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“Like fuck I am,” Dad mumbles sulkily.
Mom shakes her head, whispering, “He’ll come around.”
I’m not entirely sure if that’s true. But one thing I’m willing to bet on is if anyone is capable of wearing down my father, it’s Hawke.
CHAPTER 49
Hawke
I’m holding Ivy in my lap as we look out at the rain pouring down. I’ve never once used my back patio, and it wasn’t until she moved in a month ago that we made it a regular thing. When I’m not at work, and she’s not in what I like to call her “death dungeon,” which is basically the dark little room with an ungodly number of snacks where she works on her freelancing gigs, this is where you can find us.
I couldn’t be prouder of my woman. She works fucking hard, and I wonder how many people might’ve been thrown off by her party-girl persona. She still enjoys partying, but without drinking now. I’ve followed suit because I don’t need the buzz or thrill, not while I have her by my side. And I have no intention of letting her go.
I press a kiss to her temple. Those short little shorts she’s got on killing me. I swear she has a matching set in every color, and she uses them to keep me in a continuous state of needing to fuck her. And I just fucked her thirty minutes ago.
“What?” Ivy asks, looking at me skeptically. I don’t know how I’m looking at her right now, but it’s probably like I’m a big, smitten asshole.
I raise my gaze back to the rain, having a new appreciation for it. I never cared for this kind of shit before. When I was a kid and it rained, it was bad because Ford and I had to find shelter for the night. But with Ivy, it’s a beautiful thing.
“I was just thinking about how nice it is that you’ve moved in without me having to throw you over my shoulder, kicking and screaming.”
She scoffs. “Well, living in a five-bedroom home by yourself is a little excessive. And I can go back to my apartment any time I want, so don’t give me a good enough reason to leave.”
I chuckle as I tickle her ribs, and she flails back and forth. I receive an elbow to the nose, which, to be fair, I should’ve been expecting. I laugh, swearing I taste blood.
“I warned you,” she growls, grabbing a tissue to hold to my nose. I do it to her all the time now, and I haven’t admitted that I’m fucking into it. I like it when she fights me and puts me in my place. I most definitely have some screws loose, but for this woman, I’m completely okay with that.
I’m looking past my nose as she holds the tissue to it. “You’re going to be a good mom,” I say with a nasal voice, and her body locks up on me.
“You really believe that?” she asks quietly.
I remove the tissue so I can look her dead in the eyes.
“Are you kidding me? The best! You’re so cool! Our kids will be so lucky to have you as their mom and me as their awesome-as-fuck dad.”
She chuckles at that. “You think you’re awesome-as-fuck, do you?”
I’m affronted. “Obviously.”
Ivy angles herself so she can keep dabbing at the blood. Her blue eyes flick to mine and then back to my nose.
I know when she’s struggling to say something, so I squeeze her ribs and coax, “Out with it.”
“Stop! Unless you really want it broken,” she chides, trying to treat my nose again. I know it isn’t as bad as she’s making it out to be, which means she’s just avoiding voicing whatever is on her mind. “Would you really be okay if we had children together?” she asks nervously, and my heart stops.
“Are you crazy, Ivy Walker? It’d be my honor to trap you and make you my wife. We have five bedrooms here. We can have a bucketload of kids. If we need a bigger house, we can get a bigger house. Or we can build an addition to this one. Or maybe we can have twins and give them bunk beds and?—”
She squeezes my nose to shut me up. “God, you’re something, aren’t you?” She shakes her head, wrapping her arms around my neck and staring at me lovingly. She dips her lips to mine and kisses me softly. “That’s nice to hear. Because I have a secret for you, but you can’t tell anyone.”
I lean back so I can look into her eyes. And I see it then–the twinkle of mischief. Before, she was wary, but now she’s… she’s…
I glance down at her stomach, and my hand goes straight to it. “Pregnant?”
She bites her bottom lip, and I jump out of my seat, bringing her with me. I jump up and down, screaming as she wraps her legs around me, laughing.
“Are you fucking kidding me, Ivy Walker?” I cup her cheek, unable to contain my excitement. “Are you fucking serious? Are you going to be a mom?! Am I going to be adad?” My voice wobbles on the last word, and she brushes back my hair. I follow the sweet, endearing touch as she strokes me as if petting me.
“The best and awesomest dad on the block,” she says as tears prick her eyes. “I’ve only known for a few days. I didn’t know how to tell you. I’m sorry.”