“Fuck a duck,” I said in amazement. “I think I’m in shock.”
“You’re in shock?” Bronagh repeated on a laugh. “Damien will die!”
My hands were shaking. “He wants this so bad.”
“Then let’s not make him wait,” Bronagh squealed. “I’ll have Dominic get ‘im over to our house by the time we get there.”
I nodded. “Do it.”
When Bronagh and I entered her house, I could hear Nico and Damien laughing while Georgie squealed over something. I froze by the sitting room and couldn’t make my feet move forward. Bronagh paused and looked at me.
“Tell ‘im I want ‘im,” I said to my friend. “I have to tell ‘im when it’s just us.”
Bronagh nodded and went into the kitchen while I entered the sitting room and stood there, looking down at my stomach.
“Alannah?”
I turned to face Damien and swallowed.
“What’s wrong?”
My eyes welled up with tears.
Damien’s eyes widened in alarm. “Is it your mom?”
I shook my head.
“Then what is it?”
I didn’t answer.
“Alannah. Tell me.”
I exhaled a breath. “I’m pregnant.”
Damien stared down at me and said, “Shut up.”
My heart stopped. “W-what?”
“You’re lying,” he said, his face the picture of disbelief. “You have to be.”
“I’m not.” I sniffled. “I took two tests. I have it here with me.”
I rooted the tests out of my bag and handed them to him. He took them from me, brought them close to his face, and squinted his eyes before he rubbed them and stared at the tests once more.
“Alannah.”
I know.
“You’re having my baby?”
I couldn’t speak, only nod.
He looked up at the ceiling and said, “Thank you, God.”
When he looked back down at me, he kissed me without warning, then broke apart and pressed his forehead against mine.
“I can’t believe this.”
“Me either,” I said. “I think I’m still in shock.”
Damien placed his hands on either side of my face. “Are you happy?”
“Yes,” I answered. “So happy … just utterly terrified. Damien, we’re havin’ a baby.”
“A baby,” he repeated, and his lower lip wobbled. “We’re having a baby, freckles.”
Tears spilled over the brims of my eyes, and I laughed when he shouted, “I’m gonna be a daddy!”
I heard Nico and Bronagh cheer from the kitchen, and it only made us smile wider. Damien brought his hand to my stomach and flattened his palm over it, staring down at me with pure love and admiration.
“How far along do you think you are?”
“I’ve no idea,” I answered. “Maybe four or five weeks, maybe less. The test says two to three weeks, but the package says that means four to five weeks pregnant. I missed me pill a few times, but I didn’t even notice. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?” Damien repeated. “Baby, I’m on cloud nine right now.”
“I know. I just don’t want ye’ to think I missed takin’ the pills on purpose.”
“I’m glad you didn’t take them. You wouldn’t be pregnant right now otherwise.”
I smiled, then my jaw dropped just as Damien lowered to one knee.
“I’m glad you said no the first three times I asked you to marry me because I wasn’t prepared if you had said yes,” he said. “I wanted this time to be better, so that’s why I’ve held off on asking you again. I wanted there to be candles, and a dinner I cooked for you, and romantic music, but I can’t wait to ask you this when I know no other time would be sweeter than right now.”
My heart skipped a beat.
“Damien.”
He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small black box. He opened the lid, and I sucked in a sharp breath when a small but beautiful diamond ring was revealed.
“I bought this the day after Enzo was born,” he said, gazing up at me. “I’ve been working my ass off, taking all the hours and overtime I could get to buy this for you.”
He took my left hand.
“The night your mom got the all clear in the hospital, I went to their house and asked them both for their permission to marry you. They gave me that permission and told me they loved me, Alannah. They called me son and accepted me into your family. Do you know how much that means to me? That they trust me with their only daughter?”
Tears spilled over the brims of my eyes.
“I know you’re scared for the future, scared that I won’t be in it, but you need to know that you aren’t an option for me, Alannah. You’re my priority. You and that baby you’re carrying. I’m so in love with you, freckles. I’ve only ever wanted you, and if you let me, I want to scream to the world that I have you.”
I felt like my heart was about to explode.
“Alannah Ryan.” Damien licked his lips. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” I breathed. “Yes, yes, yes!”
He removed the ring from the box and slid it onto my finger. It fit perfectly, and Damien sighed with relief before a huge smile overtook his face. He got to his feet and kissed me until I felt dizzy.