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The nightafterher birthday.

“I guess on my birthday. No time like the present to tell your parents you’re pregnant,” she replies.

Remembering how her mom acted at the anniversary party, I say, “Well, this should be interesting.”

25

Harrison

“I was worriedabout being a godparent, and now look at me?”

“Am I looking at the pint of ice cream in your hand or the fried chicken on your lap?”Ow—the whack to the bicep came fast. She may be pregnant, but she can still deliver a wallop.

She’s been pregnant for just over a hot minute and is adapting quick to her new life. I think she figured out the perks—me willing and ready to satiate her cravings—real fast.

Lying on the couch, Tatum laughs, gut-giggling, from it. The woman is delirious . . .with power. She doesn’t have to worry, though. I’m more than willing to feed her cravings, hunger or sexually, anytime she wants.

When she catches her breath, she says, “I meant because the thought of being a godparent scared me, and now I’m going to be a mom.” She’s quick to move the food to the coffee table before turning to me on the other side of the couch. “Oh wow. I’m going to be a mom, Decker.” Only a second passes before she adds, “You’re going to be a dad.”

Dad . . .

I think of my dad.

And Corbin Christiansen—Nick’s dad.

Those are the dads I know. Different in a lot of ways and similar in others. I don’t really feel old enough to be called Dad. Imagining a kid calling me that brings a smile to my face, though. I’ve loved being an uncle—the favorite uncle—to Harlow. But what I have realized is that I’ve secretly wanted to be a dad for years but packed away that dream since I didn’t have the woman I wanted to be tied to for the rest of my life.

I relocated the dream of having a family of my own into my heart.Not sure why.

Tatum and I can both admit that pure physical attraction brought us together. The sex is outstanding.Still is.

Truthfully, though, Tatum never indicated one way or the other that we’d one day be friends. Lovers came unexpectedly.It was as though my heart’s been waiting for her to catch up.She may be covered in crumbs with a hint of chocolate stuck to the side of her mouth. Yep, that’s my woman right there, but that’s also the mother of my baby, and I couldn’t be happier.

Taking her hand, I rub my thumb over her soft skin. “It’s funny because I think we skipped a few steps, but I’m not beholden to some old-fashioned notion. We may have just had our first date, but I think we’re past that now. Tatum, will you be my girlfriend?”

“Why’d you have to go and do that, Harrison?” Her foot nudges my leg.

I take her by the ankles and stretch them across my lap, then rub her feet. “What did I go and do exactly?”

“You’re being sweet and romantic. It makes me question if you’re just doing that because I’m pregnant.”

“I kind of thought Iwasromantic before.”

“You were.You are.” She leans forward, grabbing hold of my forearm, and says, “I want us to be together because we want to, not because we feel we have to. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. I don’t know how this works at all. I just know I want a life full of love, not the sadness I’ve felt in the past few years.”

“I want that for you, too. I want you to feel the freedom you did when we first met.”

“I was living back then without a care in the world. Or at least the cares that I had overcome.” Flopping back, she throws her arms above her head to rest on the arm of the couch. It’s hard to find the humor in her laughter, though, and that sadness she speaks of is the thing I’ve had trouble reading. She nailed it. “Poor guy. You didn’t know what you were getting yourself into.”

“What changed over the years?”

“Me. Everything.” Her gaze shifts to the TV, though it’s currently off. “I’m the same person, but I’ve grown and have more responsibilities.”

“Let’s get back to that sadness.” I reach as far as I can to cover the divide between us. I touch under her chin, and ask, “Why are you so sad, pretty girl?”

It’s good she doesn’t rush her response. Her eyes are fixed on mine like she might find the answer. “Meeting twenty-two-year-old vacation Tatum is not the same person you’re meeting at twenty-seven, tomorrow.” She winks. “I’m not going to prematurely age myself.” This time the giggle is soft but genuine. “This is real life, my life, and I’ve come to realize everyone eventually leaves me behind.”

“Behind what? I’m not trying to be a smart-ass, but what are others keeping you from that you can’t find or do yourself?” When she doesn’t say anything, I start getting some of this shit off my chest. “You’re amazing—happy, sad, mad as all fuck, sexy, natural, and dressed up. Every version of you is worth loving. For yourself. You don’t have to wait around for something that might be all you think it’s cracked up to be. You can create it. You can create the life you want to live, Tatum. Don’t let the world get you down. Don’t let others determine your happiness.”