Page 102 of Come Take Me Now

My face falls. “What?”

“Come on, you probably want to go outside, little guy.” The yellow fluff ball follows her to the back door, and she steps outside to show him the grass.

“You’re leaving me on a cliffhanger, babe,” I remind her.

“Okay, just one second.” She brushes past me to walk back inside, and I turn my attention to the puppy she needs to name.

“You’re going to destroy my backyard, aren’t you?” I ask like he could respond.

I hear the door close again, and Tilly returns to my side. “I was saying I had a belated birthday present for you,” she says. She hands me a slick, folded-up paper.

“Till, you didn’t have to,” I say, gently unfolding the paper. The air punches out of me. Ultrasounds. Each shows a small bean in the center. My face warms at the sight.

“I’m pregnant.”

I shake my head in disbelief. “But how?”

She blushes and shrugs. “Spring break.”

“But you’re on the pill?” I reply.

She kneels in the grass to pet the puppy. “Funny thing. I forgot to pack my birth control when we went to Mexico. I should have told you...”

“Yeah, but you know me. It’s amazing.” My breath catches in the back of my throat.

“I know I should have, but…we’ve used nothing before, and nothing happened. So, I didn’t think it’d happen now, but when I missed my period, I felt so content. Glad. It was a cool feeling.” My eyes dart between her and the ultrasound printout.

All I can make out is, “You pulled the goalie on me.”

“Are you mad?”

I shake my head. “God, no. I’m shocked. You call me when you stub your toe.” She giggles. “How’d you keep this secret? How many weeks? When are you due?”

“When I figured out I was pregnant, I scheduled an appointment with an OB in San Diego. They don’t schedule the first appointment until eight weeks. I explained my situation with graduation and moving, and they made an exception. That was last week, so I’m eight weeks now and due around Christmas.” She laughs then. “That wasn’t planned. God, it was hard not telling you, but I wanted to tell you in person.”

“Are you feeling sick or…?” I ask.

“Weeks six and seven were rough, and I almost puked during a final presentation. This week’s been better so far.” She bites her lip. “Don’t be mad, but—”

My heart feels like it sinks into my stomach. “What?”

“I want to keep the gender a surprise. I know Valentis only make boys or whatever, but it could be a girl.”

“Ugh, you know I hate waiting.”

“I know, but it’ll be a fun surprise,” she replies.

I place a hand over my racing heart. She could change her mind later in the pregnancy, or we’ll be surprised like she wants. Either way, it doesn’t matter. I always knew I wanted to be a dad. Thought it’d happen before my brothers, but there’s something so right about it happening now with Tilly. It would have ruined everything for her if she had gotten pregnant two years ago.

I pull her into my arms, and I can’t wait to watch her flat stomach turn into something more. Then our kid will grow up in the wine business, just like I did. “I couldn’t have planned the timing, but I bought you a diamond months ago and wanted to wait for the right moment.” She tilts her chin upward to gaze into my eyes. “Marry me?”

She brings her fingertips to the side of my inked neck, just below the gauge in my ear. “I thought you’d never ask.”

The End

Bonus Epilogue

Tilly