Our little boy.
I smile against her lips, feeling a weightlessness cover over me.
You did it, little brother, I think. I’m going to make sure that your son knows just how brave his father was. Not one day, Coop… Not one day will go by that I won’t show him how much he’s loved. He will never once question if he’s wanted, I promise you that.
When we leave the doctor, I notice that not once has our smiles slipped from either of our faces.
“I love you, Sunshine.”
“I love you back, baby.”
Chapter 22 – Chelcie
It’s been a week since the doctor’s appointment, a week since we found out that I’m having a baby boy. It’s been such an incredible week. Between working part time with Dee, working on my book, and falling into Asher’s arms at night, my life couldn’t be fuller. I’m beyond happy right now and I don’t think anything can change that.
Asher’s been over the moon since we found out. At first, I could tell he was trying to hide his happiness. The uncertainty with his role in the baby’s life was weighing heavily on him. I didn’t waste a second before letting him know exactly how I felt about it. How I wanted things to be.
I told him, while sitting in his lap in his Jeep, my arms around his neck and my forehead pressed to his, that, in my heart, he’s this baby’s father. Not in the way that he is replacing Coop or Coop’s part in this baby’s life. I want Asher to raise this child alongside of me. I want this baby to look at Asher with the same love I feel, wake up asking for his daddy and Asher is there. And…I want Asher to be by my side every night we tell our son about how brave his daddy Coop was. This baby would never question who fathered him, but he would also know the very tangible love of his daddy.
Asher didn’t even fight me on it, as I’d expected. He just pressed his body closer and thanked me over and over again. From that moment on, we’ve grown even closer as a couple. Our love for each other and our love for our child is so all consuming that there is no doubt in my mind that I’m the luckiest woman on the planet.
I grab the mail from Joe before making my way up to my apartment. I had to go into the office today and talk to Dee. Ash and I talked last night and we both decided that I would stop working for her. He wants me to focus on enjoying my pregnancy, and he’s been urging me to finish my book. His faith in my dream and me is what finally caused me to make a decision. She was naturally upset that I would be leaving her at the end of the month, just two weeks away, but she also understood why.
I think her confidence in me really helped to make me see that this is the right move. I might have never had the courage to take this step, but I want nothing more than to make all of them proud of me.
Asher decided to stop taking so many cases that would put him leaving me for long periods. I could tell that he didn’t want to miss a second of my pregnancy either, but I was starting to get worried about how we would support both of us and the baby on one—cut-in-half—income.
Asher explained to me that he’s been working on some technical jobs the guys at Corps Security needed. He said that, with Maddox not around as much, he’s been taking over for him with his normal duties. I felt a little better knowing that, even when Maddox came back to work, they would be keeping him on full time. He says that business is growing so quickly that they need the extra help.
So here we are. I’m almost unemployed. Asher is starting with the CS crew. And we’re working to start our lives together.
I unlock the door and go to push it open, frowning when it catches on something.
“Uh, Ash?” I holler through the half-cracked door.
“Coming, Sunshine. Hold on. Shit, I’m sorry. I meant to move that.”
I hear some shuffling, sounds of him picking up and dropping something heavy, and then him letting out a tired sigh.
What the hell is going on in there?
When he swings the door open, all thoughts fly out of my head. His wearing just a pair of basketball shorts hanging low on his hips. His bare chest, chiseled muscles, and sweaty skin are just begging for my hands.