Page 36 of Paper Flowers (Stonebrook #1)

“Oh, no, take your time. We want to soak in every minute we have with Slim Sadie.” William chuckles.

“Okay, well, I’ll see you back home. I love you Sadie.

” He kisses her head as she wraps her little arms around his waist. She then gives me a hug and tells me not to let her dad paint anymore circles on kids faces and call them “hearts.” I let out a small giggle and Luke rolled his eyes. “I can hear you Sadie.” He teased.

Nina and William wave bye to me and Sadie holds both their hands as they walk to their car.

I turn towards Cara but she’s not in the booth, I only see Dean.

He must have heard the whole conversation.

My body freezes and I know by the cold stern look he is giving me, he’s angry.

I turn around before Luke sees me like this.

He already noticed. He’s looking at Dean as he is walking out of the pumpkin carving booth.

I grab Luke’s hand, “ignore him.” I tell him in a hushed tone.

As I turn his body around to look at me instead of Dean.

The only thing I can think of to distract Luke is by talking to him about birth control.

The crowd has dwindled down and there are only a few carnival goers left.

“I have something important to talk about. About us.” I say quickly. That gets his attention and his blue eyes are pouring into me .

“Is everything alright?” He says calmly.

“I have a doctor’s appointment next Monday. I’m going to ask my doctor to put me on birth control.” I say quietly but my heart is pounding so fucking loud. I can hear it in my ears.

“Birth control.” Luke’s ears are flushed.

“I know we have only been together for a short amount of time but I wanted to be prepared if it happens and I?—”

“When.” Luke interrupts.

“Huh?”

“You said ‘if’ it’s, when it happens.” He said confidently as he twirls a finger through my curls. Now my face is burning red.

“Okay, so I want to be prepared for it when it happens. I just wanted to know what your thoughts are.”

“If you want to go the non hormonal path, I can wear condoms. The decision is up to you.” He said reassuringly.

“What if it breaks and I’m not on the pill?” I start packing up the paints and brushes. Trying to calm my nerves. I don’t want him thinking I’m trying to trap him. I’m overthinking things and I can’t help it.

“Why don’t we finish cleaning the booth up and head over to your place and talk about it.” He tells me as he brushes my curled hair behind my shoulder.

“Family planning in the middle of a Fall Carnival is probably not the best place to talk.” I try to say it lightly. Luke’s eyebrows scrunched together. Family. I said family. I just want to curl up and shrink into the bottle of pink glitter I’m packing up.

He is quiet the rest of the time we are in the booth. Silently moving and packing. The silence is too much. Cara noticed the two of us not speaking and walked over while Luke went to his classroom to put some of the supplies away.

“Are you two okay?” Cara asks. I told her about our conversation and how things got quiet after I said family planning.

“Dayna…what is it that you want? Because you can be all in for him and Sadie, but you need to think about yourself too. You’re scared of being intimate with him because Dean ruined that for you.

He br oke your trust and made you feel awful about yourself.

” Cara said sympathetically. Luke was walking back and I let what Cara said sink in.

“We only have that box and we’re all set.” Luke says as he picks up the last box and heads over back to his classroom.

Walking into my house with Luke feels surreal.

We have only ever been to his house and with Sadie.

I take my shoes off and slip on my cozy slippers.

Luke looks like a giant compared to my tiny house.

While he walks around the living room looking at some of the framed photos, I go to my room to change into a hoodie and leggings.

When I return I find Luke looking at the photos of me, my sister Sienna and her baby girl, Tessa. She’s almost two years old now. She’s been with her boyfriend now husband for most of my life.

“I’m happy Sienna married Shawn, he was a good guy.” Luke finally said.

“Yeah, he’s a pretty solid guy.” I say as I head to my kitchen to get us something to drink. I came back to the living room, and I nearly dropped the soda cans. Luke took off his maroon overalls and is now standing in his black joggers. Those really show how round his ass is.

I place the sodas on the end table and take a seat on the sofa. Luke follows me and sits beside me wrapping an arm around me. “I know how worried you get about things and I’ve had some time to think about it.” He said as he rubbed the side of my arm.

“Being on birth control is a huge step for you. Giving what I know about your previous marriage and how I’m sure he made you feel. You’re worried if you’re not on birth control and you get pregnant, you’re going to wonder if I think you did it on purpose. Right?”

How did he figure it out so fast when Cara just made me realize it less than an hour ago?

“Yes, that’s exactly how I think. But I need you to know, I would never do that to you.” I turn to look up at him.

“Please be honest with me, I know it is a lot to process but it will help ease your mind if I know what you want and what you see in our future.”

My stomach flips and turns, my heart feels like it’s hammering against my rib cage. “I want to feel normal and want to sleep with my boyfriend without having the worry of an unwanted pregnancy.” I say as my voice cracks.

“That’s understandable. But you know, it wouldn’t be unwanted.” He puts his hand on my thigh.

“What are you saying, Luke?”

“I’m saying, I want more children.” He replied.

“Like now?” I ask him point blank.

He sits up to face me, he reaches for my hand, rubbing his thumb along mine. “Like you said earlier, we may have only been together for a short amount of time, but time hasn’t always been on our side. Our relationship isn’t normal and I like to think we are in this for the long run.”

I don’t even know where to begin. “I feel like this is happening all too fast. Even though my heart has never been this full. Say we do this, I don’t get on birth control and you only use condoms. Will you be okay with it?”

“I would be overjoyed to build this life with you. The thought of us becoming a family with Sadie, of me being the one to give you a baby, watching you carry our child, and seeing you become a mom— it would be an honor. Dayna, when I say I want this with you, I mean I want every single part of it: every moment, every challenge, and every step we take together.”

Just take my whole heart out of my chest why don’t you. The picture he has painted with his words makes me want it all with him.

“We don’t have to be actively trying, but will we try to prevent it? Probably not.”

Leaning over to him, I palm both of my hands on his beard and he pulls me onto his lap.

Settling my knees on the outer side of his thighs, I kiss his neck and slowly move my way up to his mouth.

I instantly feel the hardness of his cock against my inner thighs.

I can’t help but seek the friction I so desperately crave and start grinding against him.

He squeezes my hips and lets out a deep groan that sends shockwaves to my pussy.

“Baby, please tell me you’re ready for me to make you come.”

I let out a moan and the next thing I know, I’m on my back and Luke is pulling off his shirt.