I Never Expected You

by Stefanie Jenkins

  “Wait, so what happened?” The intrigue in Kyler’s voice draws my attention to him.

  He is like a little kid listening to this story. His elbows rest on the table, propping his chin up, and his eyes are wide as he waits for the rest of the story. I can’t believe neither Zach or Dani has told him this before.

  I go to open my mouth to continue, but Dani begins talking first, fully animated and full of life. “So Haylee picks up a gym bag, not knowing whose bag it was.”

  She turns to her brother, whose attention is back on the grill. I mouth, “Thank you” in her direction, and she nods.

  “She unzips the bag and stuck her face in it, her face instantly turning green and gasping for air.” She bends over in laughter.

  I’m not sure who more entertaining to watch: Dani enthusiastically telling the story playing out the actions, or Kyler listening. It’s sweet watching his full attention on her.

  “Oh, shit!” Just when I thought Kyler’s eyes couldn’t get any bigger.

  I press my lips together, knowing that her favorite part is coming. I had never seen Dani laugh as hard as I did at that moment in time when I would have much rather have been anywhere but the foyer of the Jacobses’ house. Tears are streaming down her face, and she is trying to catch her breath. I swoop in to finish the story.

  “After I stuck my face in the bag, my face turned green, and I immediately dropped it. All hell broke loose. I puked right into it.”

  Kyler chose the wrong moment to bring the beer bottle to his lips because at that moment as I continued the story, he turned his head and sprayed the beer that he had planned to drink, forcing more laughter from us.

  “So Zach came running down the stairs to see what the commotion was and found me hunched over with his gym bag open and Dani leaning up against the wall laughing uncontrollably.” I point in her direction. “Basically, how she is now.”

  “Holy shit!” Ky’s face fills with joy, and he joins his fiancé in laughter, wiping the tears from his eyes. “Oh, man, that’s fucking amazing. I can’t believe you never told me that story before.”

  Zach sets the plate of cooked food on the table and walks over to where I sit. He pulls me to my feet before taking a seat and pulling me into his lap.

  “Well, that’s because it’s not a fond memory to recall.”

  I poke his chest with my finger. “Well, Captain Smelly Bag, maybe you shouldn’t have allowed something to die in there, and then it wouldn’t have turned out that way.”

  He nuzzles his face into my neck. “But you still fell for me, stinky gym bag and all.”

  I turn to face him. “Maybe I should get my head examined.”

  I flinch when he pinches my side. “Okay, okay. Of course I fell for you—it’s not like I had much of a choice, babe.”

  “That’s right. You were always meant to be mine.”

  His lips crash onto mine, and we forget about our surroundings. It’s just Zach and me, just like it was always meant to be.

  Four months later…

  I walk into the bedroom, thankful that my parents have Emme for the weekend because I would never have been able to put this all together with her hanging all over me. Now that she is walking, she finds herself into everything and always keeping Zach and me on our toes. I carry the tray of Zach’s favorite breakfast, coffee, four slices of bacon, and two blueberry waffles covered in syrup. I swear to God, if he gets syrup anywhere on the bed, he will be packing his bag and sleeping on his sister’s couch. I’m sure he wants to be nowhere near their house with them still being in their honeymoon phase. Lord knows what places in that house they have not christened.

  I’m impressed that I was able to hold the tray steady enough from the kitchen to the bedroom. My hands are sweaty and shaky, not to mention I am full of nerves to the point of nausea. This should feel like a typical morning, even though it is anything but. I’ve been keeping this secret for the past week while waiting for this customized coffee mug to come in from a shop I found on Etsy.

  I set the tray down on the nightstand as I settle on the bed next to my sleeping husband.

  “Good morning, handsome,” I breathe against his lips before touching them with mine.

  Zach reaches up, grabbing the back of my head, pulling me closer to him while deepening the kiss. Shit, my hormones have been raging lately, and I am so horny now, but breakfast first, sex later. He growls from the back of his throat as my tongue glides over the seam of his lips before pulling back. I sit back on the edge of the bed and pull my legs up under me.

  “I made you breakfast.” I point to the tray of food next to him.

  “But I’d rather have you for breakfast.” His eyes are now open and staring at me with a gaze that suggests this breakfast may just get cold after all.

  Don’t fall for it, Haylee. It’s a trap. Be strong.

  I bite my lip to prevent myself from launching my body over his and ravaging him. He sits up with his back against the headboard, his bare chest now on display. Maybe this can wait till after.

  Zach looks over and sees the coffee mug on the tray. His jaw tenses as his brow furrows.

  “Hey, where’s my usual mug?”

  Of course he would notice that. The man has been drinking coffee out of the same mug since Emme was born. It’s blue and reads “World’s Best Farter, I mean father.”

  “I bought you this one. It’s cute. You don’t like it?”

  He inspects the mug, his face giving no indication if he hates it or not. He gives me the side-eye as he brings the cup to his lips. He makes a moaning noise, happy with the way his coffee tastes on his tongue.

  “I miss my old mug.” He makes a pouty face.

  Lord help us when his daughter starts doing that. She already has everyone wrapped around her little finger.

  “But at least you make the best coffee.”

  I may not be the best cook, but with Dani’s help, I’d like to say I’m improving…sort of. My family hasn’t been poisoned yet, so that’s a start, right?

  This is seriously taking forever for him to finish this coffee. Why of all days is he savoring this? Most mornings, he has already begun his second cup before I am even halfway through my first. What he doesn’t realize is that this coffee mug isn’t just any mug. When he reaches the bottom, it says a special message.

  “Wow, babe. Not that I’m complaining, but what did I do to deserve this? I mean if this is a thank-you for the multiple O’s you got last night, then I don’t know why I don’t get this morning often.”

  I punch his arm as I take a seat next to him and steal a piece of bacon off the tray.

  “You are so cocky, Mr. Jacobs.”

  He shoves in another bite of waffles. “Yeah, but you still love me anyway.”

  “We all sure do.” My heart begins to race as I notice the coffee mug is close to being empty.

  With one last sip…here goes nothing.

  Zach’s eyes go wide as he brings the mug away from his lips.

  “Umm, Hails?”

  I scooch to my knees next to him and visibly swallow. There is no way he can’t sense my nerves.

  “Yeah?”

  He looks deep into my eyes. I feel the sting of tears trying to break through. He sets the mug on the tray and sets it all to the side.

  His palm cups my cheek. “Baby? Are we…?”

  He launches at me and has me on my back in seconds, hovering over me, his eyes glassy with unshed tears and a grin illuminating his beautiful face.

  “Are we really? Are you? We’re gonna have a baby?”

  I nod, completely speechless and overwhelmed with love. His lips crash on mine before I could even open my mouth to respond.

  He breaks the kiss, brushing the stray hairs out of my face. “We’re really having another baby?”

  “Yeah, we are. I just found out last week.”

  He presses butterfly kisses along my face and neck.

  “I love you, Zach.”

  “Oh, Haylee, I love you so
much. You have given me a life I never expected let alone dreamed I could have. I love you so much. Thank you for giving me everything.”

  How I got so lucky to call this man, my soul mate, I have no idea, but I will spend the rest of my days on this earth showing him how much I love him, starting with right now.

  Later that day…

  Dani and I are meeting for lunch at our favorite bistro downtown. I had gotten there a few minutes before her and am sipping on my water when I finally see her approaching the table. She quickly takes a seat across from me, setting her bag and jacket next to me.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey. Nice to see you could separate yourself from your husband for a moment.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her.

  “Oh whatever, like you are any better.”

  Touché.

  The waiter approaches. “Can I start you ladies off with something to drink?”

  “I’ll have a lemonade.”

  “Actually, that sounds great. Make it two.”

  “You got it, two lemonades coming up.”

  As the waiter walks away, I place my clasped hands on the table.

  “So where is my wonderful brother today?”

  “He went to the gym, and then I think he was going to your house. He had something he wanted to tell Kyler.”

  “Oh, yeah, what’s that?”

  There is no hiding my smile. I rest my arms on the table. “That we are expecting another baby.”

  “You’re joking, right?”

  My smile disappears at her response. Well, that was the last response I expected to get from her.

  “No, I’m not. We’re having a baby.”

  The curves of Dani’s lips turn upward as she reaches into her purse.

  “Well, one, that is amazing news. I am so happy for you guys. But also, I’m a little bummed that I can’t have your maternity clothes.”

  “Wait, what?” And then it clicks. “Oh, my God, are you pregnant too?”

  I cock my head to the side as I focus on the small photo she places on the table. I take in the way she is glowing.

  “Yes. We just had our first sonogram. I wanted to tell you so much, but we wanted to wait until we confirmed it at the doctor’s.”

  I cock my head to the side as I focus on the photo.

  “Oh my God! Dani is that…?”

  THE END

  I Never Planned On You

  Book 1 in the I Never Series

  A Brother's Best Friend Romance

  I Never Expected You

  Book 2 in the I Never Series

  A Friends to Lovers Romance

  I Plan on Forever

  An I Never Series Novella

  Coming March 2020

  I Never Let You Go

  Book 3 in the I Never Series

  A Second Chance Romance

  Coming July 2020

  1.Us- James Bay

  2.Golden Slumbers – The Beatles

  3.Fix You – Coldplay

  4.Wait – M83

  5.Wake Me Up – Tommee Profitt

  6.Wasn’t Expecting That – Jamie Lawson

  7.Ashes – Celine Dion

  8.Count on Me – Bruno Mars

  9.You Make It Easy – Jason Aldean

  10.Drink a Beer – Luke Byran

  11.I Want to Know What Love Is – Foreigner

  12.I’m Yours – Jack Savoretti

  13.I Found – Amber Run

  14.The Sound of Silence – Disturbed

  15.Saturn - Sleeping At Last

  16.In Case You Didn’t Know – Brett Young

  17.One Call Away – Charlie Puth

  18.Let It All Go – Birdy, Rhodes

  19.So Cold – Ben Cocks

  20.I Love You – Alex & Sierra

  21.Without a Word – Birdy

  22.I Could Fall In Love – Selena

  23.Remembrance – Tommee Profitt, Fleurie

  24.Everything Has Changed – Jasmine Thompson , Gerald Ko

  25.Unsteady – X Ambassadors

  26. Can I Be Him – James Arthur

  27. Over and Over Again – Nathan Sykes, Ariana Grande

  28. Never Say Never – The Fray

  29. Baby Shark – Pinkfong

  30.When the Time is Right – Griffin House

  Thank you to the readers for again taking a chance on me. If I Never Expected You was the first book of mine you picked up, I hope it won’t be the last. Your support means everything to me and you are the reason I continue to share these stories.

  Amanda Carol: Thank you for letting our characters be friends. Of course, thank you to Bennett, Hunter and Aria for making the trip for Zach and Haylee’s wedding. I can’t wait to see what sort of shenanigans our characters get themselves into in the future. *Want to learn more about Bennett and the rest of Zach’s New Orleans’ friends? Be sure to check out “The Awakened” by Amanda Carol, available for free in Kindle Unlimited.

  My facebook reader group: Thank you for being a part of Talk Wordy to Me. I love how excited ya’ll get when I share new things, snip-its and the inside scoop before everyone else. I also love getting to know each one of you and look forward to what I have to share with you guys in the future.

  The Chaddettes: Thank you for being my people. You guys are there for me when I need to be excited, w I need to vent or just need to just send an inappropriate meme. I never expected *winkface* to find such an amazing group of women to take this crazy journey with. I am so proud of all we have and all we have yet to to accomplish in life. A special shout out to Amanda, Becca and Claudia. You ladies helped shape the characters in to who they are today. All three of you at some point made your way into the story as a way to say thank you. Love you guys! Chicken wings for all at Steele Tobys.

  My beta readers: I huge round of applause for Amanda, Becca, Claudia, Bibi, Jenny, Alley, Ashley, Laura, Katey, Jacinta and Kat. I couldn’t have done this without you ladies. Each of you read this book in its various raw and ugly and WTF stages and you haven’t unfriended me so YAY! Your feedback meant everything to me.

  My fellow authors: Thank you for supporting and guiding me along this journey. If I could thank each one of you individually, I would but I only have so much room, just know how much I love you guys. I fangirl everyday as I get to know some of my favorite authors.

  Chris Wood and Melissa Benoist: Even though I know they will most likely never read this, thank you for being the perfect muses for Zach and Haylee. Aren’t they adorable? I had so much fun researching their characters.

  The biggest thanks to Jeannette, Sandra, Carmen, Clara and the ladies of Give Me Books Promotions. Ya’ll are the behind the scenes crew who helped make this book happen and share the word.

  I can’t go without thanking my real-life support team. These people are there to deal with my crazy day in and day out and still continue to love me: Travis, Jen aka my real-life Dr. Foster, Margaret, TK, Jesseca and Abbie Thank you for dealing with my crazy!

  Lastly, to Ms. Carmen – I hope this book lived up to Chapter 33.

  Stefanie Jenkins writes contemporary romance and lives in Surf City, North Carolina with her husband and two sons. Born and raised in Maryland, Stefanie brings her favorite parts of her hometown to life in her books. She is a coffee addict, wine connoisseur, hockey fan & lover of all romances.

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