“When I was headed over there, I’d realized I’d messed up. I kept picturing you like I always do when I’m not with you, and I was thinking about the last time I’d seen you, telling you that I had to leave for a few days. That was the moment that came to mind, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. You had a lost, worried look on your face. I wanted to kick my own ass for not seeing it. Of course you had that look. I’d spent months trying to make you fall in love with me, months trying to get you to see what family was really like, and then I went and left. You were thinking God knows what, thinking I left you so easily when I knew losing people is what you’re most scared of, why you’ve been fighting us coming out. You didn’t want to hurt anyone or lose anyone. You want everyone else to be happy.”
He rubs his nose against me. “God, sweet girl, I’m so sorry for that. But I knew in that moment that I had to leave my job as soon I got back. I couldn’t be in a place to even chance it. Chance being roped into a mission or whatever might happen. Chance ever leaving your side because I want to give you that. I want you to know I will always be at your side. I will never leave you.”
I roll, turning to look at him.
“I don’t—”
He cuts me off, taking my mouth in a hard kiss.
“Don’t say some crap about you should be stronger or that I should keep my job. I don’t want the job. I felt relief about leaving and about spending my time with you, being a dad again, coming home and making you finally tell everyone what was happening with us, starting a new journey in life.”
I reach up and run my fingers through his hair.
“You’re my sweetness, Alice. I love how soft and caring you are. I love that when I get a hold of you that you melt into me. I love that you want to make everyone happy. I don’t want to change that about you. I can be strong if you can be our sweet. I can protect it because a sweetness like yours should be protected.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He leans in, giving me another kiss.
“Tell me the rest.”
“Not much to tell really. Got stuck out in the middle of nowhere and spent my days thinking about you to get me through, thinking of coming home to you, thinking what would happen if I didn’t.” He rubs my belly. “I’ve missed so much already.” He slides down my body to my baby bump. “You’ve been giving your mom a hard time while I was gone.” He kisses me there. I know I won’t tell him how rough it’s been. We both fought our own battle while he was away, and I can see the guilt is still riding him. I won’t give him any more.
“No, he’s perfect.”
His eyes fly from my belly to meet my gaze.
“It’s a boy?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, then I bet you were a handful while I was away, and your mama won’t tell me. Probably just say you were a little angel.”
I smile at that because it’s true.
“Your mommy is stronger than she knows. One has to be strong after going through so much rough. Having the world treat her like it doesn’t care about her for most of her life and still be so sweet, still be so kind and put everyone first above herself—most people go hard. Not your mommy, though. She’s strong in ways where others would fall.”
My eyes fill and a tear escapes. “I don’t know how we got so lucky to get her, but we’ll never let her go, will we, little guy? We’ll show her how much she means to us because she’s our world.”
Chapter 5
Thomas
“I’m so nervous,” Alice says as she paces the floor.
She’s got on a yellow sundress, and I want to rip it off her and take her right here on the living room floor. Her curly red hair is flowing down her back, and my hands twitch to grip it while she’s under me. I’m trying to control my animal instincts, but seeing her baby bump in the dress is driving me insane. Knowing she’s pregnant, and knowing that I put it there, has my inner caveman beating his chest.
“Calm down. Come sit next to me.” I pat the cushion on the couch, but she gives me a stare and shakes her head.
She’s right. If she gets close to me right now, I won’t be able to stop from bending her over the couch and lifting that dress up. I’d be ten inches deep when our company arrived, and we both know that’s a bad idea.
“They’re here!” she shouts, as if I didn’t hear the door shut outside.
I called Maggie and Eli this morning and asked them to come over. I wanted to discuss a few things with them, and I wanted all of us to talk face to face.
When Maggie comes through the door, she goes straight for Alice. It warms my heart to see the love the two of them share, and I’m so happy that Alice has Maggie as a friend. Eli walks over, and we half hug, half beat each other on the back. Once Maggie has peeled herself from Alice, she gives me a hug, too. We all say hello, and then Maggie and Eli take a seat on the couch.
I reach out, taking Alice’s hand and pulling her down on the sofa next to me, wrapping my arm around her waist. Maggie looks at us for a second and then looks at Eli with a question in her eyes.
“Yeah, I’ve known, sunshine,” he says, without having to be asked anything. “I could see a man gone crazy for a woman because I’d looked in the mirror a time or two.”
“I’m so sorry—” Alice starts, but I cut her off.
“Alice and I are together, and she told me that you know about the baby,” I say to Maggie.
“Oh my Jesus! It’s yours!” Maggie shouts, and bounces in her seat. “I’m going to be an aunt!”
“A baby?” Eli says, with pure happiness in his voice. He sounds almost as excited as I did. “This is awesome news. Congratulations, guys.”
I squeeze Alice to me and kiss the top of her head. “See? Nothing to worry about.”
“I just didn’t want you to think I betrayed your friendship, Maggie. I love your dad. I have from the second we met. You’ve always been so kind to me, and I didn’t want you to think I was using you.”
“Oh God, Alice. Never. You’re like a sister to me.” She tilts her head to the side and thinks. “I guess now you’re more like a stepmom to me!” Maggie laughs and jumps up, wrapping Alice in a hug.
“So, just a few more things are in order,” I say, clearing my throat.
Maggie moves back to sit with Eli, but she’s clearly about to burst with excitement.
“Alice and I are going to be staying here. Maggie and Eli, you’re both welcome to live here if you want, but I know Eli has a house now.”
“We’ll be staying there, sir,” Eli says, putting a possessive hand on Maggie’s leg.
She’ll always be my little girl, but I’m happy that she’s chosen a good man to take care of her. I couldn’t have chosen anyone better for her.
“All right, then I guess the big decision is for Alice now,” I say, looking over at her.
She’s looks at me and then at Maggie and Eli with a confused look on her face. “What do you mean, Major?”
I slip off the couch, pull the small box out of my pocket, and kneel in front of her. I open the box and hold it out so she can see it while I take her hand.
“I know I keep saying you don’t have a choice in marrying me, but I want to give you the chance to choose me. I won’t give up until you say yes, and I’ll never stop trying to make you happy. But I want you to know that I choose you, and I’ll never, ever leave you. Because I love you, and I can’t live without you. I want you to choose that, too.” Alice puts her hands over her mouth, and I see tears slip free.
“Shhh. Don’t cry, sweet girl,” I say, wiping them away. “Marry me, Alice. Make me the happiest man in the world, and make our family grow.”