It was better this way. He could get on with his life, and I could get on with mine. Our paths would never cross again. My heart would always bear the scars of our relationship, but in time, the scars would fade, and one day I might be able to think about him without feeling crestfallen.
For breakfast, I drank weak tea and managed to hold down some oatmeal. I listed out the things I needed to achieve before exhaustion took over for the day. I wanted to talk to a few more doctors and look at cribs and strollers—all the stuff I should’ve been doing with Shane.
After dressing and showering, I dropped my maternity planner into my bag and left the house. I was stepping into my car when Shane pulled up. My heart pitter patted, and my stomach somersaulted.
He walked up the driveway. His eyes were bloodshot and dark circles ringed his eyes. He looked like he hadn’t slept in a year.
“Can we talk?” He ran his fingers through his already messy hair.
“I think we both said more than enough yesterday.” My heart reached for him, but I snatched it back. He’d already rejected me once, and I wouldn’t allow him to reject me again.
“There’s a lot more to say.” He nodded toward the house. “Can we go inside?”
I crossed my arms. “I was on my way out. Whatever you need to say, you can say here.”
“I’m sorry for the way I acted towards you. I’m sorry for walking away from us. I had reasons, but none of them are valid. They’re stupid and pathetic, like me. We’re buying more strip clubs and want you to take over operations. You’ve got a good head for the business. Please say you’ll come back. Don’t leave me. But the thing I wanted to talk about most was us. I—I love you.”
I dry heaved and pressed a hand against my mouth. “This is all too much. Too overwhelming.” I swayed and leaned against the car.
Shane reached out to steady me. “Are you sick?”
I would have to tell him. He needed—deserved—to know the truth.
“You may change your mind about everything when I tell you this. You might tell me to get the fuck out of your life.” I lowered my hand from my mouth.
“What is it? You can tell me anything.”
“I’m pregnant.” He stood stone still. All the color draining from his face. “I’m one of those strippers who got herself pregnant.”
Shane’s shaking hands reached for mine. “You didn’t get yourself pregnant—we did. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry for everything. I don’t deserve you. But if you’ll take me back, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I want you, and I want our baby.”
He fell to his knees in front of me and brought my fingers to his lips. “Say you’re mine, Alyssa. Say yes. Make me the happiest man alive. I will never hurt you again. Without you, my life is nothing.”
I closed my eyes, but I couldn’t hold back my tears. “Yes,” I whispered. “Yes, I’ll marry you. I thought I’d never allow myself to fall in love. But you’ve shown me what it’s like to be happy and to be accepted. To know how good a man’s love feels. I love you, Shane, and want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
He stood and cupped his palms around my cheeks. “Forever starts right now.”
“Then we’d better get started.” I took his hand and led him into the house. “We have a lot to make up for. I need you to make love to me. I need you to take me to bed.”
He grinned. “I can do that.”
We ran upstairs to my bedroom and tore one another’s clothes off.
“You have no idea how much I’ve missed you,” he said, kissing me from head to toe. “You have no idea how much I ached to wake up beside you. To have you in my arms.”
“Believe me,” I whispered. “I do.”
We tumbled onto the bed, and I straddled his waist, brushing my wet slit backward and forwards over his cock.
He reached up, caught my swollen breasts in his hands, and swiped the pads of his thumbs over my puckered nipples.
“I think I’m going to like you pregnant.” He pinched my nipples hard, and I reared back.
“Me too. Being pregnant has left me super horny.” I grabbed his cock and slid down.
He gripped my hips and thrust upward. “I plan to fuck you every day for the rest of your life.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “I’ll hold you to that.”
He spread my folds and flicked my engorged clit until I gasped for breath. Reaching back, I cupped his balls and held them in my palm. Both of us groaned, losing ourselves to one another.