Page 20 of Badger

One Year Later

I wasnervous as hell waiting for Aaron to get home. When he finally arrived, I looked like a deer caught in headlights.

“You okay?” he asked as he studied me carefully.

“I’m fine,” I blurted an octave too high.

“Spill it, Macy,” he ordered.

“I, uh, let’s talk over dinner,” I said and bolted for the kitchen.

He caught me by my waist before I made it two feet and swung me around to face him. “Let’s talk now.”

I sighed in defeat. “I had a doctor’s appointment today, and well, um, they—”

“Macy, so help me, if you don’t tell me what’s going on right the fuck now—”

“I’m pregnant,” I squeaked.

Silence.

Deafening silence.

I wasn’t even sure he was breathing.

“Aaron?”

“What?” he whispered with an unreadable expression on his face.

“I’m so sorry,” I cried and covered my face with my hands.

“Oh, shit, baby, no. Don’t cry,” he said sounding panicked as he scooped me into his arms.

“But I told you I couldn’t and you said you like it just being the two of us,” I wailed into his chest.

“Macy, stop crying and look at me,” he demanded. It took me a moment to compose myself, but he waited patiently for me to raise my head. He had the goofiest smile on his face. “I’m fucking thrilled you’re carrying my baby. I was okay if it happened, and I was okay if it didn’t.”

“I didn’t think it was possible,” I whispered.

His goofy grin morphed into a cocky smile. “I did. My shit’s potent.”

I slapped his chest playfully and rolled my eyes. “Here we go. We’ll get to watch you strut around with your chest puffed out like Phoenix did for weeks after he got Annabelle pregnant.”

He leaned forward and captured my lips in a gentle kiss. “Good thing you enjoy the view.”