Forever Her Cowboy (Always 1)

“Come.” Bunny nudges my elbow to go. I head back toward my bedroom. “I do not need to see that.” I look towards Daisy’s room to see Eric has her pressed up against the wall. Her mouth is swollen and red.

“Sorry?” Daisy offers. I grab her door and close it.

“Is it hard for you to see your little girl with a man?” I ask as I step into my room. Josh is on the floor putting together a bookcase for me. He looks up and gives us a smile that would make any girl weak in the knees.

“No. Not with Eric. I couldn't have wished for a better man for her. They fit.” They really do. “Can you give us a minute, Josh?” Bunny asks him as he stands.

“Yeah.” He kisses his mom on her cheek before planting one on me.

“You can’t kiss me in front of your mom,” I hiss at him. Daisy just got in trouble, but she was doing more than kissing.

“I’ll kiss you whenever I want.” He doesn't wait for a response before heading out of the bedroom, shutting the door behind him.

“He’s so much like his father.” Pride fills her voice. Jameson is a good man who loves his family fiercely. Bunny walks over to the bed, sitting down on the end. “You know you’re like a daughter to me too, Noelle. You’ve been in our lives a long time.” I have. Since kindergarten. I spent as much time as I could at their house, not wanting to go home to mine.

“That’s really sweet of you to say.” I sit down next to her.

“I mean that, sweetheart. From the look of things my son is going to make that official at some point.” I don't want to get ahead of myself, but hearing her say it makes hope bloom inside of me.

“Maybe.” I shrug. Bunny keeps on staring at me. I swear the woman can read minds or something.

“No maybe about it.”

I lick my bottom lip. It would be a dream to marry Josh. I just don’t want him to rush it when he finds out I’m pregnant. I want him to want to get married because he loves me. Not because we’re having a baby. Look where that got my parents.

She takes my hand. “You can tell me anything. It will stay between us. So please spill whatever it is that has given you that worried look in your eyes.”

I swallow, my eyes stinging with tears. “Josh and I didn't just start this thing between us this week,” I admit.

“I know. I watched him pull you through the house and right past me.” Right. She’d been standing in the kitchen.

“I’m pregnant.” I blurt it out. As the words leave my mouth it already feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

“And Josh doesn't know?” she asks with a giant smile on her face, not looking the least bit upset about my confession. I shake my head no. “Are you scared to tell him? I can promise you he’ll be excited.” I want to tell her that I’m scared that he’ll want me for the wrong reasons.

“Everything is so new. I don’t want anything to change yet.”

“It’s normal to feel scared, but the sooner you tell him I bet those fears will fade away quickly.” I know she’s probably right. “But if you want to wait a few weeks also, sweetheart, you can. There isn't a rush.”

“You’re so calm about this.” I wipe my hands on my pants.

“It might be happening sooner than everyone might have thought it would, but that really doesn't matter to us.”

“Thank you for being so understanding. My mom would have murdered me.”

Bunny purses her lips and I know she’s fighting to stay calm. “Well, your mom’s a bitch.” My mouth falls open in shock before I burst out laughing. She’s not wrong there. “I’m sorry, honey. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that, but you’ll be a Price soon. Heck, you already are. And I get that you have a mom, but I’d like a shot at it too.”

“Bunny.” I sniffle. I can’t stop the few tears that escape.

“Sweetheart.” She hugs me. “You know I love you.” She kisses my cheek, holding me tight. This is how a mom is supposed to hug you. This is how a family is supposed to support you. Even when something unexpected happens.

“I love you too.”

She pulls back, wiping the tears from off my cheeks. “So stop worrying. Take your time. I promise everything is going to be okay.” I think she might be right. When I look over, she’s still wearing the most warm and excited smile. I’ll be shocked if she’s able to keep this from Jameson.

“Thanks, Bunny. You’re going to be the best grandma.” This time it’s her that gets teary-eyed.