Page 103 of Wretched Lies

“Fuck this,” Reid says, pulling me onto his lap. “I want you, Quinn. And if this isn’t our time to have a baby, thenthat’s a discussion for the future. We have our whole lives ahead of us.”

I rest my head against his chest, and take his hand. Our fingers entwine. Why do I get to live and my sister didn’t? How do I deserve any of this?

“When I found out Blake was gone, I thought I’d lost everything,” I tell him. “I wanted to curl up and die. I didn’t see a future because I couldn’t see beyond the pain. But I clung on for you. And when you and your stormtrooper brothers walked through the door and…” I choke on my words. “You gave me a reason to live again.”

Reid rocks me gently, his lips resting on the top of my head. I’m sure the pregnancy test should show the result by now, but neither of us move. I chew my lip. Our relationship is so new, and we’ve never discussed if we wanted children. Circumstances have overtaken us.

“You’re quiet,” I say, breaking the silence.

“Can’t you hear it?”

I lift my head. “Hear what?”

“Me,” he says, capturing me in his gaze. “Loving you so fucking loudly, Quinn.”

My breath catches in my throat, and Reid steals the next with his mouth. We kiss slowly and tenderly, our tongues dancing and our hearts singing.

“I love you so much,” I say, aware of the plastic stick in my periphery that we don’t dare check. “I’m just too scared to hope.”

“Viper, if it’s negative, I’m happy to put a baby in you whenever you’re ready.”

“I’m ready,” I whisper.

As we’re straightening up, the waitress appears with cups and a coffee pot. She’s more brazen this timewhen she looks at the test. “Would you like me to get you a decaf instead, sweetie?”

“Sorry?”

She tips her head. “Congratulations.”

I snatch up the plastic stick. It’s a digital test and it has one word on it.Pregnant.

Reid’s seen it too and he grips the sides of my head. “I thought I’d fallen hard for you, but I swear, Quinn, I’m still falling. This is some ride.”

The waitress clears her throat. “I’ll give you more time.”

“Actually, I think we’ll skip coffee,” Reid says.

“Not a problem,” the waitress says, stepping away. “You take care of them both.”

I stop Reid before he can move. “You’re sure you’re happy about this?”

He beams a smile. “I’m fucking euphoric.”

My laugh is a childish giggle, and it reminds me of Blake. I feel guilty for my happiness, but I let that thought float away for now. I’m never going to stop grieving for my sister, but we grew up finding light in the darkest of places. She’s with me, shining as bright as she ever did.

As Reid brushes away the rogue tear slipping down my cheek, we’re distracted by an ear-splitting whistle. There are three men standing on the other side of the window, arms crossed over their broad chests, scowls on their faces.

“We’d better go and tell them,” Reid says out of the corner of his mouth. He holds up a finger to indicate we’ll be there in a minute.

“No, keep your finger there,” I say.

I lean forward and place my finger perpendicular to Reid’s, creating a cross – or apositivesign.

Hunter gets it first and he punches Ash in the shoulder. Meanwhile, Mace jumps onto Hunter’s back and gets apiggy back ride as they run circles around Ash, who rolls his eyes at me. I think I’m going to like him best.

Hunter and Mace stop prancing around, and Ash orders them back to the helicopter. He’s in the center as they walk away, and he clasps each of his brothers on the shoulder, fisting their shirts. They all tip their heads back and laugh.

“Are you ready for this?” Reid asks as he slides us along the bench seat.