“Yes, like that.”
“And I’m like Lily and don’t have any,” Connor said.
Ella licked her lips. “How would you feel about having a brother or sister to play with?”
Connor seemed confused. “But I don’t have one. Are we going to adopt one like Lily and Dexter were adopted?”
“Um, not exactly.” Ella swallowed so hard Valero could hear it. He decided to give her a break and take over, hoping the conversation would go a little smoother.
“Do you remember how Emily looks like her daddy but her eyes are the same color as her mother’s?” Valero asked.
“I guess so.” Connor scrunched his nose.
“It’s because Emily’s mommy and daddy made her together. So, if your mommy and I were to make a baby together, then it would be colored like me but probably have her green eyes. Would you be okay with that?” Valero asked.
“You’re going to make a baby together?” Connor asked.
“We already did,” Valero said. “In about ten months, your mom is going to give birth to a baby girl or boy. They will be your brother or sister, which means you’ll be the big brother and have to help take care of them and teach them things. Do you think you can handle that?”
Connor’s eyes went wide but he nodded. He looked at Ella’s stomach. “There’s a baby in there? Just like my friend Tyler’s mom at school?”
“Just like that,” Ella said. “Are you okay with that? I know a lot of changes are happening really fast.”
“I think I’ll like being a big brother. Evie seemed to like being an older sister,” he said, mentioning Xonos’s eldest daughter.
“Yes, she did.” Ella smiled. “I’m so glad you’re okay with this, Connor. I’ve been so worried you would be upset, or feel like you were going to lose me. Because you aren’t losing anyone. You’ve gained a daddy and you’re going to gain a brother or sister in…” Ella’s eyes went wide and her gaze flew to Valero. “Did you say ten months?”
“Terran pregnancies are longer than human ones and run forty-three weeks.”
Her mouth opened and shut several times before her knees gave out. Valero helped her onto the couch and then knelt at her feet. She looked a little pale, but otherwise seemed fine, if shocked.
“I’d ask if you were still certain about being married to me, but it’s a little late now.”
“Forty-three weeks?” she squeaked. “I’ll be pregnant forever!”
He laughed and kissed her. “It won’t be forever.”
“Can I go play with my toys now?” Connor asked.
Valero smiled at him. “Yes, son. You may go play with your new toys. Just don’t touch the Playstation 4 box. I’ll hook it up for you tomorrow.”
Connor gave a whoop and took off to his room.
“So, my Cinderella, any regrets?”
“Cinderella?” Her nose wrinkled.
“Well, I know I’m not as dashing as Prince Charming, and there were no missing shoes on this adventure, but I’d like to think you’re my very own princess. You’re as beautiful as one.”
Her cheeks flushed.
“So, any regrets?” he asked again.
“No. Well, maybe one.”
He braced himself for bad news.
“I should have told you before I agreed to marry you… Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with you, Valero.”
He blinked, thinking he’d heard her wrong. “You love me?”
She nodded slowly, unease in her gaze.
“Oh, Ella. My beautiful Ella. I love you too. So very much.”
With a cry, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him hard.
Valero hadn’t had any intention of falling for the independent single mom, but he was so very glad he’d gone to Zwyk’s that day. Meeting Ella and Connor was the best thing that had ever happened to him, and he hoped he got to spend many years celebrating life every day with them. And maybe, with a little luck, he could turn Ella into a gamer too… even if it meant buying every Nintendo game ever created.
Jessica Coulter Smith
Award-winning author Jessica Coulter Smith has been in love with the written word since she was a child writing her first stories in crayon. Today she’s a multi-published author of over seventy-five novellas and novels. Romance is an integral part of her world and spills over from her professional life into her personal one. When she went on that first date with her husband, she never expected to hear the words “marry me” pop out of his mouth -- and judging by the shocked look on his face, he hadn’t meant to say them either. But, being the hopeless romantic that she is, Jessica said yes and they’ve been married since 2000.
Jessica firmly believes that love will find you at the right time, even if Mr. Right is literally out of this world. She’s often gazed at the stars and wondered what, or who, else might be out there. Who’s to say that hunky model on the hottest romance bestseller isn’t really from some far off galaxy? Maybe that blue Martian you saw at Halloween wasn’t really in costume. After all, there’s an awful lot of space out there for us to be the only ones living in it.
Jessica loves to hear from her readers! You can follow her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jessicacoultersmithauthor and Twitter https://twitter.com/kitcatjms. Visit her website: http://www.jessicacoultersmith.com. Want to be noticed of new releases or special discounts? Sign up for her newsletter! http://eepurl.com/bwPvbT. Find more books by Jessica Coulter Smith at http://www.changelingpress.com/author.php?uid=144.
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