Page 72 of Wilde Flame
“No!” she said, her hands dropping to her sides. “I know you wouldn’t do that, but I simply didn’t want you to feel trapped.”
“It takes two to make a baby, and I won’t walk away from you or our child.”
She instantly looked relieved.
“How long have you known?”
“I missed my period, which was due at the end of December, but I thought it was stress from having to move and trying to find a place to live. Then I started feeling sick, and after throwing up at the Greek restaurant last week, I thought I’d caught Dad’s stomach flu. I went to the doctor a couple days ago, and they did a pregnancy test. Just in case, she said. And it came back positive. She referred me to an OB, but I haven’t been yet. I wanted to tell you first. It’s just taken me those couple of days to figure out how to tell you.”
I walked over and took her hands in mine. I lifted them and kissed the back of both. “I’m not going anywhere, Lilibeth. I’ll be right here by your side the entire time.”
She smiled, then it faded. “I know throwing a baby into the mix complicates things, but I also know you’re not looking for anything, and I don’t expect that to change.”
I drew her to me and hugged her. She practically melted into my body. Now I got why she looked so damn tired and stressed. “Have you told your parents?”
Shaking her head, she answered no, her voice muffled. I eased her back and looked at her.
“I wanted to tell you first, then go to the OB to make sure everything’s okay before I tell anyone else.”
“Do you have an appointment set up? I’d like to go with you.”
Nodding, she said, “Tomorrow, at nine in the morning. I hope that works out okay. Since I’m telling you so last-minute.”
“That’s perfectly fine. Do you want me to pick you up?”
She chewed on her lip, and I reached up, pulling it free. I wanted more than anything to kiss her, but I knew that was the last thing either of us needed right now. Though honestly, I was a bit surprised by how calm I was. I suspected the moment I was alone, I would freak the fuck out.
“If you want. I’m now living in my parents’ garage apartment.”
The idea popped into my head, and before I could stop myself, I said, “You should move in with me.”
Lilibeth blinked a few times—then laughed.
When I didn’t say anything, she quickly sobered. “Wait, are you serious right now?”
“Of course I’m serious. You can’t have a baby in a garage apartment, and you’ll need help once the baby’s born. I have a huge house with plenty of bedrooms. You can have the master bedroom if you want, and I’ll move upstairs.”
“I am not taking your bedroom, because I’m not moving in.”
“Do you have room for all the things you’ll need for the baby? I mean, I’ve never had a kid before, but I’ve been to a few baby showers, and there sure is a lot of shit.”
She started to wring her hands again. “I mean, it might be cramped at first, but maybe I can find another house to rent.”
“Lilibeth, it only makes sense that you move in with me. At least until after the baby’s born and we can figure things out. Maybe by then, we can find a decent rental, or even buy you a house.”
Shaking her head, she frowned. “I can’t afford to buy a house. Every dime I had saved went into the store, and now I have a baby to think about, and all the costs that will come with it, and I…I can’t buy a house.”
I was about to reply when she lifted a hand.
“You’re not buying me a house, Caden. If that was what you were going to suggest.”
“I wasn’t going to suggest that.” It was a lie. I was absolutely going to suggest it. I wasn’t sure how I’d afford it, but I would have figured it out.
Lilibeth started pacing once again, then she stopped, spun around, and looked at me. “What about Emeline’s old place? I could maybe move in and rent it from her or your parents or whoever owns it.”
“I’m not comfortable with you being there all alone.”
“Why not?” she asked.
