He laughed, the sound deep and genuine, and she was struck by how content he appeared today. He seemed more relaxed, and she wondered if it was due to…his ex no longer being in the picture.
They dug into the food, and Kian launched into his stories he had to share with her. Mostly about the football game they’d seen and how he and Vic had watchedIron Manlast night.
“Daddy said I could stay up late.” Kian took a big bite of his hot dog, chewed, then continued. “It was really late.”
She raised her eyebrow at Vic. Not that she cared. It was the weekend, and they were having boys’ time together.
“He was sleep by ten.” Vic rolled his eyes and reached for his drink.
“It was super late,” Kian insisted.
“Wow. Dad is so cool to let you stay up so late,” she said.
Kian agreed and nodded. She put down her fork and decided to use her fingers to eat the chicken. She didn’t know what Vic had done to it, but it was so good.
She loved seeing the two of them together. It always brought a warm feeling to her chest. They continued eating and listening to Kian narrate the rest of the weekend as only a four-year-old could. He sat beside her chewing on his hot dog while smearing ketchup on both of his cheeks.
When he’d finally finished his story and most of his lunch, he stood from the table.
“Kian, your face. Come here.” She grabbed a few napkins and cleaned off the ketchup.
He grabbed his soccer ball and dashed out into the yard.
“Stay where we can see you,” Vic called out.
“I know!” Kian yelled back. Then he was gone.
The air shifted immediately when it was just the two of them. She felt it. Her pulse spiked. The words she needed to say lodged in her throat. Vic leaned back in his chair while his gaze settled on her.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Umm…not sure,” she whispered before she could stop herself.
“What’s going on?” He frowned as he looked at her.
Say it,she ordered herself.Just spit it out. You’ve practiced this.
But her brain short-circuited, and her mouth did the most embarrassing thing possible. The words exploded out of her in a panicked, messy jumble of words.
“IwantanotherbabyandIwantittobewithyou.” She slapped a hand over her mouth.
Vic blinked slowly. Several times without taking his eyes off her. He lowered the fork that had been on its way to his mouth.
“I’m sorry. I think I caught two words of what you just said,” he said carefully.
She inhaled a sharp breath and closed her eyes for a moment.
You can do this.
“Let me try this again.” She wiped her suddenly damp hands on her jeans. This time her words came out much slower. “I want another baby.”
A muscle in Vic’s jaw flexed.
“And,” she continued. “I want the father to be you.”
Silence settled between them. Vic stared at her as if she had grown another head. She swallowed hard and focused on breathing.
“Tachina,” Vic started. He settled back and combed his fingers through his hair. “Where is this coming from?”