Page 69 of Come Find Me Tonight

“Good, I’ll stay near you guys. If you get tired of riding with E, just let me know.”

I chose to ride with Enzo. His truck was roomier and more comfortable, and I knew Robby would be a menace on the road and experiment with manual again.

“I think he’ll get tired of me first,” I giggled. Robby smiled and kissed me again.

He looked up at the house for one of the last times. “I’ll miss this place, but this will be better.”

And here I am, late despite being on the combination birth control that usually keeps my period on time. Not this month. It’s an early Thursday morning, and my damn period was due Monday. My stomach twists with every step.

Shit, would the house be done in nine months?

I’m about to flip the test over when Robby walks in with his joggers hanging off his hips. Over the past year, he has let himself gain weight and looks more like the guy I met in college, but he has to be a little more careful to balance his weight when we have sex. He still has abs—softer and less contoured, but I prefer them as they are now.

He strides over to the vanity. “Did I miss the reveal?” he asks.

I lean against the granite countertop, facing away from the test resting on the edge of the sink. “I’m too nervous to look.”

Robby hasn’t changed and is even more in sync with my routines and body since living together. He knew I was late the second I wasn’t bedridden on Monday like I usually was every four weeks. He reaches past me, lightly brushing my side with his bicep.

“Do you mind?”

I shake my head, and he clears his throat, making his Adam’s apple bob. He holds the test in front of his eyes and purses his lips. I slump.

Oh no, it’s negative.

But I swear my boobs hurt more!

“What? What is it?”

“You’re pregnant, baby,” he says and flips the test to show me the plus sign. He drops it to pull me into his arms, and the test clatters on the granite.

“No way!” I twist my torso to pick up the test and inspect it. It feels light in my hands for something so life-altering. My eyes well and my nose warms, but I try my hardest to stop any tears from falling. “Are you happy?” I ask, knowing the answer.

“Couldn’t be any fucking happier than I am right now.” Robby leans down, pressing his lips to mine. His hands find my sides, and he runs his fingertips over my lower abdomen. He rests his forehead against mine. “Are you?” he asks quietly.

I nod, feeling my lips turn upward. “More than.”

“Good.” He kisses me again. “As much as I want to call in, I have to get ready for work.”

“Okay.” I peck him on the lips, and he turns to start the shower, dropping his sweatpants. “Hmm, maybe I want to join you,” I say, pulling my oversized sleep tee over my head. It’s actually one of his old band tees I adopted into my wardrobe and never gave back.

Robby groans as I step into the tile shower with him. “Ugh, you’re going to make me late.”

“It’s payback since you made me late.”

He wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me into his orbit. “Touché, baby.”

While Robby sits at his temporary work desk in the primary bedroom and logs in, I make my iced coffee and sit on the balcony with my tumbler. I bring my knees to my chest, resting my heels on the edge of the chair, and look out at the infinite, neat rows of grapevines that span most of the Valenti land. The horses neigh below from the stables, and the air is still crisp from last night. I lightly rub my lower stomach through my sweatshirt.

There’s a baby in there.

A real-life baby. Half Robby, half me. Would it be a boy like I thought we’d be destined to have? Or could we be having something rarer in the Valenti family—a girl? I smile down at my flat stomach.

I don’t mind either way.

I knew I wanted to be a mom someday; I just didn’t know when. Destiny chose for us.

Mama won’t like that you’re unmarried, Appa.