I place the books down on a table when Owen walks me toward the bathroom and then he heads off to grab clean clothes. The bottom of my dress soaked up some of the mess so I have to take that off and wash up quickly. Afterward, I wait for my fiancé only in my bra and sandals, which I already wiped clean.
Owen enters the bathroom, his eyes taking me in slowly. It’s when he stares at my stomach that I get all giddy and heart-eyed.
We find out the sex of the baby today.
I’ve been waiting so long for this. I want to know who’s responsible for making me crave the smell of coffee; our son or daughter. I’ll love him or her regardless, I’m just curious is all.
“Stop staring,” I whisper, looking away. “Being pregnant and horny is dangerous.”
“Yeah?” Owen questions, walking up to me. He helps me into a clean pair of underwear and then into a pink sundress that fits comfortably around my midsection. Mostly all of my dresses are getting a little snug so I foresee a shopping trip in the next few hours. “So if I do this…” he leans into me and kisses my neck, gently biting me.
I moan softly, gripping his biceps. “You’re so mean.”
“You still love me.”
I smile widely. “I do. To infinity and beyond.”
Owen groans, pulling me against him, making sure not to squeeze our child. “Let’s get married in a month.”
“Okay.”
“How about in two weeks?”
“Even better. I’ve made you wait long enough.”
He tilts his head, bright eyes colliding with mine. “I love you, you know that, right?”
“I do.” I always have.
“Good. Just making sure.” And then he’s kissing me, making my knees weak and my heart extremely happy. I’ll never get tired of this; being loved by my person.
I can’t stop staring at the computer screen while the ultrasound technician moves the wand around Zoë’s stomach, getting every side covered to make sure everything is okay with the baby.
Zoë squeezes my hand and looks up at me when the tech moves the wand over to her right side. “It’s so cold,” she whispers.
“I know, I’m sorry. Pretend it’s ice cream,” I say, kissing the side of her head, massaging her scalp.
Her stunning green eyes widen in excitement. “Can we get some afterward?”
I smile and nod. I can never say no to her.
And then the most beautiful sound fills the room. I’ll never get tired of it. Time stops. Zoë’s smile is all I see as we hear our baby’s heartbeat. It’s so strong it has the power to knock me to my knees. I support myself on my elbows, glancing at Zo as her eyes scan the screen. She smiles even wider when she sees the baby’s head, arms, and feet.
The baby is perfect.
My Adam’s apple bobs up and down as I stare at tiny hands and feet. There’s a baby growing inside of my best friend. That baby is ours.
Jesus, I want to drop to my knees and cry in excitement.
We’re having a baby.
It’s not real until you hear the heartbeat of a life you created with someone you love unconditionally.
“Do you want to know the sex of the baby?” the tech asks, looking at us both with pure excitement.
Zoë nods, tears starting to run down her cheeks.
“Yes, please,” I add.
The tech pushes a button and the screen freezes. She points to something on it and then looks over her shoulder at us. “She’s growing great and everything looks perfect.”
She.
We’re having a little girl.
Zoë squeezes my hand a little harder, our gazes colliding. “We’re having a girl!” she announces, lifting up to kiss me. She kisses me twice more before she starts crying happy tears as she stares at the screen. “Ohmygod, she’s so tiny and perfect.”
“We’re having a girl,” I say, more to myself because both women are not paying attention to me.
I bring my hand up to my face wiping away the tears as they stream down my cheeks.
We’re having a baby girl.
I’m going to be a father in five months.
I’m engaged to my best friend.
Life is fucking perfect.
Zoë glances at me while the technician starts wiping the gel off my future wife’s stomach. She wipes away some of my tears with her thumb and then she says, “I hope she takes after you.”
I shake my head, holding her hand against my cheek. “I hope she takes after you because her mother is the strongest most resilient person I know.”
Zoë closes her eyes and whispers, “I’m scared, Owen.”
“Why?”
When her eyes slowly open, shiny pools of green holding mine, she confesses, “What if I can’t keep her safe?”
I lean forward so we’re practically breathing in each other’s faces. I wipe away every tear and pepper kisses along the tip of her nose, her lips, her neck, her eyelids and her forehead. “No one will hurt her, okay.” I inhale once, keeping my voice steady because I have the same worries (that we can’t protect her from danger when she grows up) but I don’t need her to worry. Our daughter will be taken care of. She’ll be safe. “We’ll talk to her when she’s a little bit older. We’ll make sure she understands that there is good and bad in this world. We’ll tell her that no matter what she can trust us. I promise, we’ll keep her safe.”
My beautiful girl nods. “I hope she finds a little boy her age someday that will show her what it feels like to be loved.”
“She will.” I crack a smile as my emotions get the best of me and I break apart. “She’ll have everything. And hopefully soon she’ll have siblings to keep her company.”
“That sounds lovely.”
The technician makes some noise around us before telling us that she printed out the sonogram and left it on the desk so that we can go whenever we’re ready. “Congratulations,” she says before leaving the room.
“Thank you.”
When we’re alone, I take Zoë’s face in my hands. “Hey, Zo?”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s start another book. One our daughter can read when she’s older.”
That makes her tears dry up, and a wide smile transforms her entire face. “Do you think she’ll love books?” she asks.
“I know she’ll love you and anything you love too.”
Zoë sits up and adjusts her dress. Palming her stomach, she looks down and says, “Please be a bookworm.”
I step in-between her legs and rest her head against my chest. My eyes land on the sonogram and my heart beats a little faster. “She’s going to be perfect.”
Just like her mother.
She’ll be loved. Cherished. Adored.
And no one will hurt our daughter.
I will make goddamn sure of it.
Holding my fiancée in my arms and seeing the picture of my daughter, I get it now; how someone could go against every moral code they have and kill another person. These two are my life. I will kill anyone who ever tries to hurt them.
THE END
Cosmic Love Series
A SKY FULL OF SECRETS
(Luna and Phoenix)
BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN (February 2018)
(Blake and Mackenzie)
Stand-alones:
DON’T LET ME FALL
SOUNDS OF YESTERDAY
I’m so relieved/terrified/exhausted now that this book is finished. It became one simple story back in 2014 and over the last three years, it was rewritten more than four times. I hated writing this book but I needed to do it. Zoë and Owen wouldn’t shut up and we all know when characters don’t shut up, you have to listen.
This book wouldn’t have been written or even published without the love and support (and pressure! You know who you are ;) ) of my amazing family and friends.
To my beta readers, Ali and Karina, who have seen multiple copies of this book over the years and told me your true thoughts, THANK YOU! You never told me to just give up even when one ve
rsion of the story was complete shit. I hope this one is everything you wanted. To Jeannine, Kristen, and Jessica, who have only seen this version of LHG (thank God!!!) you guys don’t understand how much I appreciate all of your feedback. It was invaluable. You are invaluable to me. I owe you everything. When I was struggling, I re-read those emails and pushed myself to get this perfect. <3
To my family, thank you for letting me hide away and ignore you for multiple days of the week. I’ll never answer your questions about what this book is about or what happens. You’ll only ever know it’s about two childhood friends that love each other. Mom, please don’t ever read this book. It’ll only break your heart even more. You won’t even read this part so really, writing this doesn’t do much.
To the readers, authors, and bloggers who take time out of your day to comment on my posts or read my books, you are the reason why I want to keep writing. I could never express my gratitude for everything you do.
The ladies at Give Me Books deserve a shout-out too! They’ve been so helpful ever since A Sky Full of Secrets and I know, without a doubt, that I’ll use them forever, and I HIGHLY recommend authors do the same. They make cover reveals and release days so much easier.
Sarah at Okay Creations, I love you. I’m seriously sorry for being a fucking pain in the ass with my indecisiveness but this cover is everything and more. You brought Owen and Zoë to life and I can’t wait to hug them when I have my paperbacks!
Stacey Blake from Champagne Formats, you’ll probably get tired of me soon! I’m sorry if I’m annoying. I just love the things you do! I can’t wait to have you work on the next book!!!!!! ;)
Mary Ruth!!!!! Why are you so talented and lovely?! Thank you to the moon and back for designing LHG’s teasers. Thank you for just being awesome. You’re one of the sweetest people I know and I can’t wait to continue working with you.
I feel like I’m forgetting someone and if I am, I’m sorry. My brain is shit. Too many voices talking at the same time do that. Well, at least it’s Mac and Blake right now. *evil grin* Who’s ready?!
And finally, to every person who was hurt or is hurting. I wish I could take away your pain. I wish I could hurt the person who hurt you. You deserve great things and happiness. Please don’t ever feel like no one is listening. You are seen and you will be heard.
Briana Pacheco is the author of New Adult novels, a twin, a tattoo lover, easily swooned by accents, and a little bit of an extrovert but a whole lot of introvert. When she’s not reading, writing, or people watching, she can be found listening to music, perfecting resting bitch face, and awwwing at little dogs as they walk by.
She loves hearing from readers so shoot her an email or follow her on social media.
Email: [email protected]
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Signed paperbacks can be ordered here. :)
Let Her Go Page 24