My once colorful face and slight buzz from the win rapidly fades. I can feel my body go numb as I open the door. Leaning out, I let the nausea overcome me as I puke up the beer and wings I just ate.

I’m sure the paleness on my face matches hers. There’s no denying the look of shock that’s all over it. She certainly knows how to tell it like it is. She’s never held back and why would she now? Jenny has always been a straight shooter with me and there’s no exception with this.

I concentrate on her face while curbing the continued nausea gurgling in my stomach. Her eyes stay fixed on mine while my hazy vision stabilizes. Why the hell does she look so calm? I’m a fucking wreck.

I can feel the sweat beading on my forehead while my mouth tries to open. I want to speak and move my lips but nothing comes out. Her hand reaches for my face as she wipes a drip off my temple. Finally, in a hoarse voice I get out one word, “What?”

Her capacity for love and concern constantly amazes me. She’s trying to take care of me, but shouldn’t it be the other way around? “I know that this is a lot to take in. For all we know it’s going to be negative, but I can’t ignore the signs, babe.”

I finally have enough saliva to swallow and coat my irritated throat. “Ok. I just need some time to process. Talk to me, Jenny Bean. What are the signs?” My body shifts toward her. I need her closeness right now more than anything.

Watching her let out a deep sigh, I listen to her detail her symptoms and missed period. Yes, I agree that it sounds like she could be pregnant but my irrational side is screaming, "No fucking way."

Her voice is faint as my thoughts consume my mind. It’s a rapid fire from one extreme to the next. None of it is making sense. Until I finally hear her tell me, “I mean the chance is small, Jack. We used condoms every time.” I squeeze her hand, trying to reassure her before I remind her.

“Jenny, we didn’t use a condom every time.” Her face looks confused, as if she’s going through a mental rolodex of each time we had sex. “Baby, remember the time we were driving home from dinner? Your feet up on the dashboard with one hand playing with your body while the other was touching me?”You can see the fogginess lifting as she recalls it, too. “The parking garage, at my house, when you said you couldn’t wait and needed me inside you?”

Her head nods as it sinks in. “I said fuck it, I need you now, and I climbed over to your seat and straddled you.” We both smirk at the memory. We really do have hot sex. “I wanted you so bad in that moment. The things you say, how you move, you turn me on so much.”

I lift her hand and kiss it tenderly. “You turn me on so much, too, baby. Every time is amazing.”

She laughs, which is a damn good thing considering the tension in the air. “We are good, baby, never boring.”

I can’t help but lean over and kiss her sweet lips. “Never, baby.” Pulling back, I turn over the ignition and start the car. “Well, ok then, let's head to the store and get home. Looks like we will be spending some quality time in the bathroom. Not what I initially had planned for shower time.”

Jenny’s hand reaches over and playfully slaps my thigh as we pull out onto the street. Definitely not what I had in mind for tonight, but I guess all that matters is she’s here with me. She’s all I’ll ever need.

* * *

I pace back and forth like a lunatic. How Jenny can sit so calmly on the couch is beyond me. Neither of us has said much to each other. The weight of the situation we are in is overwhelming. There’s really nothing we can say to each other until we know for sure.

My mind races with every possible scenario. There is not one cohesive train of thought. What if it’s a girl and I have to protect her from assholes like me? What if I end up being a terrible father like mine was? What if Jenny doesn’t want a baby? What if she doesn’t want a baby with me? My hands tug at my hair before I blurt everything out. “How can you be so calm, Jenny Bean? I could suck with this dad stuff. I didn’t exactly have the best home life.”

She moves off the couch and stands facing me. “I’m a nervous wreck, Jack. Honestly, this is not what I had planned for us this soon, but the universe works in mysterious ways. If we are pregnant, then I have to believe we will be ok. We love each other, plain and simple. If it’s positive, then this little nugget was made with our love.”

I move closer to her. Just when I think I may have a breakdown, her hands wrap around my waist. She pulls me in and gives me what I need. She always does. Usually, it’s before I’m even aware of what it is. I love this woman more than anything else in this whole world. Indeed, she is my world.

Feeling her mold into me, I picture her as a mom and my heart and mind steady. She’s so loving and giving. She would make a great mother. My mom was an awesome woman but so much sadness was always with her. My eyes tear up from all of the emotions.

Jenny has so much joy that I have no doubt our lives will be different and better. We have learned from our pasts and from each other. That has to count for something.

“Jenny, no matter what, I want you to know that you are my forever and the love of my life. You are my person. You are my home. If we happen to have an extra member in our house a bit earlier than we planned, it really doesn’t matter.” I squeeze her tighter before resting my chin on her head. “As long as it’s you and me and baby makes three, then I’m good with that.”

Her hands reach down and slap my ass. She chuckles at my corny joke. “You are such a nerd sometimes, but I love you.” Her body steps back as she checks the timer. “Thirty more seconds, baby. Thirty more seconds that will change our story.”

I watch her grab her tummy and hold it lovingly. She’s stunning and the idea of our baby growing inside her intensifies it.

The timer goes off and we both pause. Neither of us rushes over to check. It really doesn’t matter. “I want you to understand that no matter what, we are still us with a little something extra.” She smiles at me adoringly. “I don’t think it’s possible for me to love you anymore than I do right now.”

“I feel the same way. Now before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s go look.” She walks over and grabs the stick. Her eyes glance down. Her head pops up, but my words fly out before she can tell me.

“Marry me.”