The One (The Halo Series Book 2)

by Kimberly Knight

  “Mom and Dad, this is Avery,” Nicole said.

  I stuck out my hand to greet them. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

  Nicole’s dad stared at me while her mother offered me a beer. “Would you like something to drink? We have beer.”

  Dale’s eyes shot to Robin. I took it that he didn’t want to share his beer. “That’s okay. I’m driving us back to New York,” I said.

  “Once I get all settled in, I’ll invite you guys over,” Nicole said. “Avery won’t mind.” She had a wicked grin on her face.

  “Of course not,” I said.

  “Well, I know you kids don’t have much time before you need to head out,” Robin said.

  “We’ll be back. After all, you’re the grandparents,” Nicole said.

  Robin smiled.

  “Can I talk to you for a minute?” Dale asked me.

  I swallowed hard. “Sure.”

  I looked at Nicole. I know there was fear in my eyes. Dale hadn’t said more than two words since I’d sat down on his couch. Nicole gave a tight smile and I followed Dale to the back patio.

  “You gonna marry my daughter?” he asked, turning towards me as soon as I stepped outside.

  “Yes,” I said, not hesitating.

  “Then why haven’t you asked her since you got her pregnant?”

  “Ahhh, because it’s not 1952,” I said, before I realized I’d said it out loud.

  Dale stared at me for a beat, my pulse racing. Why’d I say that out loud? God, I was a dumb ass.

  “Avery, you have some balls talking to me that way.”

  I swallowed—hard.

  “I like it,” he said, finally smiling. “Shows me you take no shit and a man that takes no shit isn’t a pushover. My baby girl doesn’t need a pushover. She needs a man who will take care of her.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disrespect you. Of course I want to marry Nicole, but I can’t ask her to marry me because she’s pregnant with my baby. I want it to be right. I want her to know I want her to be my wife and not just because we’ll be linked together for the rest of our lives because of another person that we created.”

  “I understand.” He nodded.

  “Mr. Chambers…”

  “Dale. Just call me Dale.”

  “Okay.” I smiled. “Dale, I’ll make an honest woman out of her. It just has to be perfect because she’s perfect.”

  “She is.” He grinned. “Just know that you have my blessing when you decide to ask her. I like you. I can tell you’re a good man. Just take care of my baby girl in the Big Apple.”

  “I will.”

  I woke up hard. I woke up hard every morning, but having Nicole’s ass pressed into my dick as we slept kept my cock on high alert. And since we didn’t have anywhere to go for a few hours and she was well rested, I decided to take advantage of the situation.

  Brushing her hair back from her shoulder, I leaned down and kissed her smooth, silky skin. She smelled like apples and flowers, and my tongue slipped out, wanting a taste. She moaned, stirring in my arms and I smiled. I would never hate Mondays again.

  “Mornin’,”

  “What time is it?” she murmured.

  “Time for me to do you.” I smirked.

  “You did me all weekend.” She laughed.

  “Yeah, but when was the last time I did you on a Monday?”

  She paused. “Our second day on the cruise.”

  “And how’d that work out for you?” I asked, kissing her shoulder again.

  She laughed again. “Pretty well, if I recall.”

  “Let me refresh your memory,” I said, moving on top of her, bracing myself with my legs and arms so I wouldn’t crush her.

  Nicole bit her lip, sending a signal to my dick that it was time to get off the bench, warm-up, and get ready to play. She did it on purpose. She always did, but I loved it. It was her way of telling me she was ready. Ready for me to fuck her.

  I leaned down, resting on one arm while I kissed her soft lips, sticking my tongue out until she opened, allowing me to taste her. She moaned, running her fingers along the back of my neck. The feel of her fingers on my almost bare scalp sent another wave of pleasure through my body.

  Breaking free from her mouth, I trailed kisses down her neck as I lifted her T-shirt with my free hand, feeling her smooth stomach as I went. Her stomach that was carrying my baby. Her stomach that would eventually protrude, showing the world that she was mine and she was having my baby.

  Nicole lifted her back, allowing me to pull her shirt over her head and to the floor. Our chests were both bare, pressed together as I leaned down, taking her mouth again. My dick strained, poking out of the slit of my boxers asking to be put in her. He was already warmed up, ready to hit a home run.

  Not yet, big fella. Not yet.

  My mouth broke free from Nicole’s again and I worked my way down her body. I started at her ears, lightly nibbling and earning a moan. I ran my tongue down the slope of her neck, earning me goose bumps to pop up on her skin. My tongue didn’t stop its search until it found the hardened peak of her nipple and then I sucked on it, earning me a hiss. Her breasts were still sore from being pregnant, but I knew to be gentle—licking, blowing, teasing it just right until she moaned again.

  Hooking my hands on either side of her hips, I slid her pajama bottoms and underwear down until I had them off and on the floor. I groaned at her naked body. I was a lucky guy. A fucking lucky guy.

  Scooting down on the bed, I nudged her legs apart enough until I could position myself at her core and lick. She was already wet, her juices glistening her folds. She moaned again on contact, my dick jerked, straining and searching for her treasure. I licked up her slit, her arousal covering my tongue and once it met her sweet spot, I sucked. Sucking the nub in my mouth, I slid two fingers inside her, hooking them until I met her spot on the inside that caused her back to bow off the bed. My mouth and tongue worked together. Licking, sucking, twirling, sliding, rubbing…

  “Oh, God,” she gasped, her back bowing again off the bed.

  I kept drinking her nectar like candy. She was sweet. So fucking sweet and when she was about to come, she got sweeter. Cum came out like a faucet of pleasure and I slurped it like my favorite beverage on a summer day. Using my thumb, I rubbed her clit, creating circles as my fingers still worked her insides.

  Her body began to clench, her bent legs closing, locking my head between them as she came, moaning her release.

  A few moments later, she sighed and looked up at me as I hovered over her. I smiled, she smiled back and then I slid into her, nothing between us. She sucked in a breath as I went deeper, her warmth covering me as I slid into my base.

  “I really like not having to use a condom anymore.” I slowly rocked my hips. I couldn’t even explain the feeling I had the first time I felt her warm juices around my dick. It was like heaven. A warm fucking heaven.

  Nicole panted. “Me too.”

  I leaned down, kissing her, letting her taste herself on me, taste how good she was. My hips continue to rock slowly, sliding in and out, the smell of our arousals filling the room. She hooked her legs around my ass, urging me to go deeper. I knew what she wanted. She wanted it fast and my girl got whatever she wanted.

  I picked up my pace, leaning on one arm for support while I pumped into her. Our bodies were slick with sweat, our breathing fast as the sounds of her moans and my groans filled the room.

  The more my hips rocked, the closer I got to coming. Nicole’s eyes were closed, moaning each time my dick pounded into her. Reaching down, I found her clit and rubbed it, my hips still pumping.

  “Oh God,” she said again. “I’m close. I’m so…”

  She shattered beneath me. Her body jerking as the orgasm tore through her. I groaned, picking up my pace a little and rammed into her a few more times until I found my own release, spurting my seed deep inside her.

  “Damn, Baby,” I said, trying to catch my breath. “I fucking love Mondays no
w.”

  She laughed. “Me too.”

  I kissed her again. “I love you,” I whispered in her ear with no energy to lift my head any longer.

  “I love you too,” she said, running her fingernails along my back.

  Monday’s were definitely better waking up with Nicole in my arms.

  Since moving to New York, Nicole had found a doctor to take care of her while she was pregnant. She’d also found a doctor’s office to work at that would allow her to work there while her license was transferred from Boston. Everything was transitioning perfectly.

  I went with Nicole to her first doctor’s appointment in New York. I’d never miss another one. It was her twelve week appointment. Twelve weeks. I couldn’t believe it. Time was flying.

  “I’m nervous,” Nicole said as I put my truck in park.

  “Why are you nervous?” I asked, turning towards her.

  “We get to listen to the heartbeat.”

  “That’s exciting,” I smiled.

  “It still makes me nervous. It’s all so real.”

  “Are you having second thoughts?” My stomach dropped. Did she want to have an abortion? Did she not want to have my baby?

  “No, not at all,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s just—”

  “Exciting.” Nicole had a way about worrying about everything and I wasn’t going to let her. “You have me here with you.”

  “I know.” She grinned. “Okay, let’s go.”

  We walked into the doctor’s office and Nicole gave her name while we waited for a nurse to call us back. I looked around the small waiting room. Toys were spread around and I had a flash of my house covered in toys. I couldn’t wait.

  “Nicole Chambers.” A nurse finally called and I looked up.

  Nicole stood and I followed her back. After the nurse had taken her weight and height, we were led to an exam room where Nicole had to put a gown on. Twelve weeks ago I had no idea Nicole existed, let alone that she would be carrying my baby. Crazy how life turns out.

  We waited for the doctor to enter, me trying to crack jokes to make Nicole not stress. Not gonna lie. I was nervous. I was more nervous now that we were in the tiny room waiting for the doctor than I was the day I waited for Nicole to tell me that she was pregnant when she went to the doctor the first time. This was real.

  The doctor came in a few minutes later and introduced herself. Afterwards, she put some jelly shit on Nicole’s stomach, spreading it with a thing that the doctor said was a heartbeat Doppler, and then we listened, waiting until we both heard our baby’s heartbeat for the first time.

  The doctor glided the wand of the Doppler across Nicole’s belly searching for a beat, but all we heard was white noise. Just as the doctor was about to give up, saying she wanted to do an ultrasound, she found it. At first, I didn’t know what it was. It sounded like a horse galloping, and then the doctor said, “There we go,” and I knew that was the heartbeat.

  I looked up at Nicole’s beautiful face. Her eyes were glassy, like she was on the verge of crying. I smiled, trying to get her to smile back and she did.

  “That’s our baby’s heartbeat,” I said, brushing her hair out of her face and kissing her forehead.

  She nodded in agreement, tears still pricking her eyes. “Yeah, it is.”

  It has been two weeks since Nicole and I went to the doctor and heard our baby’s heart beating. Words can’t even describe the joy I felt deep in my heart when I heard it. It was like…it was awesome. It was something I’d created and I couldn’t wait to find out if we were having a boy or a girl.

  Since all of us live in New York, the four of us hang out a lot. Easton and I hired two new managers. We wouldn’t be making money in tips like we used to when we worked the busy nights, but both of us needed to make time for our girls.

  Brooke was having her last day of radiation, and other than her skin looking sunburnt in circles on the right of her neck and a little on her chest and back, you wouldn’t know that she went to radiation Monday through Friday for six weeks straight.

  I heard Easton call her Superwoman a few times and I had to agree. She was strong. We’d teased her about glowing in the dark from all the radiation. At first, Cheyenne thought we were serious, hoping that Brooke would glow, but then we explained we were just joking and radiation really didn’t give you superpowers. But it kinda did in Brooke’s case. Ever since she walked into Easton’s life, he was changed. He was so wrapped around her finger that no matter what she wanted, she got. I wasn’t one to talk. If Nicole wanted a milkshake in the middle of the night, I was driving my ass to McDonald’s to get it for her. If she wanted fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, I was pulling a stash of dough out of the freezer.

  Since today was the last day of Brooke’s radiation, Easton had a surprise for her. I knew it and Nicole knew it because she insisted she help pick out the ring.

  “You know this is going to make me look bad,” I said, leaning back in my office chair to look at him while he sat at his desk.

  “Not my fault, you should have already done it.”

  “I told you that I didn’t want to propose because she’ll just think that I’m doing it because she’s having my baby, and now she’ll think that I’m just doing it because you’re doing it.”

  “Not my fault,” he said, taking out the black velvet box from the locked drawer of his desk.

  “Are you sure this is what you want?” I asked. I knew better than to ask him, but this was Easton Crawford I was talking to after all.

  “Are you trying to talk me out of it?”

  “Of course not. I just want you to be sure. We know how your first marriage worked out.”

  “Avery. Two words. The one.”

  “All right, good luck.” I slapped his back as we both stood.

  “I don’t need luck.” He laughed and shook his head.

  “Break a leg?” I joked.

  “I hope not!”

  “Fine. Go get the next Mrs. Crawford!”

  “Brooke Crawford. Has a nice ring to it.” He smiled.

  I smiled. Brooke Crawford. Never thought I’d get a chance to be Easton’s best man again.

  My best friend was engaged and I was pregnant. A lot could change in less than a year, that’s for sure. I couldn’t believe that it had. I was happy. Really happy. Waking up with Avery every morning was worth packing up my life in Boston and moving to New York.

  “Want to go have a picnic for lunch?” I asked Avery. He had started working the day shift so he could be home with me at night. He and Easton still switched off working Friday and Saturday nights, but it gave Brooke and me an excuse to keep an eye on our guys.

  “Sure.” He smiled.

  We packed a few things for lunch and drove to the park. Once we got there, our tree, where we had our first picnic, was vacant and we set up our blanket under it. It was still in full bloom of the pink flowers and it was breathtaking as we laid back and stared up at the sky.

  “When are you going to tell your parents that you’re going to be a dad?” I asked, laying in the crook of Avery’s arm.

  “I’m not,” he said, playing with the ends of my hair on my shoulder.

  “You’re not?” I asked, raising my head.

  “Why should I?”

  “Because they’re your parents.”

  “Babe, we both know that Jimmy and Jane are my parents.”

  “I know, but still.” I sighed.

  “I haven’t really talked to my parents in over five years. The last time I talked to them was when Easton and I were in L.A. If they couldn’t come see me when I was a little over an hour from them then they don’t deserve to know about my life.”

  “I understand.”

  “You know, some days I wish they were normal parents. But they’re not. When they wrote me off, I was an adult. If I didn’t have Jimmy and Jane, then I would have been fucked up, but those two treat me like a son and that’s all I need. I know they’ll love our baby just as much as they love Ch
eyenne.”

  “I know they will. I really like them.”

  “Good because they’ll be the grandparents.”

  “Okay.” I smiled and then kissed his lips softly.

  We laid there for a while before grabbing our sandwiches and eating them. Laying in his arms was where I wanted to be forever.

  After our picnic lunch, we packed up and drove home. It was Friday night and Easton’s night to tend bar. I was looking forward to date night with my baby daddy.

  “Bethy called in sick. I have to work tonight,” Avery said, coming back into the living room from the kitchen.

  “Okay,” I sighed.

  So much for date night.

  “Call Brooke. Easton’s working too,” he said, walking into the bedroom to change. “Hang out with her. Cheyenne’s at Jimmy and Jane’s.”

  “I will.”

  While Brooke was going through radiation, I barely saw her. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, but she was tired most of the time. When we did see her, it was at dinner at their house or mine. Now that Brooke was done with radiation, I hoped we’d hang out more because I needed her. I couldn’t wait to introduce her to my baby. I was already in love with her and I hadn’t held her yet. There was something about knowing that I created a miracle. Childbirth was a miracle if you thought about it; we had the power to create another life form. Crazy!

  Avery left, kissing me goodbye, and I decided he was right, so I sent a text to Brooke.

  Me: What are you doing tonight?

  Brooke: Going to Halo

  Me: To spy?

  Brooke: What else would I do?

  I smiled as I texted back.

  Me: Drink?

  Brooke: Well, that too. Chey’s at Jimmy & Jane’s, so I don’t want to stay at home alone.

  Me: Avery had to work because Bethy called in sick.

  Brooke: Come!

  Me: I’m preggo!

  Brooke: So? Come hang out with me. I bet we can win some money.

  Me: All right. Come pick me up in thirty.

  I dressed in a short black skirt, a purple tank top with sequins all over it, and black high heels. I did my make-up perfectly and straightened my blonde hair. Avery and Easton had to flirt to get bigger tips, and Brooke and I were about to steal their tip money.