Page 138 of Rum & Coke

“I thought we were going to have coffee?” Tessa asked.

I nodded to the guy, and he turned and left.

“Vin—”

I got out of my seat, smoothed my tie down, and knelt on one knee beside her. Her hands flew to her mouth. The menu fluttered underneath the table, and my heart started to pound in my chest. I pulled the princess-cut diamond solitaire ring from my pocket and held it out in front of me.

“Sweets, I promise I will love you until there are no more stars burning in the sky. I want to spend forever with you. Will you marry me?”

She didn’t hesitate as she stood, her chair falling backward as she threw her arms around my neck. “Yes!”

My lips found hers as I held her in my lap squatting like a catcher. My thighs burned, but nothing in the entire world would burn more than the love I had for this woman.

Forty-Five Days Later …

They sayeverything happens for a reason, and that whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. After everything I went through, I realized it was all true. Granted, I wished my story was different. Autumn, Joss, and Cat all had scary stories to tell too, but thankfully, we all had strong men in our lives who were there when we needed them. And now, I was engaged to mine.

Butrightnow, I was barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen—literally.

“Sweets, let me do that,” Vinny offered as he came into the kitchen where I was making Colton a grilled cheese.

“I can still cook.”

“You need to be off your feet.”

“It takes—” I doubled over as pain radiated through my stomach.

“Tess …”

“I’m okay,” I groaned.

He bent down so he was eye level with me. “You don’t look okay.”

“Just Braxton Hicks.”

“No.” He shook his head. “From everything I’ve read, those don’t hurt.”

The pain went away, and I straightened. “See? I’m fine.”

He eyed me and then left the room. I finished Colton’s sandwich and brought it to where he sat in front of the TV. Yes, I was one of those moms. I didn’t care. Colton had been through a lot, and if he wanted to eat a grilled cheese while watchingPAW Patrol, he could.

Vinny walked back into the room and sat next to me on the couch. “I was thinking for our wedding colors—”

“Youwere thinking of our wedding colors?” I asked.

“Well, I was thinking that since you won’t let us get married at Dodger Stadium, that we could have blue and—”

“No!” I held up my hand. “No blu—” Another wave of a cramp raced through me.

“That’s it.” Vinny stood. “We’re going to the hospital.”

“I’m fine. I’ve done this before, remember?”

He didn’t answer as he ran up the stairs. While he was gone, another cramp washed over me. Just as I was about to grab my phone to look up Braxton Hicks, he ran back downstairs.

“Sophia and Valentina are meeting us at the hospital.”

“Vin—”