Curiosity leading her, Emily slowly sank onto the mattress. Staring at the laptop, she couldn’t stop her fingers from tapping in Gavin’s pa.s.scode. She knew the paternity test results weren’t due for another couple of days, and she chided herself for even looking, yet something pushed her forward. She entered the URL into the proper s.p.a.ce. With her heart starting to pound when the website popped up, Emily entered the case number she was given in order to check the results. Though she’d never been a mathematician or English major, this series of numbers and letters was burned into Emily’s head. Her body tensed when the site started to load the information. It wasn’t the same page that’d shown up the past couple of times she’d checked. Instead, a taunting hourgla.s.s popped up. Emily stared at it and it stared right back as she waited.
Breathe…
The wicked little hourgla.s.s disappeared…
Breathe…
A blue triangle representing the father showed up…
Breathe…
A graph showing probable paternity said h.e.l.lo…
Breathe…
Emily’s heart dropped, sinking right down to her feet. Unable to breathe, speak, or think, the only properly functioning body part Emily had left was her tear ducts. Those were working just fine because she broke out into hysterics, gulping for air as she tried to calm herself. In a daze over the results staring her right in the face, Emily slowly stood and made her way downstairs. How would she even begin to tell Gavin? She needed words for this moment and her mind was blank. Completely empty of coherent thoughts, her body trembling, Emily stepped onto the back porch. Her eyes landed on Gavin’s. Sitting in one of the poolside chairs, he c.o.c.ked his head to the side when he’d saw her. She was glad he didn’t go down to the beach with everyone. She didn’t want to tell him in front of anyone. She needed to tell him in private. She only wished she knew how.
She stopped in front of the pool, watching Gavin move toward. She could tell he knew she was a mess, and her heart bled from the look in his eyes. Standing before her, Gavin cupped her cheek and gently placed the other hand on her stomach.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his nervousness palpable.
Emily swallowed, her words stuttering between her deep breaths for air. “Did you know one year ago tonight you began saving my life?” Gavin went to speak, but Emily continued. “You did, Gavin. I didn’t know it then, but you did. We’ve been through more in this past year than any two people in a new relations.h.i.+p should have to endure. We deserve a break.” She looked at her watch and quickly back at him. “Kiss me right now. Kiss me the way you kissed me last year on this very night. I promise you I won’t stop it, either.”
Without thinking, Gavin pulled her to his mouth, sliding his tongue over hers. Though familiar, her kiss would always be new to him, something unexplored with each stroke of her touch. With blazing fireworks going off above them, Gavin kissed her the way he did the first time he was lucky enough to feel her lips, feel her in his arms. Emily didn’t break the kiss this time; Gavin had to stop because of her sobbing. He went to speak, but she beat him to the punch.
“You said no matter who Noah’s father is, you’d love and raise him as if he were your own.”
Dropping his arms, Gavin felt the blood drain from his face, felt his heart hammer through his chest.
“When you told me that, I didn’t know what to think,” Emily cried, bringing her hands to his cheeks. “Do you know how many men would stay? Not many. You took me back after all the pain I caused you, and then you accepted the fact you might not be the father of the child I’m carrying. I would’ve loved you for an eternity before taking on that responsibility. After that, I knew I’d find you in my next life.” She paused, brus.h.i.+ng her lips over his. “Gavin Blake, fate f.u.c.ked with us a little bit in the beginning… but it’s done messing with us. It’s giving us the break we deserved from the start. Noah’s your son.”
“What?” he breathed, feeling his shoulders sag from the lack of weight they’d been carrying. “I am?”
Emily nodded, tears falling in a torrent. “Yes, you are. I checked and—”
It was Gavin’s turn to cut her off. He surged his hands through her hair, pulling her into his mouth again. Mind un-f.u.c.ked, Gavin spoke between wors.h.i.+pping her lips. “Are you sure? Tell me you’re sure, Emily.”
“I’m positive,” she cried, holding his face as she kissed him back as feverishly as he was kissing her. “He’s yours, Gavin. He’s yours.”
“Jesus,” Olivia quipped, making her way over to them. “There’re plenty of bedrooms. I mean, it’s a mansion, Blake. Take her inside.” Emily giggled and wiped away her tears. Brows furrowed, Olivia looked confused as all h.e.l.l. “Okay. Wait a minute. You’re crying, but you’re kissing him? Did I miss something?”
Gavin grinned, tossing his arm over Emily’s shoulder. “Yeah. You missed the memo that says I’m Noah’s father.”
Olivia’s eyes went wide. “Shut the cellar door!” She all but hopped into Gavin’s arms, her squeals pitching above the blasting fireworks. “Are you guys for real? He’s the baby daddy?”
“Yes,” Emily laughed as Olivia bear hugged her. “He’s the baby daddy.”
Gavin smacked his smiling lips together. “The swoon-worthy baby daddy.”
Clapping, Olivia started running toward the stairs to the beach. “I’m going to get everyone!”