Chapter 34

I quickly walked over to him and grabbed the stick from his hands. With terrified eyes I looked down at the results. A second later, the object fell to the floor with a soft thud.

Two lines.

"Are you pregnant?" he asked again but I didn't respond, neither did I look at him. I was too shocked and was held in a temporary state of paralysis.

I think he took my non-verbal response as a yes and prodded further. "Is it mine?"

In less than three seconds, my hand jerked up from my side and whipped across his gorgeous face. He hadn't expected it, I could tell but I was quite enraged by his nonsensical question. Why the hell would he be asking me that?

"Fuck you," I spat at his turned face. "Why the fuck would you ask me that bullshit? It's not like I've been leading a lewd kind of lifestyle like you have!" I added in a slightly high pitch.

Bryce turned his face to look back at me. Long gone was the blank expression and now in its place sat a bewildered one. "Did you just slap me?" he questioned with incredulity.

A humorless chuckle erupted from my lips. "Yes, and I'll do it again so choose your damn words wisely. Do you not remember how we made love well into the night about a month ago? Did you forget that? Did you use protection?" I fired angrily at his stupid face. My hand was still tingly from the smack I'd graced him with.

"I thought you would be on the pill-"

I cut him off. "Why would you assume that? Do you think I'm always looking for some action? I'm not you Bryce," I scoffed and then crossed my arms on my chest.

He seemed hurt by my remark. "I didn't say that-"

I then cut him off yet again. "Well, you sure do sound like you thought it. You're like the only man I've ever been intimate with, dammit. Yes, I'm pregnant and yes, it's your baby."

"Well, shit. This wasn't supposed to happen," he said bluntly and totally disregarding my feelings. Hearing him say that made me want to kick his teeth in but I held my composure. After all, I didn't want to wake Israel up.

I exhaled deeply. "So, what are going to do? Do you want it?" I asked bravely despite the fear of his response that was gnawing at me.

"Of course, I do," he said and then made his way over to me. "I want you as well."

I was at loss for words. I didn't even know how to react so I just stood there dumbfounded, looking into his mesmerizing orbs. They held not hint of dishonesty, but sincerity and something else I was too perplexed to notice.

"I know that I implied that night meant nothing to me, but Aubrey I lied. I was just angry and hurt by the fact you didn't want me to defend you against Hunter. That night was probably the best night I've had with a long time, being with the woman I love."

My heart beat spiked. "Wh-at?"

He smiled and moved closer to me so that our faces were only inches apart. "I love you, actually, I never stopped loving you. I know I made you think otherwise but that was just me being a jerk. I know I hurt you so many times and a dumb apology isn't going to fix much," he said and then knelt down in front of me. At this point I was hyperventilating. "Aubrey, I don't want to live without you. If I'm being honest the last couple of weeks have been hell for me. I missed you terribly. I did want to see you but I was just too afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

He gulped and then continued. "Afraid you wouldn't take me back after the shit I said to you. And you were right to leave me, I was a lousy husband and I just wasn't good enough for you."

A lone tear slid down my cheek. "You're stupid, Bryce. I'm the one who's clearly not good enough for you. I ruined everything; I always do. I mean, look at what has happened over the last couple of months. I've caused so much trouble for you and you didn't even deserve it. I left you yet all you ever wanted to do was make my life better," I cried bitterly and sunk down to the floor in front of him. "You just leave and forget about me."

Bryce grabbed my face and wiped the saltiness away. "Didn't you hear what I said? I love you, and I just want to be next to you all the time. I don't ever want to leave you. Every fiber of my being belongs to you, Bree," he whispered and then locked his lips onto mine.

When we broke apart, we both grinned at each other. "I love you too," I admitted and he kissed me once again.

"Why don't we finish this upstairs?" He mumbled against my lips.

I smiled. "What if Israel wakes up?" I countered, putting my hands around his neck.

He stood up, lifting me off the ground in the process. "It'll be quick, I swear."

I let him tug me by the hand all the way to my bedroom. Once the door closed, his lips were on mine instantly. "Greedy much?" I mocked playfully as he took off my tank top.

He smiled, one of those rare million-dollar smiles. I almost dropped to the floor.

"Only for you, babe."

***

About thirty minutes later, we both trudged downstairs much to Bryce's chagrin. If I had allowed him to have his way, I don't think I would have come out of that room ever. My cheeks were flaming red, probably and my skin was quite sweaty.

Bryce looked quite satisfied, sporting a smirk on his beautiful full lips. I doubt he would ever look bad, even if he got caught in a blizzard. That man is seriously suave, and it made my heart soar to know he was all mine.

When we got to the lounge, Israel was awake and watching some cartoons on T.V.

"When did you get up?" I asked in a squeaky voice, hoping he hadn't heard anything. I honestly did try to be quiet but...

He continued to look at the screen. "About twenty minutes ago."

Bryce and I looked at each other. "So, did you hear anything weird champ?" his father inquired bluntly, plopping down on the couch next to him. I shot him a death glare. Gosh, this idiot! He had no filter whatsover.

Israel shook his head. "Only heard the cartoons," he affirmed. "So, did you and mommy make up?"

Bryce answered because I was too embarrassed to speak. That kid was just too intelligent for his own good. "Yeah, we did and she's moving in with us tonight."

Israel and I looked at him in shock. "She is?" He sounded like chipmunk.

"Yeah, and you're going to have a sister or a brother," he added. I face palmed myself. Talk about being indiscreet.

Israel shot up like a missile and caught my legs in a bone crushing embrace. "Is this true mommy?"

I didn't look at him, but the man who was seated on the couch. He was gazing at me affectionately and only then did I know that I didn't belong anywhere else.

"Yeah," was all I could say. I lifted Israel off the ground and went with him to sit next to Bryce. "So, do want to help me pack my stuff upstairs?"

He wrinkled his nose. "Your stuff probably has cooties." We all laughed at that.

"Hey Bryce?" he hummed in response. "Is my mother still at your house?"

"No, she left yesterday. She told me to tell that, when you're ready to sort things out, you should give her a call."

What had she meant by that? Did that mean she was finally going to attempt to straighten things out with me?

I continued to look at him. "How did you do it?"

He didn't change his facial expression. "Let's just say, I have my ways."

"Whatever you say, ex-husband turned boss," I muttered under my breath but he heard me.

He smirked knowingly. " Is that what've you been calling me?"

I batted my lashes at him innocently. "I don't know what're talking about, Mr. Roberts."

"Okay. Sounds like a book title if you ask me. Anyway, you should go pack your stuff. I want to take you to our house, ex-wife turned assistant."

I smiled broadly at his words. That was us; ex-wife turned assistant and ex-husband turned boss.

And I wouldn't have wished it any differently.