Page 134 of When Sky Breaks
His quicksilver eyes are glassy, and there’s a crease between his brows.
“Do you not want this?” Worry trickles in, and the warm breeze feels frigid as sweat rolls down my spine.
August shakes his head, and I think I’m going to throw up.
“I need to sit down.” I step back and take a shallow inhale before letting it out, my hands shaking and my stomach threatening to capsize its contents into the soft sand at my feet.
He deepens his frown before he curls his hand around my arm. “Oh fuck, baby, no, no, of course I’m okay with it. Oh god, come here.”
Tears stream down my face as he cradles me, raining kisses over my braided hair and temple.
“It’s not you, Shortcake. God, no, it’s not that. I’m just—fuck—I’m scared, okay. That’s all. I’m happy and scared.”
I wipe away my tears to read his face. There’s worry, but it’s now for me.
“Scared?”
He brushes another tear from my cheek and leans down to kiss away the remaining salt trails. Sighing, he drops his forehead to mine. “I’m worried I won’t be a good dad. I didn’t really have a good example growing up, and I won’t forgive myself if I fuck this up. You, and now this baby, mean everything to me.” He places a trembling hand on my lower stomach, and I cover his with one of mine.
Relief floods me, and I sag into his arms. “Honey, you’re going to be an amazing father. There’s no way you could ever mess this up.”
I crack a joke so he knows I’m not upset. “Hell, if Trek can do it, so can you. Besides, I’ve seen you with little Ivy and you’re a natural. And we have Foster, who’s been the best grandpa and second dad to you. Trust me, you’re going to be great, I know it.”
August laughs softly and pulls me in tighter. I kiss the little hairs exposed on his bronzed bare chest before looking into his face at the dark freckles dotting his perfect nose. “You and I may have had crappy parents when we were little, but we don’t let that get in the way of being good people. You’re a good man. The best I know and the only one I want to have a family with.”
He breathes out, his eyes now twinkling. “I’m going to be a dad.”
I bite my lip and bob my head. “I’m going to be a mom.”
Lifting me into his arms, he swings me around gently, and we laugh and cry before settling on the sand, the ocean lapping at our feet.
August sits behind me, and his solid presence fills me with peace.
With the weight of our past behind us, we’ve forged a life filled with laughter and love, now blossoming into a cherished family of our own.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
august
EPILOGUE
EIGHT MONTHS LATER
The delivery room buzzes with nurses readying the bassinet with a warmer and blankets.
Diapers are off to the side, along with anything else a newborn baby might need. Which is a fucking lot, I might add. Our house will need a remodel due to all the baby things taking over.
A pain shoots up my arm as Sky squeezes my fingers with every ounce of strength she possesses. For a little thing, she sure is strong.
I let none of that show as I brush back the damp hair from her sticky forehead.
She lets out a sharp breath and rides through another contraction. A weak whistle floats from her pursed lips and clenched teeth.
This time, I can’t help but chuckle softly. “Shortcake, we can’t run away from this.”
“Why not,” she whines, “this really hurts.”
“I know it does, but you’re having our baby. You try to leave and he’s still going to come with you and demand to be let out.”