CHAPTER SIX
Cullen
When the opportunity to work outside of town presented itself, I harped on it. I needed to get out of Apple Falls and distance myself.
Once again, I ended up with a broken heart after opening up. No matter how hard I tried, Journey wanted nothing to do with me.
But now I was back in town and Journey was out sick. As the days passed, it seemed like she wasn’t there more than she was. I worried she was battling something I didn’t know about. But I kept in touch with her sister who assured me she was okay.
One afternoon a few months later, I finally caught a glimpse of her. She looked different, tired, and not like the glowing, confident woman I met before.
She turned to the side and that’s when I noticed. A very distinguishable baby bump.
She’s pregnant?
No way. How was she…I mean…when did she…
Is that why she was avoiding me?
I thought I’d be pissed but instead, I needed to know. I needed to know if that child was mine.
But I already knew, didn’t I? I already knew without a doubt, that baby was mine.
And so was she.
It was about time I claimed my girl.
First, I went to Carina.
“I’m in love with your sister.” I walked right up to where Carina stocked shelves with bags of potting soil.
She looked down at me from her step stool and laughed. “I know. And she loves you too. She’s just being a dumbass about it.”
My heart tripled in speed. “She does?” I said, my voice full of so much hope. I hated how I was ready to be heartbroken all over again, the risk of rejection high. But here I was, ready to bare my soul, fall to my knees, beg and plead, all for the chance to be with her.
Carina rolled her eyes and stepped down from the stool. “Both of you drive me crazy.”
“I’ve tried. She constantly pushes me away. I took a job out of town because of how hurt I was. But I’m willing to feel that pain again for another chance with her. I love her so much it hurts.”
Carina looked at me with tears in her eyes before glancing behind me and smiling.
I spun around and saw my beautiful girl, the first hint of a smile I hadn’t seen in too long.
“You do?” Journey whispered, her own tears falling.
“Yes. I fell in love with you that first night with you. I’ve been in love with you ever since.
I don’t care how much you push me away, Journey.
” I stepped closer to her and took her hands in mine, her soft skin smooth against my rough calluses, my hands showing all my years of hard work. “I’ll never stop trying.”
“Oh, Cullen.” She cried as she collapsed into my arms, tears freely flowing, sobs coming up from her throat. “I love you so much, too. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I’ve been such an idiot.” She grabbed my face and kissed me through her tears, the wetness brushing against my cheeks.
Carina cheered and clapped from behind us and before I knew it, we had a whole audience of her family and various other customers in the store.
“Woot woot! It’s about time!” Carina called. She wrapped herself around a handsome man who stood next to her. That must be her husband, Hudson, who Journey mentioned before.
Love was flowing all around us, and the energy was infectious. But I wanted to take my girl and get away from all of this. We needed to talk. Alone.
“Can I take you to grab something to eat?” I asked her. She already looked so much better now that we cleared the air between us. But there was still a big elephant in the room. Would she tell me first or would I have to ask her?
“Yes, let me just grab my purse.” Journey kissed me before disappearing into the backroom.
I introduced myself to Hudson and Journey’s parents while I waited, all the more growing anxious. No one has mentioned anything about the pregnancy and now I questioned myself if I was seeing things. Maybe I was. Maybe she gained a little weight, and I shouldn’t say anything.
“Ready?” Journey appeared behind me, and I nodded, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
“Always for you.” After our goodbyes, we headed to my truck. “I would’ve told you sooner, but I was trying to give you the space I thought you wanted. I’m sorry, love.”
“I treated you horribly, how could I ever expect you to come to me? I should’ve come to you. But I’m…” Her words trailed off as her throat became thick with emotion. “I’m…my emotions…shit, it’s just a lot.”
“You don’t need to explain yourself. Things happen. Let’s just start over. Hi, I’m Cullen. Nice to meet you.” I held out my hand for a shake and Journey burst into laughter.
“I don’t want a handshake. I want a kiss.”
“Well, well, well, that’s quite the proposition from a respectable young lady. Do you flirt with all the customers?”
Journey wrapped her arms around my neck. “Nope. Only the one whose baby I’m carrying.”
It was as if I poured an ice bucket of water on top of my head. I took her face in my hands and searched her eyes, while she confirmed every one of my suspicions.
Journey was pregnant.
With my baby.
Our baby.
“Oh my, holy shit!” I cheered before lifting her off her feet and spinning her around, both of us laughing, more tears coming down her cheeks. “I love you.” I kissed her over and over.
“Could you tell?” Journey teased.
I laughed. “That’s a trick question.”
“You can see the bump though, right?” She lifted her shirt, and her cute round belly popped out.
I rubbed my hands all over it. “Our baby. Your bump is perfect. You’re perfect, baby.”
“I love you.”
“I love you so much. See how much love we have for each other? We created a baby the first night together.”
“You’re right. We did.”
“The first of many.” I grinned.
“Ha! Maybe if you carry one.” Journey teased and we kissed and kissed under the sunshine of Apple Falls, where I finally found my perfect person, just waiting to be found.