Page 90 of Colton’s Inferno

“Is that it?” he asked, lifting her feet onto his lap.

It wasn’t. Her period still hadn’t started. Should she share her concerns with Aiden now? “Once we get the money from the sale,” she said, instead, “Grandpa Rusty wants to go to Florida. He said they have better rehab facilities.”

“He might be right.”

“I want what’s best for my grandfather,” she said. “But I’ll miss him.”

“What do you want for yourself, Lucy?”

It was a question that, until recently, she had been too afraid to ask. She leaned her head on his shoulder. Being with Aiden was more like being home than the ranch. “This is nice.”

“It’s better than nice,” he said.

She snuggled closer to his side. If she was pregnant, what would the baby look like? Would it be blonde like her? Would it have Aiden’s dimple? God, she hoped so. “What’s better than nice?”

“Lucy, I know we haven’t been together for long. But I love you.”

She turned to him and looked into his deep blue eyes. “Aiden,” she said, placing her lips on his. “I love you, too.”

If she wanted to tell him that she might be pregnant, now would be the perfect time.

“Aiden, I wanted to let you know,” she began. A pain settled low in her abdomen. She recognized the sensation. It was a menstrual cramp. Well, she hadn’t actually been late. Still, a pang of grief hit her in the chest.

“You want to let me know what?” he asked, drawing her out of her thoughts.

“I wanted to let you know that I do want children,” she said. “Just not now.”

“I’d like to have kids, too.” He gave her that smile, the one with the dimple she hoped their children would inherit.

Her phone pinged with a new message. Since the story about Stu Whittier had gotten out, Lucy had heard from all her old friends. It was nice to connect, but she really didn’t want to be interrupted at a time like this. She reached for her phone, ready to turn on the silent function.

That’s when she saw the message bubble. She sucked in a breath and sat up straight.

“It’s an email,” she said. “From the admissions department.”

Aiden moved in closer. “What does it say?”

Lucy’s hands shook. She held out her phone. “You check for me.”

Aiden placed his hand on hers. “You can do this,” he said. “Whatever they say, I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere.”

She drew in a deep breath and opened her email app. Her thumb hovered about the message. She closed her eyes and pressed the screen. When she looked again, digital confetti fell. “‘Congratulations,’” she read. “‘You’ve been accepted to the University of North Dakota at Red Grove.’”

“I never doubted you for a minute,” said Aiden.

She leaned her head back on his shoulder and stared at her phone, letting the confetti continue to fall. The funny thing was, Lucy had been so caught up in the past that she never considered her future. But now, with Aiden at her side, she couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.

Epilogue

Monday, September 19 7:38 a.m.

Lucy stood in the bedroom and looked at herself in the mirror above the dresser. She wore jeans, sneakers, and a University of North Dakota at Red Grove T-shirt. The fabric skimmed her body and fit her perfectly. She changed her gaze to look at Aiden, who sat on the bed. “Are you sure this isn’t too much?” she asked.

“It’s your first day of class,” he said, rising from the mattress. He walked to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Nothing is too much.” He kissed her cheek. “It’s time for you to go, though. You don’t want to miss your bus.”

He was right, but still she teased, “Thanks, Dad.”

A cup of coffee in a travel mug sat on the table. Her newly purchased backpack was next to it. Aiden followed her to the door. “Have a great day,” he said.