Broken Dreams

Whitley finally snapped out of her happy fairy-wonderland state. “What did y’all do this evening while we pampered ourselves?”

Layton grabbed on to Whitley as he said, “Suffered without our women, fought off girls left and right, drank a few beers, and watched football.”

“Wow, sounds like a busy evening,” Whitley said as she pushed Layton away and punched him in the stomach.

“Man, it was rough.” Layton pulled Whit in and kissed her.

They soon got lost in their kiss, and I had to look away. I glanced up at Reed, and the passion in his eyes caused that familiar buildup deep in the pit of my stomach. I wanted to feel him inside me so badly. I needed to feel him inside me. It was the only time I ever felt completely whole.

When the elevator doors opened, Reed grabbed my hands, pulled me out of the elevator, and practically dragged me down the hallway to our suite. “Night, y’all,” he called out.

Layton and Whitley both laughed.

I turned and gave them a small wave, and Whitley gave me a thumbs-up before the bitch started giggling. I knew she was going to tell Layton, so I had to tell Reed tonight before he saw Layton tomorrow.

When Reed opened the door, I let out a gasp.

“Oh my.” I looked around the room in awe. I hadn’t really paid attention to the room the first time I was in it. Now, I was taking it all in.

It was beautiful, and every available countertop was covered in vases filled with white and red roses. The smell in the room was heavenly. The massive fireplace had a fire going in it. I put my hand up to my mouth and looked at the rose petals arranged into two paths on the floor.

“Oh, Reed, this is so…it’s so…”

Reed walked up behind me and pulled me to him. “Nick swoon-worthy?”

I let out a laugh as I felt a tear slowly slide down my cheek. “No, this is better.”

Reed rested his chin on top of my head. “There’s something better than Nick swoon-worthy?”

I turned around and pulled his lips to mine. Before we kissed, I whispered against his lips, “Yes. This is Reed swoon-worthy. Nothing is better than that.”

Reed’s eyes lit up with passion, and he captured my lips with his. The kiss started off slow and sweet, and then it quickly turned more heated. He walked me backward until my legs bumped into the sofa, and he slowly began pushing me down.

I tried to push everything out of my mind, but I couldn’t do it. I can’t do this. I can’t pretend and go on like everything is okay. I pulled back from Reed’s lips, placed my hands on his chest, and then barely pushed him away.

He looked confused. “What’s wrong, baby?”

I took in a shaky breath and slowly let it out. “Reed, I, um…I need to talk to you before we do anything else.”

He pulled back and sat up. I sat up and pulled my legs into my body as I looked into his eyes. Just a few seconds ago, they had been filled with so much love, and now, they were filled with…concern.

“Please tell me you haven’t changed your mind about getting married,” he whispered.

What? “No! Absolutely not. I want nothing more than to marry you, Reed.”

His body instantly relaxed.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you think I was having doubts. I’ve never wanted something so much in my life,” I said as I smiled at him.

I wanted nothing more than to crawl into the safety of his lap and just tell him everything, but I knew if I touched him, I’d let him make love to me, and I really needed to tell him about the baby.

“I feel the same way, Courtney. I have to admit that you’re kind of still making me worry here. Angel, please talk to me.”

I closed my eyes, said a silent prayer, and just went for it. “Okay, so you know how I was going to have Whitley pee on one of the tests to play a joke on my mom?”

He nodded his head. “Yeah.”

“Well, I didn’t need Whit after all,” I said with a weak smile, waiting for it to click in Reed’s head.

Nothing.

He just stared at me, like he was expecting me to keep going on with the story.

“Is there more to the story?” he asked as he scrunched up his nose.

He is so damn sexy. I wanted to jump him just for scrunching up his damn nose.

I let out a giggle and shook my head. “Not really.”

“Why didn’t you need her? Did your mom tell you not to do it?”

I tilted my head. “No. She’s still waiting for me to send her a picture of a negative test.”

He looked so confused, and it was so damn cute.

“Why haven’t you sent it yet?”

I smiled bigger. “Because all the tests were positive.”

“All the tests were…”

Then, it clicked. Bingo! He’s finally got it. God, please don’t let him be angry.

He stared at me for a few seconds before his smile matched mine. “Court…are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

I stood up and walked over to my purse. I grabbed all eight tests and placed them on the coffee table. “I hope you’re not mad. I was just as surprised as you are. I didn’t believe it. Oh God, I’m so sorry, but I might have missed a pill…or two. I’m so bad about taking them, and…well, I had no idea, and I’m not that late, so…”

Reed got up, never taking his eyes off the tests. He just stood there, staring down at the table. The longer he stayed silent, the more scared I got. He finally looked at me, and I gave him a smile.

He smiled back and asked, “We’re having a baby?”

I nodded my head and pointed to the tests. “Unless they’re all wrong. Are you upset?”

The next thing I knew, Reed was pulling me to him and picking me up. He started walking us toward the bedroom.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

He looked at me and let out a laugh. “I’m going to make love to you, Courtney. I didn’t think you could ever make me as happy as I have been, but you just made me the happiest man in the world.”

He walked up to the side of the bed and slowly let me slide down his body. I could feel how much he wanted me. My heart was beating so fast, and I had the strangest feeling in my stomach.

He’s happy?

He’s happy.

I bit down on my lower lip. “You’re not upset? I was so afraid you’d be upset with me.”

He placed his hands on the sides of my face, and I watched as his eyes moved all over my face until his eyes locked with mine.