Page 93 of The Betrayal
“I'm so sorry,” she whispered as she tightened her grip around my body.
“Is everything okay Ari?” I ask her, she doesn't seem okay. Her head lifts from my chest and her eyes find mine, blinking for a moment as she just looks at me.
She nods slowly, and I don't miss the tears pricking in her beautiful blue eyes. That breaks my heart. And then worry floods me once more that something may have happened that she is keeping from me. Maybe she had bad news and didn't want to tell me over the phone, and suddenly, everything that I was worrying about before is replaced with fear.
“Let me show you,” she whispers, but her voice is so quiet. She pulls away from me and I instantly miss her. She steps back, reaching for her bag off the side table and pulls out a black and white square bit of photo paper. Her fingers find mine, linking our fingers and entwining them together. She leads me towards the living room and she ushers me to sit down. Shit, this must be bad. Maybe she knows that the baby isn't mine? Doesn't matter if it's not. There is no way in hell I am letting her out of my grasp. She stays standing, fingers pinching the edge of the paper and I look at her confused, brows furrowed, and I allow my eyes to settle on hers, bouncing back and forth with anticipation as I wait.
She hands me the ultrasound and my hand reaches out, my fingers gently taking the corner of the picture and I let my eyes cast down and I study it. It takes me a minute or two to realize what I am looking out. My once creased brow line is now smoothed out, eyes widening when I look up at her. My wife.
“Twins?” I blink at her as if in disbelief and her eyes are streaming, nose running as tears roll down her pretty pink cheeks. She nods her head yes, hands clasped together and pressed to her full lips as if she is sending a prayer up to the heavens. I stand slowly, stepping forward and wrapping my arms around her waist, lifting her feet off the floor, and I bury my face into the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent and I feel my emotions consume me as I shudder against her.
I'm crying. There is no doubt in my mind that these are tears of sadness, I am overjoyed and so excited for the next chapter in our lives.
“Baby this is...” I whisper, placing her down gently and pressing my forehead against hers.
“Scary,” she murmurs, and I can see she is scared. Can feel it too.
“It's amazing,” I correct her, my lips pressing against hers and I feel my heart race in my chest, skipping beats as it does.
“They're identical,” she tells me, and I ignore the way I feel a searing pain through me, knowing full well that these won't be genetic and another indication that this does not help whether I am the father or not. I stiffen against her, but only slightly so I know she would have missed it, and a smile graces my face as I focus on her and only her.
“Ari,” my tone is thick, and I feel like I am explaining something that doesn't need to be explained, “these babies are mine, blood or not. You're mine, this, us... we're a thing. It's real. You're my wife and I am your husband. I know you probably think I won't love these babies if they aren't mine but that's where you're wrong. I will love them with all I have, I love you with all I have...” her mouth pops open ever so quickly before she closes it and I realize why.
It's because I have finally said those three words, those eight letters out loud instead of thinking them in my head.
“I do Ari, I love you.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
ARIZONA
Keaton insisted on cooking, and I wasn't going to argue with him because honestly, I felt exhausted. I've not long been out of the shower and I am dressed in a black skort, denier tights and a red long-sleeved bodysuit. My hair is straight, and I opted for my glasses. My make-up is done and I finish off my look with red matte lipstick. Spraying my Si perfume, I leave my phone on the dresser and disappear downstairs when the smell of dinner floats through the room and my stomach grumbles. Rounding the corner of the kitchen, I see Keaton standing over the stove, fitted jeans, mid sleeved gray tee and a hand towel resting on his shoulder. He looks every bit handsome.
“Hey there good lookin', whatcha got cooking?” I hum as I close the gap between us, my arms wrapped around his body from behind, my head resting between his shoulder blades.
“Hey baby,” he looks over his shoulder at me and his scent consumes me whole making me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, my heart galloping in my chest. Linen mixed with leather and cologne, and I am ready to dissolve into a puddle on the floor.
“I am so hungry,” I groan, reluctantly letting him go and picking a breadstick from the counter and popping it into my mouth.
“Not much longer,” he spins, placing the lid on his saucepan and walking towards me, his hands scooping my face up so I have no choice but to look at him.
“I never had you for such a sweet man... you were always such an...”
“Asshole?” he laughs, our noses touching, lips parted.
“Something like that,” I hum, my fingers wrapped around his wrists, and I never want to step out of this moment, but I know I have to.
“I had never been in love before,” and it's not the first time he has said that.
“You must have loved...”
“Don't,” he shakes his head from side to side, when the door chime goes just as he covers my lips with his.
Breaking away, I float down the hallway towards the door, grabbing the handle and swinging it open to see Kaleb and Connie.
“So, you are alive then,” Kaleb chuckles deeply, swooping me in for a cuddle and a kiss on the cheek before Connie wraps her arms around me and squeezes.
“I am, don't worry, your brother doesn't keep me captive,” I roll my eyes in a playful manner and close the door behind them as they shake off their coats which I take and hang in the closet.