Page 96 of Finding Fate

“I cannot be quiet when you do that, and there is a child in the backseat, so that’s not happening. Maybe you shouldn’t be so good at it.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t be so tasty.”

She smiles as she sits up, unbuckling her seatbelt, and then she grabs her purse from the floorboard. “How long was I out?”

“You were asleep before we got on the highway after leaving the airport.”

“Dang. I must have been tired. I’m sorry I didn’t stay up with you.”

I lean in closer and kiss her. “It’s okay. You’re growing my baby. Based on how much energy number one has, I’m going to say it’s a full-time job.” She frowns. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“I need to get a job, Maddox. Why are you not embarrassed I’m pregnant again? Honestly, I thought our roles would be reversed.”

“Why would I be embarrassed?”

“We aren’t married. When we went with your parents to church Sunday, where they are very active members, I couldn’t help but wonder if they were embarrassed by everything. I don’t have a mom to make proud. I want yours to be.”

My chest aches. “Just because my parents are Christians doesn’t mean they shun people that make mistakes, if that’s what he’s supposed to be. He’s not that to me. At least not with you. We’re human just like everyone else. We’re born again sinners. I love you, Gabby. My mom loves you. I can tell. I asked you to marry mebeforewe found out. We have sex. If a person can’t handle a pregnancy, they shouldn’t be having sex regardless of any other circumstances. The better question is why are you embarrassed? Were you embarrassed with Madden?”

“That’s different. He was our first accident. And we had been together a lot longer. Now we know better and just got back together. Our current living situation isn’t even ideal for him, let alone another baby. Where are we going to put it? I don’t have a job. I’m not putting all the financial strain on you, but if I work, I’m not sure I’ll make anything after paying for two kids in daycare. And even though our living situation is a little weird, I wasn’t ready to change it, even if we can afford it. I love Presley and Sayler. I finally have real friends again; not friends that benefit my need to get back at my dad.”

I grab her hand. “Would you feel this way had we gotten married before you got pregnant again, even if the timeline were no different?” She shakes her head. “Then stop stressing over the insignificant things. We’re not the first couple to start a life without a plan. We have each other and we have our son. Things could have turned out a lot different. We have a lot to be thankful for. I’m not going to let another baby with the girl I’m in love with deter me from having everything I want in life. I don’t give a damn what anyone else thinks of me but you, and it took me getting back the one thing I was missing to get to that point.”

“When you say shit like that it’s word porn. Your self-assurance turns me on. Want to put the kid to bed and hop in the shower?”

That question went straight to my dick. I kill the engine and open the door, already shoving my leg out when the cab light comes on. Grabbing the back door behind mine, I open it and dip my head inside, going for Madden’s seatbelt. “Leave everything but essentials for morning. Let’s go.”

Laughter fills the truck as I pick him up and shut the door. He stirs, adjusting his head on my shoulder and going back to sleep. She meets me with her purse on her arm as I round the truck. We both walk through the open lit garage they left on for us when I texted Riggan from the airport. Gabby has the key shoved in the door as I approach right behind her.

Everything is dark but the few lights throughout the house that stay on at night and the Christmas tree. I follow her to the third floor. She halts suddenly when she turns the light on in our bedroom. “Um, Maddox?”

I’m trying to work his shoes off so I can just lay him down. We dressed him in activewear so he’d be comfortable enough to just go to bed if he was asleep when we got here. “What?”

“Something is wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

She shoves the door all the way open. “This isn’t our bed. Where is our stuff?”

I walk inside when she steps out of my way, looking around. I recognize the duffel bag next to the wall. Wait, this is Riggan’s old bed that was in the basement. What the fuck? “I wasn’t expecting to go to bed with an audience.”

We both turn around at the sound of Landon’s voice, who’s standing behind us in a pair of boxer briefs with wet hair like he just got out of the shower. “What’s going on? Where is my bed?”

He smirks at me. “Where do you think it is?”

“Landon, it’s late. Don’t be a prick. I have a kid that needs sleep.”

“I see that. You’ve been a busy boy while I was gone. I hate to state the obvious, but if the bed that was in the basement is now on the third floor, then the bed that was on the third floor must be in the basement.”

My face is already heating. “There is no privacy down there! Who the fuck gave you my room?”

He laughs and holds up both hands in surrender. “Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just sleeping where I’m told. Guess you got the boot. I must be the new favorite. Or it could be that whole single men get the penthouse floor thing. You know my niece and nephew. Kids can be loud little shits when they wanna be.”

“Let’s go, Gabby.” I’m about to blow a fuse, but I can’t do it right now. This is bullshit!

Fifty-Six

Presley