Just Getting Started (Fair Lakes 2)

Her shoulders sag. “Yeah. Gwen suggested it, but I don’t know.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Her eyes fill with tears. “You’ve been through so much. From thinking you were his father, to finding out you’re his uncle. I didn’t want to add something else to the plate, especially if I’m not. This really could just be the flu.”

“Gabby.” My hand slides behind her neck as I hold her gaze. “If it concerns you, I want to know about it.”

“You’ve been through so much,” she says softly.

“I know, baby, but you’ve been right there with me. Through every second of this, you have been by my side. Let me be there for you too.”

“Are you mad?”

“Mad? Why would you ask that? Of course I’m not mad. If you are pregnant, you didn’t do it on your own. Besides, I want babies with you.” I shrug. “What do we do? Do we need to go to the doctor?”

“No, if I am pregnant and I’m already getting sick, it will show up on a pregnancy test. But, Chase, if I am, it’s really early, like really early,” she repeats.

“Okay.”

“Well, things could happen, and I just… it’s early.”

“Hey.” I lean in, resting my forehead against hers. “No matter what happens, we’re in this together. You and me. Side by side. Okay?”

“Okay.” She gives me a watery smile.

“Now, what do I need to buy? I’m going to get a test or five.” I stand and run my fingers through my hair.

“Now? We have to be at your parents’ for dinner.”

“Yes, now, we have a couple of hours before we have to be there. It will put both of our minds at ease. Now, tell me what I need to buy.”

“I’ll go. You stay here with Milo.”

“You sure you feel up to it?” Her color is back, but I don’t want her getting sick again while she’s gone.

“Yes. I’m fine,” she says as there’s a knock at the door.

Rising to my feet, I make my way to the door and pull it open. “Gwen, hey,” I greet my future sister-in-law.

“Here.” She shoves a bag at me. “Tell her to pee on these.” She grins, winks, and jogs back to her car.

“Thank you,” I call after her. She simply waves over her shoulder before getting back behind the wheel and backing out of the drive.

“Who is it?” Gabby asks from behind me.

I shut the door and turn to face her, the bag from the local pharmacy in my hands. “That was your sister. She shoved this at me and told me to tell you to pee on these.” I hand her the bag as a flush coats her cheeks.

“Okay then. Well, I guess I’ll just… um, go do that.” She turns on her heel and rushes back to the bedroom. I follow her and barely get my foot in the door before she tries to shut me out. “What are you doing, Chase?”

“We’re in this together, Gabby.”

“I appreciate that. Really, I do. However, can I at least pee on the stick in private?”

“I’ve seen all of you.”

“That’s not the point.” She stomps her foot like a toddler and crosses her arms, and I grin.

“What is the point?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest, mirroring her. I don’t want her to be alone when she finds out.

“The point is that I’m going to shut this door, open one of these boxes, because from the weight of this bag there is more than one, and this is Gwen we’re talking about. So, yeah, I’m going to open one of these boxes and then I’m going to piss on the little stick. I’m going to do that alone. I promise after I’ve washed my hands and all that, I’ll open the door and we can get the results together.”

“No.”

“Dammit, Chase.” She huffs out a breath.

I glance over my shoulder, where Milo is in his bassinet cooing. “I don’t want to miss a minute of this,” I confess. “I want to be there for you and for this baby every step of the way. That includes being witness to you pissing on a tiny stick that’s about to confirm we’re going to be parents.”

“What do you mean, confirm? This is a hunch, Chase, that’s all. Please don’t get your hopes up.”

“Too late. If it’s negative, we’ll just have to try harder next time.”

“We’re not trying. This was a slipup.”

“We are now. And never call our baby a slipup. It’s fate. This was all meant to happen.”

“Chase Callahan, what am I going to do with you?” she asks, and even though I know she doesn’t want an answer, I’m going to give her one anyway.

“You’re going to love me, baby. You know why?”

“Enlighten me?” She drops her hands to her sides as I step closer. My chest pressing against hers, eliminating the space between us. “We’re just getting started.” I wink and pull away. “Now, do you need a bottle of water or anything? Maybe I should turn on the faucet. I hear that helps when you need to go.”