February

Familiar lips pressed a kiss to my forehead. I blinked the remnants of sleep away and smiled at Jim. "Leaving already?"

"Yeah, and hating that I need to. I left you some coffee on the counter, okay? And there's yogurt in the fridge." He ran his fingers through my hair and pecked the top of my head. "Okay. Gotta run. Have a great day, baby."

"Have a great show."

"Thanks." Jim winked, showing his arms in the sleeves of a leather jacket. "See you tonight."

As soon as the front door clicked shut, I threw the covers aside and padded to the bathroom to get ready, and thirty minutes later, I was opening the door of Declan's Toyota.

"Good morning." He grinned as I fumbled with the seat belt in the backseat. "Office?"

"Hi, Dec. Harris Memorial," I said. "I'm meeting my friend for breakfast."

He turned the key in the ignition, humming the tune of a rock song that broke the quiet in the car.

We didn't talk much on the drive to the hospital. Somehow, Dec turned into my chauffeur, and although I didn't think it was necessary, I chose not to argue with Jim. He had too many things on his plate, and the truth was, so did I. Especially now.

The car slowed, entering the parking lot. Dec left it in a vacant spot and swiveled his head, resting his gaze on my face. "Don't rush, okay? Take your time. I'll wait."

"I can text you when I'm done, and you can pick me up," I said, hoping he'd take me up on the offer. Partly because I didn't know how long the whole thing would take but also because I felt weird knowing someone was waiting for me when I used to be independent not so long ago.

Declan shook his head. "I'll wait, but forget I'm here. I have a book to read and coffee to drink."

I grabbed my purse, and Dec got out of the vehicle. He opened the door for me, and as I made a few steps forward, I realized he was behind me.

"The entrance is right here," I said, halting.

He pulled his baseball cap lower. "I know. This is my morning workout."

Dozens of thoughts spun in circles in my brain as I said goodbye to Dec and headed into the hospital. Some revolved around Jim's obsession with the random black car and my safety, but some had a lot to do with my visit to Harper.

When I exited the elevator on her floor, my hands shook, and I felt cold despite my oversized sweater.

As if sensing I was near, she swung the door of her office open and ushered me inside. "Come in."

"Hi." I kissed her cheek and stepped over the threshold. "How's it going?"

Harper grinned. "So far, so good, but it's only nine a.m. Let's sit."

I plopped into a gray chair in front of her desk, blowing a breath. "You must be wondering why I'm here."

She gathered some pages and put them in a neat pile next to the cactus I gave her last month. "Because you missed me, and we're so busy we hardly see each other these days."

I swallowed, toying with the strap of my purse. "That too. But also, I'm ten days late."

Harper's chocolate eyes widened. She sat slowly, looking at me as if she was expecting me to yell I was kidding and jump off the chair, throwing my hands up sitcom-style.

She typed something on the keyboard and glanced at me. "Ten."

"Yes."

"Did you forget to take your pill?"

I slumped in my seat. "I was sick last month, and I think I skipped it once when I spent the whole day sleeping. I didn't do a test yet."

Harper steepled her hands together, smiling at me. "It's okay. We'll do one now. A blood test, too, to be a hundred percent sure. Jim knows nothing yet, right?"

I chuckled. "He'd be here if he did. This coward couldn't tell him. It's enough that I have a bodyguard now. I don't want to fuel Jim's overprotectiveness."

Harper rose to her feet, smoothing the front of her lab coat. "That's cute, though. And I understand why he worries. I'll call Jane."

Jane, Harper's nurse, took my blood sample and went to the lab while Harper told me to pee. When I was done, she took the stick, and we returned to her office.

"Do you feel anything unusual?" she asked.

"Nothing. I guess it's too early."

"Nervous?"

I glanced at the culprit lying on top of a white page. "Terrified. Not because I don't want to, you know? I do because I know Jim's the one. He would be happy, and..."

"He will be happy." Harper reached for my hand and squeezed my fingers before handing me the test. "Congratulations."

I stared at the two red lines that blurred because of the moisture flooding my eyes. "Oh my God."

Harper wiped the tears off my cheeks. "I have some time now. Let's have coffee or tea while we wait for the blood test results, but I'm pretty sure they'll say the same thing."

***

We grabbed some lattes and strolled along the empty park alley opposite Harris Memorial while the unsuspecting Declan sat reading in his Toyota.

"Funny how fast your life can change, huh?" Harper said, lifting the lid of her cup and blowing at the scorching liquid.

"No kidding. I think I'm still in shock. I mean, I'm not that naive. It was a possibility."

Especially when two people who loved each other had lots of sex any chance they could.

"It'll be a wonderful change, Ava. Let's sit."

We sat on a bench under an oak tree. I took small sips of my decaf, trying to inhale lungfuls of the fresh air and calm down.

"Should I be freaking out more?" I asked Harper. "Be honest. Should I cry and be scared of my career ending? My dad was approximately my age when my mother got pregnant."

Harper drew an arm around my shoulders. "You have a loving partner, and your career won't suffer because you can write anywhere and you have Jim's support. Plus, your boss values you. She'll understand if you need to take a break."

I averted my eyes to the vacant bench on my left. "And I'm not my mother."

"Ava." Harper's tone turned softer. "Of course, you're not her. You aren't your dad, either. You are you. This is your life, and so far, all your decisions have been sensible."

"Hope Dad isn't too shocked when I tell him," I said. "But I'll wait for the results, and I need to tell Jim first."

***

As Harper suspected, the blood test confirmed what the other one said. I went home with supplements to take and a mix of dread and excitement in my insides.

The hours dragged, and my hopes of being productive turned to dust. I couldn't get the words out, and studying was useless, so I read on the couch until it was time to make dinner.

Jim texted me several times throughout the day. The band was playing at a club in Venburn to promote their new single, and he'd drive back as soon as the show was over.

It was after midnight when Jim unlocked our apartment door and strolled in, halting when he saw me in the foyer doorway.

"Baby? What are you doing up?"

"Waiting for you," I said, sliding my arms around his waist.

Jim rubbed my back, sighing. "I told you not to. It's late."

"Are you hungry?"

He pressed his lips to mine once and then once more. "Very. I want you naked."

Laughing, I rubbed my nose along his jaw. "Jim. I need to talk to you first."

Something similar to worry crossed his features.

I shook my head. "No. I'm good. No strange cars. Promise. Let's go to our room."

I had no clue how to break the news, even after watching tons of videos featuring loving couples and guys crying as they held positive pregnancy tests. I sat on our bed and waited for Jim to wash his hands.

He exited the en suite and lowered himself onto the bed beside me. "You're making me nervous, cute little thing."

"I went to see Harper today," I blurted. "Because of this."

I reached behind my back and took the life-changing stick. As I put it on Jim's lap, his gaze snapped to mine.

He paled, staring at it. "Ava."

"I did the blood test, too. I'm pregnant," I whispered as if there was a possibility of Jim not knowing what the two now faint red lines meant.

"You're..."

I was about to repeat the same words to him, but he pinched the bridge of his nose, and I threw my arms around his neck, tears gathering in my eyes. "Jimmy..."

He exhaled, running a palm over his eyes. "Fuck, baby, this is..."

"Are you happy?"

Jim wrapped me in his arms, the scent of his cologne and his warmth soothing my nerves. "How could I not be? Please don't tell me you were scared of telling me. Fuck, why didn't you tell me this morning?"

"Because I wanted to be sure," I mumbled into his neck. "And I still can't believe it."

Jim peppered my face with kisses. "Beautiful...you made me the happiest guy in the world. I love you, baby. So fucking much. Are you feeling okay? What did Harper say?"

"I'll tell you in bed," I said, freeing myself from Jim's hug.

He was the one to unmake the bed and pull me into his arms. While I told him about my day and hundreds of worries, his warm palm stayed on my stomach.