by AJ Alexander
“Tell me what?”
We both spin toward the door, and my mouth drops open in surprise as Vance steps into the room.
VANCE
Selina immediately turns toward the window as I step into the room.
“These are for the new mama,” I say as I place a large bouquet of flowers on the table beside her bed. “And this is for the little miss.”
I hand Bristol the small gift bag and run my hand over the top of the baby’s head.
Images of Selina sitting in the same position, holding a baby with her dark hair and my brown eyes, filter through my mind. I shove my hand into my front pocket and grip the ring box I’ve been carrying around for days. She has said repeatedly how she thinks we should slow down and get to know each other again, and I respect that, but after almost losing her a second time, I want to tie her to me in every way possible.
“How adorable,” Bristol squeals as she pulls a tiny onesie out of the bag, turning it around for Selina to see.
Selina giggles quietly before covering her mouth and turning back towards the window.
“Why don’t you two head out to the hallway? I think this little one is ready to eat,” Bristol says, throwing a wink in my direction before gesturing wildly with her free hand.
“Did I miss something?” I question as my attention shifts between the two women.
Selina turns toward her friend before striding towards me and grasping my hand.
“I need to talk to you,” she whispers, pulling me toward the door.
I send Bristol a look of panic, unsure of what’s going on, but she just shoos me out the door.
Selina leads me toward a small waiting room at the end of the hallway before dropping my hand and heading for the window. I wait for her to explain, but I can’t take the silence anymore. My heart begins to pound in my chest as I imagine all the worst-case scenarios.
“Are you leaving?” I croak, the emotion clear in my voice.
She shakes her head, not even bothering to turn around and look at me.
Air whooshes from my lungs as I sigh in relief. “Then whatever it is, we’ll face it together.”
Her shoulders begin to tremble as her head connects with the window, causing a soft thump to echo through the room.
“What’s wrong, Seli?” I rush to her side and wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her tightly into my chest. “You can tell me anything.”
Selina pulls in a big breath. “I’m pregnant.”
My entire body freezes in shock.
“Pregnant?”
My head starts spinning as I process the information she’s given me. My heart begins to swell with love, overcome with happiness and the sense of peace I have been longing for all these years. Finally, Selina has given me the final piece of myself that I have been searching for.
“We’re having a baby,” I say out loud as a grin spreads across my face.
Her body stiffens in my arms as she begins to ramble. “I know we didn’t plan on having babies right away. Hell, I just came back to town for good. This wasn’t what I’d planned, but I really want to keep this baby and I would love for you to be a part of his or her life. I understand if you need some time to think about things.”
I quickly spin her around and give her a quick kiss.
“Marry me,” I say with conviction.
Her eyes widen in surprise as she attempts to pull away from me. “Wait. I just told you we’re having a baby, and that’s your response?”
She pushes against my chest, and this time I let her go.
“Yes,” I insist.
I watch her pace from one end of the room to the other, mumbling to herself and flailing her arms wildly in the air.
She pauses and turns in my direction. “You understand marriage is for life, right?”
“Yes.”
She continues pacing. “And you want to keep our baby?”
“Yes.” I stride forward, stepping directly into her path.
She smacks into my chest, and I wrap my arms around her to ensure she doesn’t fall.
“Can you give me anything besides one-word answers?! I’m being serious!” she screeches as she pounds on my chest with tears trailing down her face.
“Yes. Yes, I do.” I smirk at her before pulling her back into my arms. “See? That was three words.” I kiss the top of her head, then rest my forehead against hers. “Marry me.”
“I’ll have to think about it.” She buries her nose in my chest and inhales deeply.
After a few moments, her entire body relaxes.
“I’ll wear you down,” I tell her.
“It took you six months last time,” she responds, lifting her head and looking into my eyes.
“But it worked. And as long as we’re married before our new little one is born, then I call my mission a success.” I cup her face and wipe the remaining tears from her cheeks with my thumbs.
“Is that what I am to you? A mission?” she huffs as she tries to step out of my embrace, but I refuse to let her go.
“No, Seli. You’re everything,” I say reverently before taking her lips in a soft kiss.
“I can live with that,” she mumbles against my lips, then throws her arms around my neck, pulling me in for a deeper kiss.
If someone would have asked me months ago if this was the outcome I saw for Selina and I, I would have answered yes without hesitation. I always knew Selina was the other half of my soul. It just took her longer to figure it out and make her way home. But I’m just glad that she finally realized she never had to find a place to belong, and she didn’t have to try to be someone else, because there was always someone who loved her just the way she was: me.
Thank you for reading Seaside Do Over from Myself!
I hope you loved Vance and Selina’s story. If you did, or even if you didn’t, I would be so grateful if you could please leave a review.
The Dixie Pointe series continues with Seth and Bristol’s story in Seaside Classified.
If you want to start from the beginning, you can grab a copy of Connor and Audrey’s story Jaded by Love.
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AJ Alexander is a wannabe psychologist and author of steamy (borderline erotic) contemporary romances with happily ever afters that must be earned by her characters. She lives in the angst capital of the world, Seattle Washington with her own personal knight in shining camouflage and her two beautiful girls.
Want to read more insta-love romance with a twist? Check out all of my books on Amazon #FREE in Kindle Unlimited.
https://www.authorajalexander.com/books