Hard Checked (Ice Kings #4) - Stacey Lynn Page 0,75

he smiles.

And it’s so blindingly beautiful, so much better than what I expected him to do, I smile back at him.

“You’re pregnant,” he repeats. I don’t blame him for not believing me. I still don’t fully believe it and I’ve recently had something that resembles a vibrator shoved up my hoo-ha in order to double-check the pregnancy test.

“Yeah.”

Before I can blink, I’m swooped up into a bone-crushing hug and he’s moving, straight into his living room. He moves so fast he’s sitting before I can wrap my legs around him to hold on and then I’m on his lap, crushed to him, my head to his shoulder and I hear him let loose a cry that’s so filled with pain, so filled with hope and happiness, my own tears soak his dress shirt and I hang on tight.

I hug him back and hold him until his shoulders stop shaking and his tears stop soaking my temple.

“Sebastian—”

“What…” He swallows, eyes red, looking uncertain and scared for the first time I’ve met him. “I know it’s your body. I know that well, I know we’re not…we haven’t talked about what we are… to each other or anything. But what… what do you think you’ll do?”

“I wouldn’t end something we created, Sebastian.” My fingers run through his hair and his forehead drops to my shoulder. “I never even considered it. I’m terrified. My dad is probably going to kill me… or wait, he might kill you first.” His shoulders shake and his lips press to my shoulder. “I want this, though. With you being as much of a part of this as you want.”

“All of it,” he whispers and lifts his head. His green eyes swim with a heavy emotion that I feel deep in my heart. “I want all of it.”

I imagine him finishing it with you and kick that thought to the curb. He’s talking about the baby. Not me. Not us. After all, like he said, there really isn’t an us.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Sebastian

Gigi is pregnant.

I’m going to be a dad.

The natural, normal, boy meets girl and has a baby kind of way.

I can’t express all the emotions tumbling inside of me, making my brain hurt and making my heart burst with gladness. This is… it’s too much. Guilt, for getting her pregnant. For not being able to do that for Madison. Guilt, for thinking of Madison while Gigi is on my lap in the first place. I’ve held little back from her, and she’s giving me everything.

Easy and uncomplicated has most definitely flown out the window now. There is absolutely no way Gigi will have my child and I won’t work my ass off as much as possible to continue seeing if we can have the kind of relationship I wanted us to before finding this out.

God. This explains so much. Her exhaustion. Her distance. This was not how I thought the words ‘We need to talk’ was going to go by any means.

“I think I might have a heart attack, I’m so shocked.” It’s still hard to speak and my heart is racing so fast I press my hand there.

Gigi covers hers with mine. Those hot pink fingernails cover my hand and then slide into the gaps between my fingers.

“I thought I was going to pass out when I took a test.”

“I wish you would have told me.”

“You were leaving town. And I didn’t know for sure until you were gone. I didn’t think it right to share it over the phone.”

“It wasn’t. I still wish I could have been there. For you and for me.”

“I’m sorry. About all of it. I mean, we barely know each other, and now… well, this is happening.”

His green eyes darken and his hand at my cheek tenses. “Don’t be sorry. You don’t have anything to apologize for. Maybe give me a minute to process it.”

“Good luck. I’ve been trying to do that all week and am still baffled.”

“Your week. You mentioned you’re getting a job? Why? You love the bar.”

“Because I’m having a baby. Working there doesn’t exactly give me stable hours, and I live above the bar. It’s not the place to raise a baby. I need a job and better income.”

“You’ll have me.”

“Sure, I mean. I know you’ll help and I know you’ll be involved, but—”

“You’ll have me.” I repeat the statement succinctly, letting her see how serious I am. What does she think is happening here?

“I know, but—”

“No. Listen to me. You’ll have me. If you want to take over