Epilogue
Tank
One Month Later
She thinks I don’t know.
She thinks that I haven’t noticed the way she has to eat a slice of toast or some crackers in the morning. Or the way her breasts are bigger and more sensitive. She thinks I haven’t noticed that she now can’t stand the smell of coffee. But I notice everything when it comes to her.
The only thing I can’t figure out is why hasn’t she told me that she’s pregnant yet.
It’s the middle of the day. I already checked the studio I set up for her in the garage, but she’s not there. As I walk toward the front door of the house, patting the ring that I have in the pocket of my cut, I’m both nervous and excited to find her.
When I open the door, I’m about to announce I’m home when I see her passed out asleep on the couch. I stand over her, watching as she’s even smiling in her sleep. She snorts softly and rolls over as I try not to laugh out loud. She looks so comfortable, but I know what will make it even better.
I lean over and kiss her. “Hey honey, we’re going for a ride.”
She curls into me with full trust. I pick her up and carry her down the hallway to our bedroom. Her eyes open when she’s on the bed, and she holds her hand out to me. “Now if that’s not the most tempting thing ever... you want me to lie down with you, baby?”
She nods, and I kick off my shoes and strip down to my underwear before sliding into the bed next to her. I pull her flush against my body, wrapping my arms and legs around her. She nuzzles herself against me, and I let out a contented sigh. I’m not sure how life can get any better than this right here, but I have a feeling it’s about to happen.
I lie as still as can be so she can sleep. I don’t know how much time has gone by, but when I wake up, she’s rushing to the bathroom. I stand outside the door and listen to her heave before walking in and grabbing a washcloth and getting it cold.
I lay it on the back of her neck, and she mumbles her thanks as she tries to catch her breath. I rub her back easily. “You okay, honey?”
She nods and tries to get to her feet. I help her stand, and she puts her hand on each side of the sink. She looks at herself in the mirror and then gives a disgusted look before grabbing her toothbrush. “I look like hell.”
I stand behind her and look at us in the mirror. She is my opposite in most ways, but none of that matters. “You look beautiful, honey.”
She brushes her teeth, and after spitting it out and rinsing her mouth, she raises up and looks at me in the mirror. “I guess you know, right?”
I put my arms around her, cupping her belly. “What? That you’re pregnant? Yeah, I figured it out. What I haven’t figured out, though, is why didn’t you tell me when you found out?”
She shrugs her shoulders. “I guess I was waiting...”
I turn her to face me and lift her chin. “Waiting for what exactly?”
She shrugs. “Well, we can’t get married now.”
I gasp. Of everything, I never imagined that would be what she’d say. “The hell we can’t.”
She shakes her head. “I was waiting for you to ask me before I told you. Now it’s like you’re asking me because I’m pregnant with your kid... It’s like you have to ask me.”
I’m stunned with the logic she’s come up with. I grab her hand and pull her into the bedroom, sitting her down on the side of the bed. I pick my cut up off the back of the chair and fumble in the pocket for the ring, and then I kneel down on the floor in front of her.
She spots the box I’m holding and shakes her head. “Tank, you’re not listening to me...”
I put my hands on her knees. “I am listening to you. But hear me out... I’ve had this ring since the second week you’ve been here. I knew then that you were going to be my wife. I feel like I’ve put you through so much, and I wanted to give you time to get used to being here with me before I tried to pressure you into something that you weren’t ready for.”
Her face softens, and she puts her hand to her flat belly. “You’re not just asking me because you know about the baby?”
I shake my head. “No, honey. I’m asking you because I love you and I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you. The baby is a bonus.”
I pick up her hand to put the ring on, and she stops me. “I feel like I’ve come in here and completely taken over your life. I know it’s different now. You don’t party with your friends at the clubhouse anymore, you don’t go on runs like you used to, you don’t—”
I stop her by sealing my lips to hers. When I’ve thoroughly kissed her, I pull back. “It’s because I have you now. I don’t want to do all those things. Hell, Ava, if I go to the ranch to work, I skip out halfway through the day to come and see you. You’ve changed me... you’ve made me become the man I want to be. Now tell me yes, honey. Put me out of my misery.”
She laughs. “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you.”
I slide the ring on her finger and kiss her with everything I have. I promised my sister I would call when I got Ava’s answer, but she’s going to have to wait a little bit. I have a few things to celebrate first... a woman that agreed to be my wife... and a baby. Life can’t get much better than this.