When I push the door open, I smile at the sight of Kennedy and Roxie sprawled out on the bed together. Kennedy brushes Roxie’s coat with her fingers, her head rested on Roxie’s stomach as she pets the top of her head.
They look up at me when they hear me come in. Roxie perks up, waiting for me to pet her. Kennedy greets me with a warm smile.
My two girls together in one place. What can be better than this?
Sinking into the mattress, I snuggle up against Kennedy and pull her into my arms. Roxie sits up just enough to move back into her position next to Kennedy.
“What’s the matter, babe?” I whisper into her ear, taking it in my mouth to suck on the lobe.
“Mmm...” Her words die off in her throat for second before she finishes. “We need to have a serious conversation, Tyler.”
“Are you breaking up with me?” I have a hard time controlling my emotions, the word coming out like a whimper.
She peeks up at me. “No, silly, I love you, and I am not going anywhere. But I have something I need to tell you.” Pushing herself up with her palm, she looks me square in the eyes.
Nervous, I
reach out for her hand to give it a quick squeeze. “Tell me before I have a heart attack over here. The suspense is killing me.”
Without preparing me for what is about to come, she mutters, “I’m pregnant.”
Two words I never thought I would hear for a very long time, two words that ruined my life and my relationship with Payton. Two words that could ruin what I have with Kennedy. I have no idea how to process the information, all of my emotions hitting me at once. While I am happy, I cannot deny I am a little sad, the pain of the last pregnancy all too real and present in my life.
“You’re planning to keep the baby, right?”
Please say yes. I cannot go through the heartbreak another time.
She grins so wide I already know the answer. “Yes.”
That’s all I need to hear before my lips crash against hers, my tongue slipping inside her mouth. My tears run down my face as I kiss her, and I can taste the saltiness of them as I run my fingers through her hair, consumed by each kiss. I love this woman and our child growing inside her stomach, and I don’t even know him or her yet.
I break away from her long enough to wipe the tears streaming down her face with my hand. She does the same to me because I am a fucking wreck right now. After all the years of wanting a child and wishing things were different, I have another chance with the woman I love.
“Thank you, Ken,” I say, stroking her jaw with my fingers. “You are everything,” I reach down and touch her stomach over her shirt, “this baby is everything, and you have made me the happiest man. My life was nothing but hockey and sadness before I met you. Now I have something too valuable to lose.”
“I love you, too.” She’s crying so hard that her body is shaking. At least they’re happy tears. “We’re having a baby, Tyler. Can you believe this? We’re going to be parents.”
“We should get married,” I tell her and I mean it.
“I don’t want you to propose just because I’m pregnant. I want you to do it because you cannot live another day without me and have to make me your wife.”
“You are it for me, babe. And unfortunately for you, you are now stuck with me. I don’t want to spend another second without you.”
She giggles. “I want to be stuck with you, too.”
“I love you, Kennedy.” I kiss her softly on the lips, giving her a quick peck. “I’m serious. I want to marry you.”
“I love you, too. But ask me in a few months when I’m all fat and grouchy and sending you out to the store at midnight for pints of ice cream.”
“Are you turning me down?” I am shocked but also not surprised because this is typical for Kennedy.
“No. All I’m saying is that I would like for you to wait until the time is right.”
“Now is a bad time?”
“Yup. Let’s wait and see what the doctor says before we go planning a wedding. I called Dr. Stone on my way home. We have an appointment tomorrow to have blood work done to confirm the pregnancy.”
“So, it’s not a definite.” I am so confused.