by Emma Scott
Ben thought about this for a second, dug his hands deeper in his pockets. “Well, we got to watch out for each other, right?”
I swallowed hard. “Yeah, we do. And you did. Thank you, Benny. I owe you.”
His gaze flickered away, and then back. “I should get back. Leave you to it.” He turned to go and then swiveled to me instead to pull me in for a hug.
I held him tight, my jaw clenched to keep from losing it.
“Love you, man,” I said.
“You too,” he said, his voice tight. “Okay, break a leg,” he said, releasing me and turning away quickly. “See you after?”
I nodded, lips pressed together. “Absolutely.”
He smiled, waved a hand, and went out.
A low buzz of laughter and talk from the audience drifted on a light breeze under the summer sun. It was a full crowd today. Among them were Angie and Bonnie, Yolanda and Ben—my best friend, I thought with a smile—resuming his seat, along with all the friends Willow and I made around town.
Ben had always been enough of a friend when I was younger, but now I had more than I’d ever imagined. Our days were full of socializing, small dinner parties over candlelight and bottles of wine. After the door closed on the last guest, Willow and I reached for each other. We spent the sleepy warmth of morning in bed, talking and kissing, or clutching at the bed sheets in relentless ecstasy.
It was a life a poor kid from a broken house of violence could never have imagined.
The tent cleared out but Willow remained at the entrance, peeking through the flap at the audience. I moved to stand beside her.
“I see my parents,” she said. “My mother’s hat could provide shade for an entire village.”
Dan and Regina still lived in New York but visited Indiana twice a year. Breaking down the walls between us was a slow process, although Regina embraced me more readily than Daniel. He was proud. His apology didn’t come in one sentence. It took countless visits for him to finally grasp his daughter’s happiness. And the gratitude in his eyes as she laughed or smiled was apology enough for me.
Likewise, the relationship between Willow and her parents was improving, largely because of Willow’s generosity. My girl was filled with love. Bottomless. After being dimmed for so long, her light was blinding.
I glanced down at her, then back to the audience. Intermission was almost over. The two of us stood behind a curtain, waiting to take the stage together.
This was the perfect place. The perfect time.
There was no other.
Sorry, Marty, I thought. I can’t wait another minute.
As I mentally went over my prepared words, Willow moved closer. Her shoulder warm along my shoulder, her hand slipping into mine. “Isaac?”
“Mm.”
“There’s something I need to tell you. I was going to wait but I can’t. Not one more second.” Her lips brushed against my ear. “I’m pregnant.”
Every thought in my head evaporated as I stared at her. “What?”
She was radiant, joy coming out of her pores, shining in the blue topaz of her eyes. “I’m pregnant. I’m going to have a baby. Your baby.”
“My baby…”
My heart. God my fucking heart was going to explode out of my chest with happiness when I already thought it couldn’t contain a single ounce more.
She bit her lip, watching my dumbstruck reaction. “Are you happy? Or are you worried it’s too soon? Or…?”
“You really are?”
She nodded.
“Holy shit.” A shocked laugh burst out of me. “Holy shit, for real?”
“For real.”
I laughed again and ran a hand through my hair. “Fuck. I can’t remember any of my lines.” I took hold of her face, falling into the bright blue of her eyes. “You’re going to have a baby?”
She nodded, tears slipping down her cheek. “Yes, honey. I am.” She took my hand and put it over her stomach. “We are. I suspected I was pregnant a few weeks ago, and I took a test this morning.” She grinned. “I passed.”
“Oh my God.” I staggered away, then came back to kiss her again and again. “Is this my life?”
Her head nodded under my chin. “It is,” she whispered, and then her shoulders heaved a tremendous sigh. “I’m so glad you’re happy. I didn’t know how you’d react. I mean, we’re not even married.”
Another happy, disbelieving laugh burst out of me, and I reached into my pocket. “No, we’re not married,” I said, bringing out the box. “It’s lucky I happen to have this lying around.”
I held it up for her to see.
Willow’s eyes widened and her hands flew to her mouth. “Isaac…”
“I figured we might need it in case you ever wanted to make an honest man of me. I guess that day is today.”
“Oh my God.”
I dropped to one knee, my hands shaking as I opened the box. “Willow…I had so much to tell you. I had a whole speech… God, I can’t think.”
She stroked my cheek, shaking her head. “I hear it, Isaac. I hear it in every look, every touch. I hear you. The words of your heart.”
“I need to say it,” I swallowed hard. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she whispered, sinking to her knees. “Of course I will. Yes.”
I slipped the ring on her finger. Still kneeling in the tent, we kissed through tears until Martin called places.
“Oh God,” she said. “I can’t remember any of my lines now either.”
“We’ll just wing it,” I said.
“Wing Shakespeare?”
Willow stood up and I kissed her stomach, where my child was growing. Our child. A boy or girl who would know more love and happiness from their parents than we ever had. A child who would never, ever doubt that we loved.
On the circular stage, under a blaring sun, Willow, as Rosalind pretending to be someone else, smiled coyly at me.
“What would you say to me now, an I were your very, very Rosalind?”
“I would kiss before I spoke,” I said, and we looked through the characters to each other, and I knew she heard my unspoken words.
And tell you I love you.
Forever Right Now
You’re a tornado, Darlene. I’m swept up.
“Forever Right Now is full of heart and soul--rarely does a book impact me like this one did. Emma Scott has a new forever fan in me.” --New York Times bestselling author of Archer's Voice, Mia Sheridan
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2gA9ktr
The Butterfly Project
“Where you are is home…”
"10 STARS. This book and these characters were magic, simply put, a masterpiece." --Vanessa (nessreads)
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2vlMuyG
Audible: http://amzn.to/2BjyHLe
Full Tilt
I would love you forever, if I only had the chance…
“Full of life, love and glorious feels.”—New York Daily News, Top Ten Hottest Reads of 2016
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2o1aK1o
Audible: http://amzn.to/2o8A7ST
All In (Full Tilt #2)
Love has no limits…
“A masterpiece!” –AC Book Blog
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2cBvM26
Audible: http://amzn.to/2nUprDQ
She loves two men—friends and first loves. Her soldiers. But only one is her soul mate. It will take a war to reveal the deepest wishes of her heart and whether or not she has the courage to follow it, even if it means losing them both.
Beautiful Hearts Duet, coming this summer. Add to your Goodreads TBR:
Bring Down the Stars
Long Live the Beautiful Hearts
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