Page 110 of Pregnant By the Playboy

In love. A baby on the way.

Sitting in front of the house we’ll live in together.

All of this flits through my mind, but then I get lost in his kiss. His lips on mine, his arms holding me close, despite the awkward position in the car.

He brushes his cheek against mine. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

I can say it now without hesitation.

* * *

The next evening, we go out for dinner. I’m craving poutine, so we head to a bistro with excellent duck confit poutine—after checking online that cheese curds are pasteurized and safe for pregnant people—and then to Cheese & Me, where we buy the very last matcha double fromage cheesecake.

And then I decide I’ve eaten enough food for the day, and we return to Vince’s penthouse and make extremely good use of his large bed.

Afterward, we lie in bed together, my head on his chest. I twist the ring on my finger.

We told our families about the engagement earlier. They were all very excited. His grandmother wanted to come over immediately to congratulate us in person, but eventually he managed to put her off and promised to visit his family tomorrow. Julian has returned from his business trip, and Evie is doing much better now.

Suddenly, there’s a flutter in my belly. Just like yesterday.

“Oh, it’s Baby!” I say. “He’s moving.”

Vince puts his hand on my increasing belly.

“I feel him,” he says, wonder in his voice.

His face close to my stomach, Vince softly sings the lullaby that my father used to sing to me. He’s learned the words, though I’m not sure he knows what they mean.

I wipe my eyes. The past several months have been an emotional roller coaster, but I love what I have now.

I hold Vince close and grin the goofiest grin ever.

Epilogue

Vince

The following January...

“Baby!” Evie shrieks, running into the room. “Baby!”

Julian scoops her off her feet just before she pokes Baby’s face. “Baby is trying to sleep, Evie. He doesn’t want to play with you right now.”

Evie glares at her father but allows herself to be taken out of the room. To be spoiled by her grandparents, most likely. We’re at Mom and Dad’s house for dinner.

Baby has a name now. It’s Lucas.

Lucas gurgles from the car seat on the floor, and I beep his nose.

He doesn’t laugh, but maybe he will tomorrow. He’s pretty fickle. One minute he loves General Bloopy, the next minute the dinosaur makes him scream. One day he sleeps through the night, and the next night...

Oh, who am I kidding. Lucas is a terrible sleeper.

He also screams when he has a bath. He’s not fickle about that; no, he’s quite decisive in his hatred of baths.

Mom says he’s exactly like me.