Page 120 of The Merger

A full-body shiver shakes my body.I think I’m in shock.

I don’t know how to do this, and I’d give anything not to have to do it at all. But there’s no way to avoid it. He deserves to know. This will affect him, too.

“Gannon …” I squeeze my eyes shut, tears leaking through my lashes. “I’m pregnant.”

I wince, bracing myself for an outburst. For a yelp. For a loudwhat the fuck.

He stiffens beside me, but that’s it.

“I just got a letter from the lab that did my blood work,” I say, peeling my eyes open. “It says I didn’t disclose my pregnancy. I think it says I’m three weeks pregnant, but I’m not a doctor and, quite frankly, I think I’m in shock.”

“Wow.”

“Gannon, please know I didn’t do this on purpose. I’m not trying to trap you or put you in any position. I’m … stunned. I had no idea. And I guess it could be wrong, I don’t know. But I’m just telling you what it said because …”I’m scared.

His chest rises and falls with deep, measured breaths. He rolls his head around his neck as if he’s struggling to work this out in his head.

“Before we get too far into this, I have a question,” he says, his voice calm.

“What?”

He turns slowly to face me. “I mean this with all the respect in the world. And no matter what the answer is, I won’t judge you and I’ll help you figure this out. Okay?”

I nod.

“Is it mine? I’m not implying anything, but I don’t want to assume anything. We’ve never discussed being monogamous and, although I will tell you right now that I have only been with you, I can’t assume you feel or have felt the same way.”

The hope in his eyes slices through me like a knife.

“Yes, of course, it’s yours,” I say through the tears clouding my vision. “There’s been no one else.”In every aspect, honestly.

His eyes flick to my stomach and his features soften. A slow, shy grin kisses his lips.

“I don’t want to assume anything either,” I say. “You told me flat out that you don’t want a relationship or children because you?—”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You did.”

He shakes his head. “I didn’t say shit. I just agreed with you.”

“You told me you didn’t have a heart to give me.”

“Because I didn’t think I did.” He reaches for my fingers, lacing his through them. “But I was wrong.”

His touch is a balm to my heart. I blink back tears but can’t keep up with the onslaught. I just dropped this bomb onto his world and he’s being so gentle, so kind. So …Gannon.

“This is a lot to process,” he says.

“I know and I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing to me. We created this together, and we’ll deal with it together. You didn’t do this on your own, and you have nothing to be sorry for.”

My lips quiver as a wave of warmth swamps me.

“I’m not going to tell you what to do with your body,” he says, stroking my palm. “But I will tell you that whatever you decide to do, I’m here. Preferablyright here, with you on my lap if you’ll cooperate, because I think my protective instincts just increased by about a million percent.”

I laugh through my tears and settle against him with my head beneath his chin. His arms wrap around me as if he’s keeping me safe from the world.