One Moment Please: A Surprise Pregnancy Standalone

“When are we going to have another one?” I ask, pressing my lips to Julianna’s soft cheek.

Lynsey laughs. “You’ve asked me that question every day since we could start having sex again.”

“I want more,”

“It’s a girl!” Dr. Lizzy exclaims and hands Josh a pair of scissors. “Dad, do you want to cut the umbilical cord?”

“I just want you,” I state seriously and reach out to stroke her belly. “And this baby. I want to be a family.”

“Oh, Josh,” she says and then leans up and kisses me tenderly. “Make love to me.”

“And what if I want more babies?”

My brows lift but the question doesn’t scare me. It excites the fuck out of me. “I’ll build you a bigger house.”

“Would you just kiss me before you ruin this?”

“Oh, baby, with pleasure.”

“I’ve wasted too much time, denying what I knew from the moment I deleted your address in that Uber app that first night.”

Lynsey blinks. “Wait, what?”

I sheepishly shrug. “I wanted you to come home with me that night. I was such a dick—like a kid tugging your pigtails in the schoolyard, but it was only because I wanted you.”

“Please marry me, baby. Please let me love you.”

“Please marry me. Please never take off your ring again because I love you. I’m in love with you. And I will never stop loving you.”

“I love you, Jones. I love your crazy laugh. I love that high-pitched voice you do on the phone. I love your insane need to read dirty books to our baby and eat charcuterie for meals. And I love the way you look at me because it makes me feel like the old me.”

“I love you, peanut. I’m sorry I wouldn’t let myself admit that before. I was scared that loving you would mean I couldn’t see everything that could hurt you or scare you. I just was so afraid of losing you like I lost Julian.” My voice cracks, but I push through. “I know I won’t be able to protect you guys from everything, and that’s okay because loving is what makes life worth living.”