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“Well,” she huffs. “It’s never too early to be prepared.” She kicks the back of my seat. “But it can be too late. So you need to get on it.”

“Message received, Mom.” I groan again, but this time it’s in delight as we pull into El Gaucho’s. Ever since I thought of it, my tummy has been rumbling with excitement. So far, there are at least two dozen items on their menu, one I’ve memorized from earlier visits, that I desperately want.

Braxton pulls into a spot near the front door and doesn’t turn off the car. “Wait here a minute,” he says and jumps out of the car, slamming his door shut before I can ask him what’s going on.

He returns just as quickly, slides into his seat, and hands me their menu. “Still sound good?” he asks, opening it for me and holding it up.

“You’re funny.” I’m laughing. Everything sounds amazing. Fajitas, enchiladas, burritos. Oh, churros. A giant bowl of salsa with their jalapeño queso dip. Lord, I might just order two of everything. But it’s his thoughtfulness that fills me with an even more delicious sensation.

Good Lord. This guy. “It sounds great.”

“Good.” He snaps the menu closed. “Just wanted to make sure.”

“Nice move,” Dan says, unfolding himself from the backseat. “Way to think ahead.”

“I have good ideas occasionally,” Braxton returns. He whips off his tie and suit coat, apparently more than happy to dine at a three-star Mexican restaurant, and he still doesn’t seem to care about not going to City Grill.

I’ll make it up to him. Someday when I can afford to pay, I’ll take him there myself.

“Let’s eat,” Dan groans. “I’m fucking starved. All this damn waiting…”

He winks at me, letting me know he’s just teasing.

Then Jenna meets him at the side of the car and smacks him across the back of the head. “God, you’re an idiot.”

He pulls her to him and kisses her. “But I’m your idiot, and don’t ever forget that you chose me.”

“I must have been drunk.”

I’m still in the car, turned, and watching it happen when Braxton dips his head back inside. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah.” I smile. This time I mean it. “It’s perfect.”

Chapter 20

Cara

My stomach is so full it looks like I’m growing a massive alien baby instead of something currently the size of a bean. My sides and cheek muscles ache from laughing.

El Gaucho ended up being the perfect place to eat dinner. We were able to relax and laugh, and have some fun, and by the time we drop Dan and Jenna off, Jenna way too drunk off her whole two margaritas, I can’t think of a better way I could have spent the night.

“Thank you for making me go out tonight,” I tell Braxton.

His hand is holding mine, something he took at dinner and has barely let go of. He squeezes it. “I’m glad you had fun. Did we wear you out?”

“No, surprisingly I don’t feel that tired.” It’s probably the adrenaline. I should be exhausted. It’s well past eight, which has been when I’ve been passing out on the couch most nights. Perhaps tonight is what I’ve needed, though. Good food and great friends and an even better man at my side to remind me that we might be having a baby, but our life and future are far from over. “You’re a good man, Braxton.”

“I had a good role model.”

He turns back to the road, zips us in and out of traffic, and while he goes silent, I know he’s thinking of Irvin. From the little bit he’s told me the man practically raised him. “What would he say about you getting some girl pregnant?”

I can’t imagine the man Braxton has described would react the way my own flesh and blood did.

His hand squeezes mine firmly. “He’d tell me not to fuck it up. Be a man. Do my part. Be there.” Of course he would. I’m about ready to agree with Irvin when Braxton shakes his head. “No, that’s not true.” He glances at me quickly before turning a corner, taking us to the underground garage of his building. “Irvin wouldn’t say that to me.”

“What would he say then?”

“He’d tell me that having a child is the greatest thing in the entire fucking world. That there’s nothing like holding life you created and it’s scary as hell every moment of the day, but it’s the most rewarding thing he’s ever done. He’d tell me to be a man worthy of that honor.”