Bella wrapped her arms around me and moaned into my mouth as I pulled her body against mine. When our lips parted, I leaned my forehead on hers.
She sighed contently. “We’re also celebrating something.”
“Oh yeah?” I asked, taking one of her curls and spinning it around my finger. It was so soft, and it smelled like she’d used a different shampoo than usual. “What are we celebrating?”
Bella took a step back and smiled. “Dinner first, then I’ll tell you.”
I pulled her back to me. “Seriously? You’re going to hold out on me?”
She laughed and pushed me back a bit. I gave her a good once-over and said, “Wait, you cut your hair.”
Bella lifted a hand to her hair. “I did. Bree and I went to Boston yesterday to do some shopping, and she talked me into seeing her hairdresser.”
Her hair was just below her shoulders now and cut in a way that made the blonde waves look curlier. “I like it shorter.”
“Me too. We also got our nails done.” She held her hand out and wiggled her fingers.
I took it and kissed the back of her hand. “You look beautiful, Bella.” She smiled, and I placed my hand on the side of her face. “Did you get a facial or something? Your face is glowing.” Tears formed in her eyes, and I leaned closer. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
Shaking her head, Bella said, “Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Everything is perfect. More than perfect. It’s amazing. The world is beautiful!”
I tapped the tip of her nose. “Then why do you look like you’re about to cry?”
A part of me worried she’d somehow found out where we’d gone. But then I imagined she’d be angry with me, or at least upset, so that couldn’t be it. She had a smile on her face and her eyes twinkled.
She brought her hands to her mouth and let out a little sob of laughter. “I can’t wait another second. I have to tell you!”
Smiling myself, I asked, “Tell me what?”
Bella grabbed my hands, placed them on her stomach, and held them there. She drew in a slow, deep breath and then exhaled. “Hunter, we’re going to have a baby.”
I blinked a few times, letting her words sink in. “Wait—are you saying that someday we’re going to have a baby and that thought makes you so happy? Or are you saying we’re going to have a baby because you found out we’re pregnant?”
She giggled. “We’re going to have a baby because we’re pregnant! I’m so sorry, I took a home test. I just had to know.”
My heart and stomach both jumped. I thought I loved Abby before, but I fell for her even more right then and there. A rush of happiness like I’d never experienced assaulted my body in the most glorious way.
“We’re having a baby? Are you sure? How do you know? When did you find out?”
She held up her hand and said, “Wait.” Then ran toward the bedroom and reappeared with a plastic baggy and held it up. There had to be at least ten pregnancy tests in there.
“I took a test the morning you left. I’d been feeling off, and you already knew I missed my period. I couldn’t wait a second longer—I had to know. Are you upset I did it without you?”
Reaching for the bag, I looked at the tests. All of them indicated that we were pregnant. Laughing, I replied, “Sweetheart, I could never be upset with you. And…you took a test, or a million of them?”
Bella dropped her head to my chest and giggled before she looked back up at me. “I was so shocked, I called Bree and asked her to buy another test so I could be sure. She stopped at like four different stores to buy all these different brands. Some are multiples, as you can see.”
“I see!” I said, holding up the bag again. “So Bree knows, then. Does anyone else?”
“No. I wanted to tell you before anyone else found out. Although, I’m pretty sure most of Boggy Creek now suspects Bree is pregnant after her mad dash to buy up all the tests in town.”
I wrapped my arms around Bella and pulled her to me. I hugged her tight, but not too tight since I would never want to hurt the baby. “I can’t believe it! We’re going to have a baby!”
Bella squeezed me tighter, and I put the bag on the counter, leaned down, and picked her up.
“What are you doing?” she asked with a wide grin.
“I’m going to make love to you. What else would I be doing after you tell me such beautiful news?”
“No! Hunter, my dinner! It’ll burn! See, this is why I wanted to wait.”
Glancing back over, I saw the table set up with candles and flowers and realized how much time and effort Bella had put into this surprise dinner. I walked back over to the salad and slowly placed her back down on her feet.