I Never Expected You (I Never 2)

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course.” Why would he ever think otherwise?

Zach stands and reaches for my hand, pulling me to my feet. As we make our ways down the steps and toward the Jeep, I look back at the house.

“Should we let them know where we’re going?”

Zach opens the passenger door for me. “Nah, they’ll be okay.”

Once I’m seated, he closes the door before running around to the driver’s side. Where are we going? I know better than to ask him again. I know he won’t tell me. Zach reaches for my hand and presses his lips against my knuckles, sending sparks up my spine.

“Ready to go?”

I nod.

On the way down to my parents’, I was excited to see the sign that the carnival, the same one we always went to as kids, was in town. This was what we needed—an escape. It has been so stressful for both of us, preparing for the wedding and the baby. It has brought up plenty of emotions for both of us with the realization that one significant person will not be present for both big events in our lives. I miss Em every day, but it hurts more around the big moments. My daughter will never get to know what it’s like to be spoiled by her uncle Em, Haylee will never get to dance with her brother at her wedding, and I will never get to hear what his best man speech would have been—I know it would have kicked ass. I know both of those weigh heavy on my fiancée’s heart, as it does mine.

“What are we doing here?” Haylee asks as I escort her out of the Jeep.

“You’ll see, baby girl.” I lace my fingers with hers, and we make our way toward the entrance.

I watch the color flow back in her cheeks, and I know I made the right decision bringing her here. As we pass the funnel cake stand, her eyes widen.

I lean down and whisper in her ear, “Don’t worry, there is plenty of time for that, but first thing’s first.”

I stand behind her in line at the Ferris wheel and place my hands on her hips, pulling her slightly back toward me. “I wanted to remind you of where it all began.”

When the cart stops and the attendant waves us over, I let her take a seat first before sitting next to her. I wrap my arm around her and transport back to the first time we were on a Ferris wheel when we both trying to figure out what was happening between us. She snuggles into my chest.

“I promise to protect you.” My words to her from that night replay in my head. I will always protect her. There are moments, like the one today, that I know we cannot avoid. I hate that it feels like I can’t do anything to help her. This was the best I could come up with—an escape from the overwhelming feeling of everything going on in our lives.

We are silent on the ride up, and of course, we stop at the very top again. This time, Haylee relaxes more into my arms.

“Thank you. I needed this.” She peers up at me with her blue eyes.

I brush a stray piece of her hair behind her ear before my thumb strokes the soft skin of her cheek. “Sometimes, we need to take a moment and escape the chaos to remember that it’s just you and me. Never forget that.”

Haylee rests a hand on her belly, and my heart warms.

“Well, I guess it’s not just us anymore,” I add, realizing that in just a few short months we will become a family of three officially with the arrival of our little girl. A smile spreads across my face at that thought—our little girl.

“Nope. You ready for a family?” She looks back up at me.

“More than ever.” I press a kiss to her forehead.

We sit in silence and look at our surroundings, but the peacefulness is over when Haylee clutches her stomach, a look of panic across her face.

“Oh my God! Hails, are you okay?”

The look of panic fades, and the brightest smile appears. “I’m more than okay. I think she just kicked.”

My eyes grow wide. “Really?”

She nods, her eyes filled with tears, this time of joy, not sadness. She reaches for my hand and places it over her belly. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to feel for. Does it—

“Woah! Was

that it?”