Page 127 of False Start

But that hope was inflating in my chest so fast and furious I felt I might float away.

“Kyle,” she whispered, sucking in a sharp breath before she let it out slowly through parted lips. “I’m pregnant.”

The word hung between us, a softly whispered, life-changing declaration made in a quiet home stacked with boxes. My heart beat once, twice, and I savored the way those words sounded, the way they slid over my senses and embedded themselves deep into the roots of who I was.

I let out one shallow breath.

And then I released the leash on my emotions, and I kissed her.

My hands slid into her hair, pulling her mouth to mine. I kissed her hard and long, her lips surprised against mine at first before they softened. I laughed against those soft, perfect lips. Or maybe it was a sob? I couldn’t be sure.

But I held her to me, and I savored that kiss and that moment, never wanting to forget even a single second of it. I committed her to memory — the texture of her hair in my hands, the trembling of her lips against mine, the soft whimper she let out that I mirrored. I vowed to remember everything, from the way my heart raced in my chest to the way the truth raced in my mind.

Pregnant.

She’s pregnant.

I’m going to be a dad.

“You’re sure?” I asked, pulling back to search her gaze.

She nodded, the tears in her eyes spilling over. She covered my hands framing her face with her own, rolling her lips together. “I’m sorry.”

“You—” I frowned. “What? What on Earth are you sorry for?”

“I know this wasn’t planned. I… you’re about to start yourcareer. You’re so young. You didn’t sign up for this, foranyof this. You—”

“Woman,” I growled, and then I kissed her silent for good measure. “I don’t give a flying fuck if this was planned or not. You just… you just made me the happiest fucking man in the world.”

“I… wait.” She sniffed. “You’re not mad?”

“Mad?” I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “Areyoumad? As in fucking crazy? How could I ever be mad that you’re carrying my child?”

Saying the words sent a river of goosebumps down my arms, and I laughed again, resting one palm against her still very-flat stomach.

“Mads, you’re pregnant,” I repeated, like she wasn’t understanding. “I… I’mthrilled.I’m over the moon. I—”

Fuck.

I stopped myself from saying another word, swallowing down the urge and bringing my smile to a neutral expression.

“Areyouhappy?” I asked. “Because if you’re not, if you’re not ready for this, if you never wanted to have another child, I understand. It’s your body and I—”

“I cried when I took the test,” she said, her nostrils flaring, eyes locked on mine. “I broke down.”

I swallowed and nodded.

The hope in my chest deflated.

But I let myself feel that disappointment for only a split second before I was holding her tight, looking her right in the eyes and letting her know I wasn’t going anywhere.

Whatever she wanted, whatever she decided — I would be there.

Her lips wobbled a bit, but they curled into a smile even as her eyes glossed, two silent tears sliding down her red cheeks.“I was so scared to tell you, because it wasn’t planned. But I… I was sohappy, Kyle. I know it’s fast.God,this whole summer has felt like a whirlwind. It’s felt…insane. And now to add this to the equation?” She shook her head, and then her hands were framingmyface, and her smile was enough to put that hope back in my soul. “I was scared to tell you that when I was waiting for the result to show, I wasprayingfor a positive. I wanted it. I wanted to be pregnant. God, am I a nutcase?”

“You’remynutcase,” I said, and I wrapped her into my arms in a crushing hug, lifting her off the couch just like I’d wanted to when she first told me. I spun her around as she laughed, but then she made a comment about throwing up, and I immediately stopped, setting her back on the ground and checking her for bruises like she was a fragile doll.

She swatted me away. “I’m fine. It was a joke.”