Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 91840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
I grin, and she laughs, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes, which is weird for Speedy because, when she smiles, she smiles with her whole face.
“You’re not disappointed that I’m giving you your gift later, are you?”
“No, of course not.” She picks her clutch up from the floor and seems to hesitate. Then, she reaches inside and pulls out a small white rectangular box. She places it in the center of the table between us. “I hope you like it.”
“You know I will. You have the best taste. You picked me, didn’t you?”
She doesn’t laugh, which bugs me.
I pick the box up and give it a shake. It rattles.
“Okay, I’m guessing, watch.” I go to lift the lid off and pause when she says my name. “What?”
“Look, if you don’t like what’s inside that box, it’s fine. I swear. I mean, I know we both said in the past that we wanted this at some point, but we never said when, and I don’t know when there’s ever a right time, but—”
“Speedy?”
“What?”
“Stop talking, and let me open it.”
“Okay.”
I pull the lid off and stare down at the white stick inside the box.
My entire being freezes.
“You’re pregnant?” The words feel like they rush out of me. I lift my eyes to hers.
She bites her lip and nods. “Seven weeks. I had it confirmed at the doctor’s a few days ago. I thought I’d wait to surprise you. I just hope it’s a good surprise.” Her face is screwed up with nerves as she chews on her lip.
“Babe, it’s a good surprise. It’s the best fucking surprise ever.”
“Really?”
“Really.” I smile so big that I feel like my face might crack. “Jesus, Ava.” I get up from my chair and sweep her up into my arms, hugging her tight. “I’m so fucking happy right now.”
“God, I’m so relieved,” she whispers. “I was so worried.”
I lean back and take her face in my hands. “Why?”
“Because we didn’t plan it, and I wasn’t sure where your head was.”
“You being pregnant with my baby is the greatest thing ever. Babe, it’s the best gift I have ever received in my life. It’s astro-fucking-nomical.”
She smiles big, and my chest feels like it could burst with the love I feel for her.
I move a hand down to her stomach and press my palm to it. “I just can’t believe our baby is inside of you right now.”
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” she whispers.
The waiter appears with our food. I look at it being laid out on the table, and after finding out that she’s pregnant, I decide that I don’t want to wait any longer to give her my gift.
“Speedy, would you mind if we take this food to go? I really want to give you your gift now.”
She looks at me, surprised. “Okay, sure.”
“Can you wrap this up to go?” I tell the waiter.
“Of course, Mr. Evans. Would you like any dessert to go with it?”
“Speedy?”
“I could eat some cheesecake.”
“Two pieces of cheesecake as well. And make it quick.”
The waiter rushes off to sort our food. I reach over the table, get the pregnancy test from the box, and put it in my pocket.
“What?” I say in response to the look on Speedy’s face, which is a mixture of disgust and happiness.
“You do realize that I peed on that stick?”
“And your point is?”
“That it’s kind of weird and gross that you’re carrying around a stick with my urine on it.”
“I’m carrying around a stick that says my girlfriend is pregnant with my baby. You’re lucky I’m not waving this thing around for everyone to see.”
She stares at me, laughter and concern in her gorgeous eyes. “Please don’t do that.”
“What’s it worth for me not to do it?” I grin devilishly.
She leans close and whispers in my ear, “I’ll let you do that thing to me that I said I would never let you do.”
I lean back and stare in her eyes, my blood suddenly rushing south. “You mean, I can punch the starfish?”
Laughter bursts from her. “If that’s slang for fifth base, then, yes, baby, you can punch the starfish.”
“God, you’re fucking awesome.” I grab her face between my hands and press a kiss to her lips. “I don’t know what the fuck I did to deserve you, but whatever it was, I’m glad I did it.”
“You definitely got lucky, big guy.” She pats my hand, grinning at me.
We’re back in the car with our to-go food. And I just can’t stop staring at Speedy’s stomach.
Our baby is inside her right now. A part of her and a part of me. It’s fucking mind-blowing.
A thought occurs to me.
“Speedy, does this mean I have to give up smoking now that we’re having a baby?”
She turns her face to look at me. “Only if you want to. You’ve been doing so well with not drinking, and if giving up your cigarettes would feel like too much of an added pressure, then don’t do it. The last thing I want is for you to put any unnecessary pressure on yourself.”