Are you sure we’re alone?”

Lance’s lips barely part from mine. “Yes,” he says, his hand moving down to rest on my hip. “She’ll be in classes until four.”

“And what time is it now?” I ask.

He grunts in response and leans forward to guide me onto my back on his couch. “Two-ish?” he answers.

I laugh. “Don’t you need to go back to work?”

“Yeah, but…” He smothers his lips on my neck. “Not yet.”

My toes curl as wonderful heat flows through my limbs. “Okay.”

I reach for his belt as Lance runs his hands up my thighs. He hikes up my skirt, moving fast while I push his zipper down. I massage his manhood over his briefs and his breath quickens with need. With one fast tug, he hooks my panties and yanks them down over my ass.

A key slides into the front door.

“Shit—” he groans.

Lance pushes off of me. I perform a quick hop to pull my panties back up while he grabs the nearest throw pillow and covers his lap with it.

Haley walks hurriedly inside but pauses as she sees us on the couch. I try and hold my breath, waiting for the disgusted cringe of a girl once again walking in on her dad getting it on but her smile quickly rises instead.

“Trix?!” She gasps. “Oh, my god! You’re back! Please tell me you’re back.”

I wipe my lips. “I’m back.”

She squeals and hops once. “See, Dad, I told you!”

I look at him. “Told you what?”

“Just...” He waves a hand. “I thought you were at school until four, honey,” he says, shifting subjects.

“Lab was canceled. The TA is sick.” She takes a second look at us and realization slowly takes her face. “Oh, shit. Were you guys just—” She goes tense. “Never mind. I’m just gonna go upstairs—” She spins back to the front door. “Actually, no, I’m gonna go shopping, I think.”

“Have fun,” Lance says, still clutching the pillow to his lap.

“Okay.” Haley pauses in the doorway. “Welcome back, Trix. I missed you.”

I wave. “Missed you, too, Hal.”

She lets out another soft squeal and rushes outside, quickly closing the door. We sit still for another moment, listening to her fumbling with her keys as she locks it behind her.

I exhale. “Okay, we really need to establish a no-couch rule,” I say.

Lance nods. “You’re probably right.”

He tosses the pillow away and mounts me again, pushing me back down. I laugh as his lips attack my neck again, feeling his erection still tenting his pants.

“Or not,” I say, kissing him back.

“I’m sorry,” he says with a laugh. “I’m just...” He raises his head and looks at me. “Just happy.”

I smile. “Me, too.”

Lance kisses me softly on the lips before shifting down to plant a few more pecks along my collarbone. I swoon beneath him, running my fingers through his thick hair as he goes just a little farther down to my belly.

He stops there and kisses my stomach. His expression changes as he lingers there, showing a flash of solemn vulnerability.

“Uh-oh,” I say. “Not-so-happy anymore?”

Lance looks up into my eyes. “No, still very happy,” he says. “But also… kind of blissfully terrified, if that’s a thing.”

I laugh. “Sounds a lot like what I’ve been feeling lately.”

“We have a lot to figure out here,” he says.

I sit up on my elbows. “We do but... do we have to figure it all out now? Things are going so well.”

“All we’ve done since Sunday is have sex,” he says.

“Exactly. It’s awesome.”

He sits back but still faces me. “I spoke with your father and he said—”

“You’ve what?” I choke on my tongue. “You’ve spoken to my dad about this?!”

“Yeah.”

“When?”

“He called the office yesterday,” he says. “Asked what my intentions were now that you’re expecting.”

I sit up, curious. “What did you say?”

“I told him I’d take care of my child.”

I wait for more. “That’s it?”

He laughs. “You know, he said the same thing. So, I told him that I would support you. If Trix wants joint custody, we’ll arrange it. If Trix wants me to just go away and pay child support, we’ll arrange it. If Trix wants to move in with me, we’ll arrange it.”

“And what did he say?”

“He seemed satisfied with that,” he says. “It was a pretty good chat, all things considered.”

My cheeks flush. “But what do you want?” I ask.

Lance thinks for a moment. “I never wanted to be a dad again,” he says.

And the color drains out. “Oh.”

“But the more I picture it…”

He stops and his lips twitch.

“What?” I ask.

He takes my hand. “Come with me.”

I stand with him and he pulls me with him up the stairs.

Lance stops us outside the guest room door. “Now, you’ll have to use your imagination here but I think we can make it work.”

“Make what work?” I ask.

He turns the knob and pushes the door open. “It seems small right now but that’s just because the bed is a king-size. When we get rid of it and the dresser, there will be plenty of room.”

I step inside, biting my lip to contain my smile. “Plenty of room for what?” I ask even though I already know where he’s going with this. I just want to hear him say it himself.

Lance releases my hand. “Okay,” he says, waving an arm. “I can paint the walls. They’re white and boring right now. Pick a color and I’ll grab some samples. My head automatically goes to yellow because Haley’s nursery was rubber ducky themed but we can talk theme later.” He points to the corner. “The crib can go there, if only because it’s closer to the closet and you’ll want easy, quick access to new, clean clothes. Just trust me on that one.”

I nod. “I do.”

“All right.” He turns to the next wall. “I figure the changing station can go here because that corner there—” he points— “beneath the window, is for the rocking chair. I think my mother still has the one I used in her house somewhere. It’s old but sturdy — or we can get a new one if you’d rather. Or if your family has an heirloom, we can use that instead. I don’t know. We can... we can figure it out. Haley, of course, is never gonna let me live this down once she hears I knocked you up, but it’s all right.”

I laugh as Lance stands a bit taller and exhales hard, waiting for a response from me.

“You want Trix to decide to move in here, don’t you?” I ask.

He smiles. “I want Trix to know that if she does, she’ll have everything she needs. The baby will have everything he needs — or she, but I’ve got my hopes on that. Won’t lie.” His hands fidget. “What do you think?”

My lips finally break, curling up until it hurts. “I think it’s perfect,” I say.

“Also, I, uh...” Lance takes a breath. “We don’t have to decide anything right now but, just so you know, it’s on the table.”

I pause. “What is?”

He looks to the side and I follow his eye-line to the small, red velvet box on the bedside table.

My mother’s ring.

“Oh!” I chuckle. “It’s literally on the table.”

Lance laughs. “Yeah.”

I pick it up, feeling the smooth velvet sides. “Wait,” I say. “Where did you get this?”

“I took it from your place last night when you weren’t looking,” he says.

“And I didn’t even notice it was gone.” I shake my head. “I really am a shitty daughter.”

Lance steps forward and slides the box from my fingers. “I’m in if you are, Trix. It’s a little old-fashioned but I didn’t hesitate before and I won’t now.”

He pops it open and we look at it together.

I let out a short laugh. “I used to sneak into my grandmother’s closet when I was a kid,” I say. “She kept this hidden in the back in a shoebox where she thought I wouldn’t find it.” I pull the ring out of its slot. “I remember wanting to throw it away.”

His eyes widen. “Really?”

“Only for a second,” I say, smirking. “I thought, well, if there’s no ring then I never have to get married.”

“You didn’t want to?” he asks.

“I wasn’t one of those girls who dressed their dolls in white dresses.” I shrug. “It seemed so frivolous and silly.”

“Haley never did that, either.” He smiles. “What made you put it back?”

I turn the ring, letting light bounce off it. “I thought about my mother,” I say. “I had no memory of her at all but I had this. Even then, I knew that was important, so...”

Lance reaches out and takes it from my hand. “I’m sorry you never met her,” he says.

I nod. “I’m sorry Haley never met hers.”

He draws my left hand closer. “Trix, I would be honored if you’d be my wife, the mother of my child, and a friend to my daughter.”

I blow out. “Thank you so much for not saying stepmother. I don’t think I can handle that title just yet.”

He laughs as he slides the ring onto my finger. “What do you say?” he asks. “Are we doing this?”

I take a moment to think while I admire the shimmering rock. Not about my answer, I already know that. I think about family. I think about mine and his… and what ours will be and I smile.

I snort. “Well, that wasn’t exactly Shakespeare, but I guess it’ll do.”

Lance grins and pulls me in to kiss my forehead. “Figured I’d keep it simple,” he says.

I turn my head up, smiling wide as I kiss him back.

Simple it is, then.