Page 117 of Penny & Royce

“We’re going to have a baby.”

She swallowed hard and nodded, a sob escaping her throat. “Yeah, we are.”

He pulled her in tight once again. “You’re going to be such a good mom, Penny.”

Still, the tears fell. These ridiculous emotions were going to get the best of her. She already knew it.

“Hey, hey,” he murmured. “It’s going to be okay.”

Penny shook her head against him. “It’s not, though. This doesn’t change anything. Your family still hates mine. We’re still getting div?—”

“Don’t.” His voice broke on the word.

She stilled.

Royce pulled back, his hands moving to her shoulders. His expression was wrecked, but his touch stayed gentle. “Please don’t finish that sentence. Not right now. Not after this.”

“But—”

“I know.” He drew in a shaky breath, then let it out slowly. “You’re right. This doesn’t magically fix everything. And yet it changes everything.”

It took a few moments for her to finally allow herself to relax into him. “What do you mean?” she asked in a whisper.

“This changes nothing about how I feel about you. I love you, Penny. I loved you before I knew about the baby, and I still loveyou now. This isn’t the reason I want our marriage.” His eyes searched hers. “You are.”

She bit down on her lower lip, trying and failing not to cry again.

His mouth tugged slightly, though the smile didn’t quite hold. “I need you to know that under no circumstances am I signing those documents now.”

Penny stilled. Then she pulled back sharply enough that Royce’s hands dropped away from her. She searched his eyes, seeking any confirmation that he might be reacting only because of the baby.

But she found none.

“You didn’t sign them?” she whispered.

Royce shook his head. “I almost did,” he admitted. “But no. I didn’t get that far before Morgan intervened.”

Her eyes rounded. “Morgan?”

“It’s a long story.” His expression softened. “And for what it’s worth, I don’t think she meant for me to find out like that. Quinn guessed you were pregnant. And Morgan didn’t exactly deny it. That’s how I found out.”

Penny closed her eyes. “I asked her to let me tell you.”

“I know.” His voice was quiet. “And I’m sorry you didn’t get to do it the way you planned.”

Her eyes opened at that. There was no accusation in his tone that would indicate he was upset with her for not telling him.

Just Royce looking at her like she mattered more than his own hurt.

“You’re not getting rid of me,” he said, his voice low but steady. “Not just because of the baby. But because I’m in this with you. I’m going to be in this baby’s life. I’m going to help raise him or her like I’m meant to. And I want to do that with you.”

Her breath caught.

“If our families can’t accept that,” he continued, “then we’ll figure out what comes next. Maybe that means moving. Maybe it means staying and letting them learn how to deal with it. But we are not making decisions out of fear anymore. Not either of us.”

“But—”

Royce lifted one hand, brushing his thumb along her cheek. “Talk to me. Argue with me. Tell me you’re scared. I can handle all of that. But don’t ask me to pretend this marriage is over when I know you don’t want it to be.”