to worry about Sam. He’s no threat to you.”
She’s right, of course. I mean, we have history, we have been through so much together. Sam can’t even begin to compete with that, but if I am going to have Jill, then I want everyone to know.
“I love you so much,” I murmur as I lean down to kiss her. “I always have, Jill.”
She leans into the kiss. She needs me just as much as I do her which only makes my heart race faster. The butterflies in the pit of my stomach expand.
“I love you too,” she whispers with her fingers not knotted up in my hair. “So freaking much. But I’m tired from being on my feet all day. It’s been a long day, and I don’t know about you, but I am ready for bed.” Her eyes twinkle. I can see that she doesn’t mean for sleep. “So, are you coming?”
Now that is a suggestion I’m not going to turn my back on. “Sounds good to me.”
Chapter 27 – Jill
Is this really happening? His hands are all over me, touching me and I love it.
“Jill,” he murmurs into my throat, devouring my skin as if it’s the only meal he’s ever had. “I am so fucking lucky to have you.” His hands cup my now naked butt and he squeezes. “You are everything.”
His words do something to me, they cause me to salivate with need, a new need that I haven’t experienced in a very long time. In fact, the last time this happened was when I turned up early to meet Sadie and she was still with Warren so me and Garrett found ourselves with a spare half hour to explore each other.
That time, the secrecy of the whole thing was a bit of a turn on, but now it’s knowing how real it is.