“We did it!”
Jace looks at me like I’ve lost my ever-loving mind, but then his lips part as realization strikes him.
He grabs my flailing hand and looks at the pregnancy test.
The positive pregnancy test.
After months trying to get to this moment we finally did it.
Paris must’ve been awfully lucky for us.
A grin breaks out over his face like the sun rising. “We’re going to have a baby?”
I nod, tears in my eyes. “You’re going to be a dad.”
“And you’re going to be a mom.”
He growls lowly and crashes his lips to mine. The test falls from my hand to the floor as my arms go around his neck.
He sets me down and presses his forehead to mine, his hands on my cheeks.
“This is happening.”
“It is,” I concur.
After all this time, it doesn’t feel quite real, like it’s too good to be true. All the wishing and hoping and heartbreak and tears have been leading to this moment.
We stand there, him holding my cheeks in his hands, for endless minutes. Like we’re afraid if we move it’ll burst the bubble and this won’t be real anymore.
I place my hands on his slender hips, grasping his shirt in my fists, and to my surprise I begin to cry.
“Nova,” he gasps softly, “what’s wrong?”
I sniffle and force my eyes to his. “I was beginning to think it was never going to happen.”
He rubs my tears away with his large thumbs, but just as quickly there are more there replacing them.
“You worry too much,” he tells me, and I laugh.
He’s right. Between finishing school, trying to start a business, Greyson, Owen, my parents, and now this, I’ve worried myself to death. I feel nothing has been going right, like the world has been conspiring against me, and while things haven’t been bad they haven’t been good, either.
I take a deep, but shaky breath, and nod to him that I’m okay.
He lets his hands fall and looks me over.
“This is happening,” he says again, like he’s trying to imprint the words into my brain and get them to stick.
I close my eyes briefly, picturing my belly round with our baby, the nursery, Jace singing softly to the baby.
God, it’s a wonderful picture, one I’m finally going to get.
Giving up Greyson was hard, but seeing him with his adoptive parents I can’t deny he’s been given a better life than what I could’ve given him. And if I’d been able to keep him, college would’ve been nearly impossible. I probably would’ve had to work like a slave to make ends meet. As much it sucks not having my son, I can’t deny both our lives are better for it, and at least now I get to see him. That makes all the difference in the world.
“I need you to hold me,” I confess.
He obliges immediately, wrapping me in his long arms, and holding me to him.
Sheltered. Protected. Safe.
He does all of it for me.
I never had that before him, not even with Owen.
My relationship with Owen was young love, nothing about it compares to this, but it doesn’t mean I regret it. Everything in my life has been a step leading me to here, to Jace.
Jace hums softly, a tune I’m not familiar with.
Without moving away from him I ask, “New song?”
I feel him nod against the top of my head. “Something I’m working on,” he murmurs.
“It’s beautiful.”
“It should be, you’re my muse.”
I laugh softly, that’s what he always says, but Jace is incredibly talented. I know he thinks he’s average, but he’s wrong, and I’m not being biased. The first night I ever met him he was singing and I was captivated by the words, the music, and him. He’s magnetic.
“What do you want to do today?” he asks.
I shrug against him.
“I feel like we should celebrate or something.” He chuckles softly.
“I don’t know,” I hedge, not wanting to break the spell I feel like we’re currently under. “Why don’t we watch a movie or something?”
“Why don’t you watch the movie naked and then I’ll watch you instead.”
I pull away and smack his chest as I laugh. “Jace,” I scold. He grins mischievously and I shake my head. “Fine, clothes stay on, but I’ll let you feel me up.”
He frowns. “What if you flash me your boobs? Just once?”
I roll my eyes. “We had sex this morning and you’re already desperate for more, aren’t you?”
His eyes darken and he grabs my hips, pulling my body flush to his, eliminating the small amount of distance gained between us.
“I always want you,” he says huskily, licking his lips like he can already taste me.
I can feel my desire building but I do my best to squash it. If I let Jace we’ll spend our entire day fucking everywhere we can in the apartment.
I shake my head. “Down, boy.”
He laughs and releases me. “Movie then. I’ll be on my best behavior. Scout’s honor.” He winks and looks me over, telling me with his eyes he’s going to be anything but on his best behavior. “I’ll make the popcorn. You get the movie.”
I turn the TV on and bring up Netflix, searching through the movies until I find something that sounds good.
I turn it on as the smell of buttery popcorn fills the apartment.
The microwave dings and I turn to watch Jace empty the popcorn into a large bowl for us to share. He’s ditched his shirt—to torture me, I’m sure—and his back muscles flex as he works.
He turns around, giving me a cocky smile when he sees me watching him.
I sit down and get cozy on the couch with a blanket. Jace flops onto the couch beside me and motions me to lie against him. I do, gladly. His skin is always hot he’s like my own personal space heater.
I reach into the bowl in his lap and grab a handful of popcorn, shoving it into my mouth.
The movie starts but I don’t think either of us is really paying attention.
Jace glides his fingers through my hair and I startle when he leans down, brushing his lips against my forehead.
“We’re having a baby,” he murmurs, his voice still full of awe and wonder.
I feel the same, wondering if this is really happening.
I don’t think it’ll feel real to me until I see a doctor, and maybe not even then.
He touches his hand to my stomach, like he can already feel the tiny human growing there, and I shiver.
“I love you, more than anything,” he murmurs. “You know that, right?”
I smile up at him and reach to curl my fingers in his hair, pulling him down until our lips are pressed together in a soft kiss.
“Trust me, I know.”
Jace shows his love for me in so many ways.
In the way he touches me, the way he looks at me, the way he takes care of things before I even have to ask.
I never knew love could be like this—that it’s supposed to be like this.
Growing up with my parents … It’s not like they hated each other, but they weren’t exactly happy, either. They nit-picked every little thing the other did and I’m sure it’s only gotten worse in recent years as they’ve gotten older. I was lucky to get away when I did—before I could be poisoned by what I witnessed.
I gulp suddenly and my body stiffens as I realize I’ll have to tell my parents about this.
After my last phone call with my mom I vowed to never speak to them again, but I can’t risk them finding this out through someone else.
“What is it?” Jace asks, noticing my rigidness.
“We’re going to have to tell my parents.”
He looks at me, blinking slowly, and utters one word. “Fuck.”
That word sums up exactly how I feel, and I wonder how long I can put off the inevitable.
Jace
With Nova gone to work the apartment is eerily silent.
/>
We had our appointment this morning with her doctor, and he confirmed Nova is indeed pregnant. At the news, Nova immediately burst into happy tears and I might have shed a tear or two myself. I might’ve brought up having a baby first, but over the past few months of struggle, Nova’s desire for a baby has far exceeded mine.
I pick up my guitar and set it on my lap, strumming a few chords.
I hum quietly to myself, trying to let the words work themselves through my brain. It’s a new song, one I’ve titled Safety Net. It’s more upbeat than my usual songs, so it’s taking a hell of a lot longer to get right, but I know it’ll be worth it to get it perfect.
I haven’t been sitting for long when someone starts beating on the door like they’re determined to break it the fuck down.
I set my guitar down and stomp over to the door—pissed someone has dared to disturb my flow—and swing the door open sharply.
“What the fuck do you want?” I spit before I see who stands there.
“Move aside, motherfucker, and let me in,” Thea demands, baby Xael on her hip.
“I thought you weren’t allowed to cuss in front of the baby?” I raise a brow, stifling a laugh as I step aside. I’d fight her, but I’m actually kind of afraid of Thea. She’s batshit crazy.
She makes a face. “What Xander doesn’t know won’t hurt him—and if you even think about telling him I’ll kick you in the balls so hard you’re only going to be able to sing in a falsetto for the rest of your life.”
I can’t help it, I laugh, but I have no doubt she will make good on her promise.
“Here, take the demon spawn.” She thrusts the baby at me and I grab her. She smacks her chubby hand against my cheek and makes some kind of baby gurgling noise.
“Your mommy is crazy, you know that, right?” I ask the baby, and she blinks big brown eyes at me like my words are nothing new to her.
“I’m not crazy, everyone else is and they don’t understand the concept of normal.”
“Whatever you say.” I bounce the baby as Thea makes herself at home, plopping on the couch and picking up a magazine before looking at it with distaste and tossing it down so hard it slides off the table and onto the floor. She makes no move to pick it up. “Why are you here?” I ask.
She rolls her eyes like the answer is obvious and I’m too dumb to get it. “You and Nova have been rolled up in your little love den ever since you got back. We haven’t seen you in forever. I was getting worried.”
I raise and brow and kiss Xael’s cheek. “Worried, or in need of a babysitter?”
She sighs. “A bit of both.”
I laugh and shake my head. At least Thea’s always honest.
“Speaking of Nova, where is she?” Thea asks, looking around like she’s going to find Nova hiding under the damn coffee table.
“Working,” I reply, as Xael wraps her little fist around my finger and squeezes. The kid is freakishly strong, but I shouldn’t be surprised considering she shares DNA with Thea, and I’m one hundred percent sure Thea is not from this planet.
“Anyway, I wanted to tell you guys we’re planning a dinner at our house this Saturday and you’re expected to be there. If you’re not, do not underestimate me. I will hunt you fuckers down, tie you up, and toss you in my trunk and drag you there.”
I snort. “You really think you can lift me?”
She looks me up and down. “Adrenaline is a wonderful thing.”
I can’t help myself. I toss my head back and laugh. Thea is truly one of a kind.
“We’ll be there,” I agree, if only because she’s right. We have been MIA. Nova and I aren’t very social people and it’s easy for us to get caught up in our own little world and forget how much time has passed.
She levels me with a look. “You better be, that’s all I’m saying.”
She picks up the remote and turns the TV on.
I raise a brow at her audacity, but this is Thea we’re talking about. “Staying a while?” I ask.
“Yeah, why not.” She shrugs, flicking through the channels. “I’m hungry, why don’t you make me a sandwich?” She turns to me with a little smirk.
“Sure, dear,” I joke. “Take your baby.”
I hand the baby over to her and then proceed to make her a sandwich with all the grossest things I can think of.
Three-day-old fettuccine alfredo, some of the Chinese food we ordered in last night, pickles, sriracha sauce, a dabble of milk, topped off with macaroni cheese I find in the back of the fridge that I’m pretty sure we made when we first got back from Paris.
I put a piece of bread on top and smile at my masterpiece.
I trade Thea the plate for the baby and not taking her eyes off the TV she lifts the sandwich and takes a bite. She immediately spits it out everywhere, some spraying all the way across the room onto the TV.
She looks at the sandwich frowning in disgust and wiping her tongue with the back of her hand.
“Well played, my friend. Well fucking played.” She thrusts the plate back at me. “Now make me a real sandwich.”
We order pizza instead because I’m fucking hungry too.
Thea makes herself comfy, stretching her legs on the coffee table, Xael now sleeping peacefully in her arms making these cute baby snoring sounds.
I’m not really interested in watching the show Thea’s settled on—some reality show with lots of yelling—but I don’t have much choice. I can’t write my music with her here; it’s too personal and I know she’ll make jabs at it and even if she’s only joking her words will still get in my head.
I can hear the key slide in the door and then it swings open.
“Mmm, I smell pizza,” Nova hums, then she stops when she sees Thea. “Oh, hi, Thea.”
I know her sudden nervousness isn’t because she’s worried about Thea and me being alone together. Instead, she’s worried about the fact we have to tell our friends we’re having a baby and more than likely they won’t be happy about it. They’ve been on our case for months, ever since Rae and Cade finally got hitched, to get married. But no matter how much we explain our choice, they don’t get it.
Marriage isn’t for everyone and that’s okay.
“Hey, Nova,” Thea replies softly so she doesn’t wake the baby. “I was getting worried since we haven’t seen you guys at all since you’ve been back from Paris. I thought you got kidnapped or something.”
Nova eases the door closed softly.
“Sorry, we’ve been … busy.”
“Busy, huh?” Thea replies, raising a brow, like she doesn’t believe we’ve been busy for one second, which is kind of true. We have mostly been holed up in the apartment.
Nova drops her bag and keys on the kitchen table and makes her way over to us, sitting beside me and leaning over to grab a bite of pizza.
“I’m hungry,” she mutters. “No matter how much I eat I’m still hungry.”
She devours the pizza so fast that I’m sure it must be some kind of world record. I don’t know whether to be horrified or impressed, but I settle on impressed.
Thea tosses her pizza crust into the box and stands, cradling a snoozing Xael in her arms.
“Well, I better get going. Don’t forget Saturday.” She points a warning finger at me and then Nova.
Nova’s pizza slice pauses halfway to her mouth. “What about Saturday?”
“I’ll fill you in,” I promise, standing up to walk Thea to the door.
She leaves, and I watch as she bounces toward the elevator. Thea has more energy and zest than anyone I know.
I close the door and lock it.
“Now, what about Saturday?” Nova probes.
“Dinner with everyone.”
She frowns. “Do we tell them?”
I shrug. “It’s up to you.”
I don’t want to push her to share the news of the baby with our friends if she’s not ready. I don’t see the point in not telling them, they’re like family, but I do understand her reservations so I’m willing t
o do whatever makes her comfortable.
She puts the piece of pizza down she was eating and curls her legs under her. She bites her lip nervously, thinking it over.
I slowly creep toward and sit down beside her. I grab a piece of her long hair, wrapping the strand around my finger.
She brings her brown eyes to mine and nods. She smiles softly, almost shyly.
“We’ll tell them.”
I press my lips forcefully to hers and she laughs against me.
She wraps her arms around my neck and pulls back slightly. “Did that make you happy?”
I breathe out, overcome with emotion. “More than you know.”
Jace
Nova takes a deep steadying breath as we stand outside the front door to Thea and Xander’s home.
We can see inside, the house lit up, our friends gathered around the island in the kitchen. They haven’t noticed us yet, laughing and drinking wine and picking at finger food.
I put my hand on Nova’s waist. “We can get in the car right now and go home. We don’t have to do this.”
She looks up at me and shakes her head. Her long hair is down, nearly skimming her butt, and she’s taken the time to slightly curl it. Her freckles stand out on her nose and like always I start to count them, but I never get very far. There’s so many it’s impossible to count them all, and it really doesn’t matter. Each and every one of them is perfect. Like her.
“No, I’m being silly.” She gives me a smile. “We need to tell them.”
The silence hangs heavy between us with the words she leaves unspoken.
And my parents.
I know she’s scared shitless to tell them she’s pregnant. She knows they won’t approve of her having a baby without being married—plus, they don’t even know me.
“Ready?” I ask her, nodding at the door.
Another deep breath and she nods.
I grab the door and swing it open.
“Hey, hey, hey, look what the cat dragged in,” Cade jokes, a beer clasped in his hand.
I close the door behind us and we meet the others in the kitchen.
Rae hugs Nova and whispers something in her ear that makes her laugh.
Broken Hearts (Light in the Dark Book 5) Page 8