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It’s nothing compared to how I feel about my husband.

Silas and I have a bond that can’t be measured.

I’ve never loved the way I love Silas, but saying I never had feelings for Grey would be a lie.

They may no longer exist, but it doesn’t change the fact that sometimes it’s weird being around each other. And I think he feels that, too.

“You know, you technically can’t call me that anymore, since it’s Hayes now.” I raise my brow but keep smiling.

“I know, but you’ll always be Rose to me.” We stare at each other for a moment.

I don’t recognize the look in his eyes, but it looks a lot like longing and makes me uncomfortable. I quickly look away and down at my hands, wishing I had something stronger than this water bottle.

He clears his throat and nods at the bottle. “It’s your birthday, and you’re not drinking?”

I can’t help the smile that spreads over my lips as I shake my head. “Nope.”

He looks at me questioningly for a few seconds before his eyes go wide. “Holy shit. Are you...?” His eyes dip to my still very flat belly, then return to my face.

“Yes, but I haven’t told Silas yet, so keep it to yourself.” I point my finger at him and narrow my eyes.

“Wow. That’s amazing! I won’t say anything until he mentions it, I promise.” He wraps me in his arms, offering a big, tight hug, and whispers in my ear, “Congrats, Rose. I’m really happy for you. You two deserve this.”

Tears well in my eyes as I clear my throat, sniffling lightly. “Thank you.”

As much as I was stressing out earlier when I had just found out, now I’m starting to get excited about it and can’t wait to tell people. But I know we’ll have to wait a little for that.

From what Morgan told me, the first trimester is the riskiest, and we never know what can happen. So doctors advise to wait after the twelve-week mark to tell people.

“I leave your side for ten minutes and find you in another man’s arms when I return. What am I doing wrong?” my husband calls from behind us while I pull away, smiling up at him.

I stand and walk around the bench to join him, wrapping my arms around his neck as he lowers. I kiss him once, twice, then lean back to look into his beautiful green eyes. “Absolutely nothing, you’re perfect. We were just fixing our little issues, but it’s all good now.”

He stares at me for a while, then smiles. “Good.” His fingers push strands of hair behind my ear before kissing my jawline all the way back up to my lips, then my nose. “You’re so beautiful, Minnie. How did I ever get so lucky?”

“I could say the same, Big Guy.”

A few hours later, once I’ve been showered with gifts and love, everyone leaves, and I promise the girls to give them news tomorrow on how telling Silas goes. I’m already in bed, exhausted to the point I could easily knock out. But I’m keeping myself awake until Silas gets back from walking Milo.

A couple of minutes later, I hear the sound of claws hitting the hardwood floor on the way up the stairs seconds before Milo appears in the doorway and jumps onto the bed. I give him some cuddles while Silas turns off all the lights and locks up the house.

Even though my things are still in the pool house, we’ve been spending most of our nights here, with the occasional ones at my apartment. But ever since the day I was sick, we haven’t spent a night apart.

“What do you think, buddy? Are you excited to have a baby brother or sister? It will give you someone else to cuddle, although you’ll have to be gentle the first few months,” I whisper into Milo’s fur.

His tail starts wagging from side to side as if he’s genuinely excited with the idea of having another person to cuddle. I pull back and look at his beautiful face. I still remember getting him for Silas. He was so tiny back then. “Do you think Daddy will be happy about that?”

“Happy about what?”

I look up to find Silas leaning against the door frame, looking incredibly sexy. “What are you hiding from me, wife? Don’t think I didn’t notice you having secret conversations with the girls today.”

I smile and pat the bed beside me. I really can’t hide anything from Silas, he’s way too observant when it comes to me. “Come sit, there’s something I need to tell you.”

He walks over slowly with a concerned expression but does as I say. He takes his shirt and pants off, then climbs into bed beneath the covers, resting on his side and facing me with his head propped up on his fist.

I lean my body against his as his free hand circles my waist. I’m also on my side with my head lying on the pillow, one hand on his chest and the other cupping his cheek.

“I love you so much, Silas. My heart nearly bursts when I think about my feelings for you.” It comes out in a whisper, as if I’m sharing a secret.

“Baby, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?” I see the worry deepening on his handsome face.

“Nothing, this is good. You have nothing to worry about.” I kiss his lips tenderly, but he doesn’t kiss me back. He knows something is up, and he’s waiting for me to say it.

“Please, just tell me what it is.” His hand squeezes around my waist, and I know the only way I can ease his worry is by telling him my little news.

I pull back enough to look into his eyes while I whisper the words, “I’m pregnant.”

His face stays blank for a moment, completely frozen in place. He blinks a couple of times, then I see the instant it registers. His eyes grow twice their size, and his mouth opens and closes like a fish. “W-What?”

“I’m pregnant,” I say again, and a big, toothy smile breaks free.

“You’re pregnant?”

“Mhmm.” I bite my lip and try to hold back from laughing at his shocked expression.

“Holy shit! You’re pregnant? Oh my God! You’re pregnant!” He practically tackles me to the mattress, rolling over me and kissing me repeatedly as he holds me in his arms. “I love you. Oh God, I love you so much, Minnie.”

“I love you too.” I giggle against his lips.

“I want you so badly right now. I always want you, but right now, I need to be inside you,” he says and unglues himself from my body and pulls his t-shirt I was wearing off my body, leaving me completely naked.

“Then take me, Silas. I’m all yours.”

He kicks off his boxers and settles between my spread legs, keeping his hand between us as he begins to play with my folds, circling my entrance and flicking my clit. I moan into his mouth, already so wet for him. I’m always wet for him.

His hand stops abruptly, and he pulls his lips from mine. “Wait, will I hurt the baby if we have sex? I’m pretty big...”

I snort at his serious expression. “No, honey. You won’t hurt the baby. I promise.”

“Okay, good. Now spread your legs wider, wife.”

I giggle and take his mouth back to mine. “I love when you tell me what to do... Daddy.”

He positions himself at my entrance and slowly pushes in, having us both moaning and groaning out our pleasure. Then he takes me like he said he would for the next hour, until we’re both sated to the point of exhaustion.

We’re lying in each other’s arms after fulfilling our exercise for the night. My head rests over his chest, listening to his heartbeat as he plays with my hair. “I’m guessing I should move back in now that we have a baby on the way,” I tell him, smiling against his skin.

“Only if it’s what you want, there’s no hurry.”

His reply makes me frown. “You don’t want me to move back?” It comes out sounding hurt. Which I am, if it’s the case.

“Of course, I do. I want nothing more than for you to come home, Minnie. But I also don’t want you to feel pressured to do it just for the baby. I want you to come home when you’re ready to.” He kisses the top of my head after delivering his always so perfect words.

“I’m ready. I want to come home.” I nestle my head deeper into his chest.

“Good, then we’ll get your things tomorrow.” He’s silent for a moment before speaking up again. “Have you called the doctor yet?” I can practically hear the gears turning in his head. Probably a million questions are coming to him now that the news has fully sunk in.

“No, not yet. I just found out this morning and wanted to wait until we were alone to tell you. I’ll make an appointment tomorrow.” I trace my finger along the groove of his abs.

“Good. I’m guessing the girls know?”

“They do, and Greyson.” I feel his body tense beneath me, and I try not to giggle.

His free hand comes to my chin and tilts my head up so he can see my face. “Why does Greyson know before me?” He frowns, and I can hear the anger in his voice. But it’s not directed at me.

“He figured it out when we were talking. He noticed I wasn’t drinking and put two and two together, but I made him promise not to tell anyone.” I bring my fingers up to play with my husband’s hair as he drops his hold on my chin. “I didn’t mean for him to know before you, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, baby. You have nothing to be sorry about.” He kisses my lips then looks into my eyes. “How are you feeling? You know, concerning the baby news.”

I smile, but it’s a little strained. Even though I’m truly happy, I can’t help feeling a bit of fear. “I’m excited. I can’t wait for us to be parents.”

“But?” He knows me too well.

“I’m a little scared...” I look away, unable to hold his gaze as I think about what scares me.

He releases my hair and grabs my waist, then pulls us both up in a sitting position. Putting himself up against the headboard, he makes me straddle his legs.

“I think this is a discussion we need to have face to face, where we can clearly see each other.” He brushes my hair out of my eyes and grips my chin once more, putting us at eye level. “Now tell me what scares you.”

“I just...” My eyes gloss over on their own.

I have no control over my emotions when it comes to Silas, and I have a feeling these baby hormones are about to make it a lot worse.

“We’re finally in a good place. Everything is perfect right now, and I’m really, really happy about this baby.

..” He watches me, waiting patiently for me to continue.

“I’m just scared that something will happen again... and then it won’t be just me hurting, but our baby too... I’m not saying that because I don’t trust you, Silas, I do. But I can’t help feeling the fear that something could go wrong. I can’t go through that again, certainly not with a baby...”

A tear slips free, rolling down my cheek, but Silas catches it with his thumb just before it falls off.

“I know, baby, I get it. I’m scared, too.

Terrified that I might do something to fuck this all up again.

But I promise, I’ll do everything in my power to never hurt you again or hurt our baby. ” He leans in and kisses my forehead.

“I almost lost you, and that nearly killed me. You are my life, my reason to breathe. But I get it, I get your fear and hesitation. What happened this year? It broke us, and even if we managed to make it back to one another, there are still cracks in our foundation.” He wipes more tears as they keep coming.

“So it’s normal to still have doubts and to be scared that everything will fall apart.

And that’s okay, baby. I don’t expect you to be one hundred percent certain of everything yet.

But know that I’m working on it, and I’ll keep working on it until all those cracks have healed.

” He kisses my tear-stained cheeks, then my lips and my nose.

“This baby is our little miracle; the glue that will help heal all those broken pieces. It will give us another reason to fight harder for us, for him or her.”

“How do you always know what to say?” I ask through my sobs.

He smiles lovingly, kissing my face once more, not bothered in the least by my wet state.

“Because you and I are one, Cecilia. Everything you feel, I feel. When you’re happy, I’m happy.

When you’re sad, I’m sad. And when you’re worried, I know because I’m worried, too.

So I know exactly what you need in those moments because it’s exactly what I need. ”

He brings me down to his chest, kissing the top of my head. “Now enough with the tears. Everything will be fine, and our life will continue to go perfectly. I promise. I love you, Minnie, and I can’t wait to see our little baby. For us to finally have the family we deserve.”

I lift my head and seal my lips to his. “Our baby,” I say the words against his lips, loving the way they sound.

“Our baby, Minnie. Ours.”