Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 61286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Chloe turned to leave, and Skye quickly stopped her. “Chloe . . . will you send Tripp back here?” She’d taken what Chloe had to say to heart, and now she needed to talk to Tripp about letting his family in on their news.
The other woman grinned. “Sure thing. I know he’s worried about you, but I kind of asserted myself and told him to sit at the table while I checked on you, which he wasn’t happy about. I just thought you might need a female friend to talk to.”
“I did,” Skye said, smiling. “Thank you.”
Chloe left the bedroom, and a few minutes later Tripp walked in, his worried gaze focused on her face. Before he could speak, she did.
“I’m okay, really,” she said as he sat down beside her. “But Chloe knows that I’m pregnant and I think we should tell the rest of your family.”
He winced. “Because of what happened at the dinner table?”
She laughed lightly. “Yes, because jumping up and running to the bathroom to get sick was rude as hell, and I don’t want your mother to think I didn’t appreciate the meal she’d made.”
He chuckled, then turned more serious. “Is that the only reason? Because you don’t owe them any explanation for—”
“I want to tell them,” she said, taking his hand and intertwining his fingers with hers before exhaling a deep breath. “I know it’s still early in the pregnancy, but this kid is happening, and I’d really love for your family to share in our happiness.”
“They will love that, too,” he said, and pressed a chaste kiss against her temple.
Hand in hand, as a couple, they walked back into the dining room where everyone was mostly done with their meal. As soon as they entered, everyone went quiet and Audrey’s warm, concerned gaze went to Skye, but Tripp spoke before anyone else did.
“So, Skye and I have some news to share with the family,” he said, taking the lead, as if knowing how nervous Skye was, because this announcement was so momentous.
Everyone waited for him to continue, and the grin that lifted Tripp’s lips was filled with pride and legit excitement, leaving no doubt in Skye’s mind that she’d made the right choice to have a baby with Tripp. He wanted this child as much as she did, and he was going to be an exceptional father.
He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her close to his side, not bothering to hide how much he cared about her, which brought tears to her eyes at that blatant show of affection in front of his family. She wanted to blame the surge of emotion on pregnancy hormones, but it was getting increasingly difficult to deny the truth, that this man was everything she wanted and dreamed of, but never believed was possible.
“Skye is pregnant,” Tripp finally said after leaving the family hanging for too long. “We’re going to have a baby.”
“Oh, my God,” Audrey exclaimed, tears filling her eyes as she stood up and walked over to Tripp and Skye. Without hesitation, the other woman pulled her into a tight embrace. “I’m so thrilled to be a grandma again!”
Everyone’s responses were nothing like Skye imagined they’d be. Sure, they were surprised, but even Tripp’s brothers and his father congratulated them with genuine enthusiasm. Nobody asked about their relationship, or questioned if they were getting married—they just accepted the situation for what it was. No pressure or expectations.
Audrey sighed, pressing a hand to her heart. “What a perfect day for that announcement,” she said, smiling ecstatically at Tripp. “Your sister would be so happy for you.”
“I know she would,” Tripp agreed, hugging his mom.
“Mommy!” Whitney shouted, making her little three-year-old self known amongst the chaos that had ensued around Skye being pregnant. “I want a baby, too!”
With a cute smirk on Chloe’s face, Skye watched as the other woman glanced at her husband. “I think we can make a baby for you happen.”
“Tonight?” Whitney insisted impatiently.
“Making a baby takes time,” Beck said, ruffling his fingers though his daughter’s silky hair. “But Mommy and I will definitely start trying tonight.” He waggled his brows at Chloe, who blushed.
“I want a girl baby,” Whitney said, already putting in her order.
The adults laughed at the little girl’s innocence, and the rest of the evening passed quickly and they all had a wonderful night.
By the time she and Tripp arrived back at her place, she was mentally and emotionally exhausted, but extremely happy with the way everything had turned out.
She headed into her bedroom to change into something more comfortable, reflecting on the day’s events with a smile—as she realized how grateful she was that her child would have the kind of close, traditional family unit Tripp had. The kind she shared with her parents and brothers. There was no doubt their baby would be surrounded by love, no matter what kind of relationship she shared with Tripp. For the first time she felt a spark of hope . . . that maybe, possibly, she could have it all . . . with Tripp.