Page 91 of Dare You to Run

“Asa,” I tell him without hesitation.

“Asa? Where the hell d’you get that name from?”

“It’s my Dad’s middle name.” His eyes widen and he tenses.

“Asa Dare has a nice ring to it,” he says with a shaky voice and I laugh. “And if T.D. is a girl, Gemma.”

I tilt my head to the side, rolling the name around in my head over and over. “Hmm. That’s…unique.”

“As unique asAsa,” I roll my eyes at him. “Gemma Dare. That sounds pretty fucking awesome to me.”

“Yeah. I like it. Gemma. Wow. That was easy. Why do people always say that’s the hardest part of having a baby?”

“No kidding. The hardest part to me seems to be the fact that you’re going to push a bowling ball out of an olive.”

I feel lightheaded visualizing that exact scenario. “Oh my god. I can’t do this.”

“Kidding. I’m sure it’s not that bad.” I drop my head back to the headrest and groan. “Welp. Here we are.”

He turns into the driveway, the gate automatically opening when the sensor picks up my tag, and slowly pulls to a stop right in front. The engine is turned off and he turns to face me.

“It’s going to be alright, my little mouse. I promise.”

“Whatever you say, Mr. Wolf.” I don’t hold the same optimism that he does.

He leans over and frames my face as he kisses me. His affection drains me of my worry, and I fall into his universe. The one with the magnetic pull that I can’t resist.

“Time to face the music,” I mumble and go to unbuckle my seatbelt, but he clamps a hand over mine and shakes his head.

“Wait, dammit. How many times do I have to tell you?” He taps me under my chin and unfolds himself from the driver's seat.

His swagger makes me wet as he walks in front of the car to my side, and I wonder if my parents have spotted my car on their phones yet. I could really use him to release the remaining tension in me.

“No. Stop it,” he says, tersely.

“What? I didn’t do anything.”

He reaches over me and unclicks my seatbelt. “You’re biting your lip. I know what you’re thinking and just no. Not right as we’re about to walk into your parent’s house to tell them we’re having a baby.”

“Boo. You’re boring. What happened to the dangerous bad boy who chased me through the woods?” He takes my hand and helps me from the passenger seat.

“He’s still here, but he’s hiding because your dad is for sure going to know I fucked his daughter.”

I snort and cover my mouth. “And you think he didn’t already know that I was sleeping with a thirty year old man when he saw me straddling you like a rodeo bull in your front seat?”

“Shh,” he scolds, gently placing his hand over my mouth. “I’m going to tell him it was an immaculate conception. I need my balls for future kids.”

My heart flutters when he saysfuture kids. When all of this started, I was only hoping to make this last longer than two weeks. Now, Hendrix is talking about future children as we pick out names for the one that’s already on the way.

I smile behind his hand then lick his palm.

“Dagen McCallan. That is uncalled for.” He wraps his arm around my neck and tucks me under his arm.

“Look at you, practicing your dad voice already.” We walk up to the front door and I press my thumb to the pad, unlocking it and pushing it open. “Hello? Anyone home?” I call out.

Hendrix shuts the door behind us just as Mom walks out from the den. “Hi sweetheart. Hi Hendrix. What are you two doing here?”

Here it is. The moment I’ve been dreading for a week.