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“Oh, yeah?”

He presses another kiss on them. “Oh, yeah. Even these lips, too,” he teases and smiles as I finally get what he was implying.

“I should’ve known you’d already be trying to break the rules.”

“Fuck the rules. Your rules never stood a chance anyway.” He grins, and I know he’s right, even if I won’t admit it.

“So, you’ll need to tell Gryff he’s getting a sibling.”

“Why don’t you come over and tell him yourself?” He arches a brow, and I know where this is going.

“Fine, I will.”

“Maybe stay and have a sleepover.”

I give him a pointed look.

“What? It’s not like you can get pregnant again…”

“Are you seriously talking about getting me back into your bed already?” I frown and look down at my huge belly. “Like this?”

“Are you really that surprised?” He chuckles.

I sigh, knowing I really shouldn’t be. “Some things never change, King.”

I look down and take notice of the impressive tent in his pants. “Oh, God. You’re serious.”

He shrugs. “They say the heart doesn’t forget, but I think what they meant was the dick…”

The door opens, and Courtney walks in with her purse that’s the size of a small suitcase swung over her shoulder.

“Hey, boss,” she says to Travis, drops the bag with a loud thud, and walks to the kitchen. He quickly adjusts himself when she’s out of sight.

“Did you really hire her?” I whisper.

He laughs. “She kind of hired herself.”

“I can hear you two,” she yells from the other room, and we both crack up laughing. It feels good to be with him again. I might actually be able to get some sleep now without the anxiety of telling Travis weighing on me.

Courtney changes into a pair of leggings and a t-shirt. “Congrats on the bun in the oven, boss.”

“Court!”

“What? We can start talking about it now that Travis knows, right?” She winks at me, but I glare at her. I made her promise me she wouldn’t say a word until Travis knew, so I guess it’s fair game now.

“I think that’s my cue to get going,” Travis says with a smile and stands up. “Oh, I almost forgot.” He stops before making it to the door. Travis picks up a package and hands it to me. I glance down at it, and then back up at him before I tear the silver paper from the small box. I lift the lid and see a black velvet jewelry box inside.

“What’s this?” I’m confused and kind of nervous to open it.

“Go on,” Courtney says, her face all lit up. She’s on the edge of the couch waiting. When I open the box, I immediately gasp. It’s a set of heart-shaped diamond earrings, similar to the necklace he gave me for my thirteenth birthday.

“Oh, my God, Travis. They’re beautiful,” I gush. “But it’s too much.” I watch them glimmer in the light.

“I’d buy you the world if I could, princess,” he says, dismissing my reluctance to accept them. “Go ahead, put them on.”

After I put them in, I tightly wrap my arms around his neck and bury my face in his neck. “Thank you so much.”

He wraps his arms around my waist and presses a kiss under my ear. “Happy Birthday, princess. I love you.” He then presses his palm to my stomach. “I love you too, little one.”

Travis flashes me an overjoyed smile, but before he can walk away, I grab his hand and pull him back to me. “I love you, too, Travis.”

Saying it feels so right, and when the words finally leave my mouth, I mean them. I love him. I’ve always loved him, and it’s time he knows. Travis leans in and gives me the sweetest, softest kiss on the lips.

He tells me he’ll call me later before walking out, and I’m left reeling. The only thing that brings me back to reality is Courtney’s big, long high-pitched aww. I forgot she was still here, because when his lips touched mine, the only two people that existed at the moment were us.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

TRAVIS

It’s hard not to doubt my ability to be a dad. Considering I didn’t have a positive male role model in my life, I question it, but each day I remind myself that I am not my father. No matter what, I’ll be there for my son or daughter, and make sure to give all the love I missed out on. I’ll try every day to set the example, to show love while being a parent. This kid isn’t here yet, but my life is already drastically changing. I don’t want to fail.

Even if I’m scared shitless that I will mess this whole dad thing up, I feel like I’m the luckiest man on the planet. At least that’s what I keep thinking when I glance over at Viola as I drive to our appointment. It’s no longer her appointments. I’ve made sure to take ownership of each and every one of them from now until the delivery date. Our appointments, our baby, our future.