Page 93 of The Commander

They’ve given me everything.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

QUINN

––––––––

Noah is so much like his father, and I can tell they’ve had a difficult relationship. But Mr. Jenkins—Dad—is a true gentleman. A gruff one, but I seem to like my men like that.

Today won’t go nearly as well. All day I’ve had butterflies and felt sick.

Noah said I was pregnant.

We did a test, and I’m not.

“I’m nervous,” I say as we sit in the back of the Uber. I didn’t think turning up on a motorbike with my fiancé was a good idea. It’s just one less thing to worry about.

“I should have told them I was bringing someone.” I chew the inside of my mouth and lift my hand to admire my engagement ring.

It’s perfect.

I’m not sure I would have chosen anything better. It astounds me how well Noah knows me, given we never dated. The past few weeks have been the most incredible of my life.

Making love.

Falling asleep in his arms.

Waking up in them.

Discussing our future and learning new things about one another. I know it’s the honeymoon phase, but we have known one another for years and this doesn’t feel like any other relationship I’ve been in.

It’s solid.

There’s a surety to being committed on this level which takes a little getting used to, but I love it.

I belong to Noah now.

Not that a woman belongs to anyone, but he is my family. We are a partnership. That gives me a strength I perhaps should have found before now.

“You haven’t let your father stop your dreams. Stop being hard on yourself,” Noah said to me a few days ago. “From what you’ve told me, you’ve stood up for yourself many times.”

He’s right.

I suppose what I was expecting is for my father to change. He won’t...unless he wants to. So, knowing he’ll have harsh words for me today and won’t be happy for us hurts. He may refuse to walk me down the aisle or come to our wedding.

I blink away the emotions, and Noah squeezes my hand as the Uber turns into the familiar residential street.

I should’ve warned Mom.

I should’ve told them over Zoom.

God, this is a bad idea.

We climb out and walk hand in hand along the path up to the front door. Mom opens it, calling out that Quinn is here!

My brother stands behind her with a grin. He clearly saw us get out of the car.

“Well, this should be fun,” Ted says as Noah places his hand in the small of my back.