I stand in front of the bedroom mirror. Straightening my dress and wondering if it’s too short. It assuredly is for the chilly weather outside, but I wonder if Thomas will find it too sexy?

It’s been almost two weeks since he was served with divorce papers, and he leaves tomorrow for New York, and his first mediation meeting.

Tonight, we’re going out together. We haven’t been on a real date, in weeks. I find that I don’t mind though. Between my classes, and Thomas’, our weeks are so hectic, and long. By the time the weekend rolls around, all we want to do is be lazy, and stay home, in bed, all weekend long.

I give myself one last glance, running my fingers over my little black bandage dress. When I was thumbing through the closet tonight, I discovered that all of my dresses are essentially replicas of one another, tiny and tight, but just different colors.

I let out a sigh, I really need to get a job, and to buy clothes that are not so young and sexy. I’m not single and going to parties or clubs anymore, I have Thomas, now. Plus, he’s a college professor and I look exactly like Alison insinuated, like I’m his sugar baby.

“Are you ready, Ines?” Thomas calls out as I walk down the stairs. His head lifts from his phone and his lips part slightly. “Shit, I’d say so,” he grunts as he stands from his seat on the sofa.

Letting out a low laugh, I walk directly into his arms. He wraps them around me, and I inhale his scent, sighing. I really, really, don’t want him to leave tomorrow. I feel like the two days he’s going to be gone will feel like a lifetime. I also feel really stupidly needy about it all, too. It’s only two days, but he’ll be dealing with this divorce, with his wife, and I’ll be here. I’ve also felt like shit the past two weeks, which doesn’t help anything at all.

“I’m ready, Papi,” I whisper, pressing my lips to the underside of his jaw.

He grunts and shifts to the side, his hand pressing against my lower back as we begin to walk. “Where’s your coat, sweetheart?” he asks as his hand wraps around the front doorknob.

“I don’t have one, not that goes with this dress anyway,” I admit with a shrug.

He smiles, shaking his head like I’m fucking crazy. “We’re going shopping as soon as I get back. You are not prepared for winter here, and I can’t have you freezing to death on me,” he winks.

I try to ignore the shopping comment, but I fail. He doesn’t seem pissed, or irritated, instead, he seems mildly amused at my lack of preparedness and money. However, I don’t bring money up like I want to, not wishing to ruin our evening together.

I don’t want him to pay for my clothes though, and I really do think that I need to get a job of some kind, even if it’s just for a few hours after my last class of the day. Maybe that’s exactly what I’ll do while he’s gone, I’ll job hunt, see if there’s anything available that would work with my limited schedule and skills.

Thomas drives toward the restaurant in silence and I wonder what he’s thinking so very hard about, behind the steering wheel. It’s obvious he’s thinking deeply; his brows are knitted together, and his hands grip the wheel tightly.

Normally, he has a hand on my thigh, and he talks, his voice calm and gentle. Tonight, he’s obviously preoccupied. I can’t help but wonder if it has to do with his mediation. He’s told me a million times that he’s not worried about anything, but maybe as the time ticks closer, he truly is.

“Have you talked to your family recently?” he asks as he pulls into a parking spot in front of the restaurant.

I shake my head. I haven’t called anybody, and I’ve been avoiding their calls. I’ve replied to missed calls, and voicemails with text messages. I know that they want to hear from me, and badly because even my brother, Rio, who has never called me once in his life, left me a message last night.

“I’m going to call them while you’re gone. I figure I can spend a few hours catching up with them, and catching them up with me,” I state. Plus, I can tell them about Thomas, without Thomas being there to listen in.

He doesn’t say anything else as he exits the car, and walks over to my side to help me out. I slip my hand inside of his waiting palm as he helps me stand from the low car. Once I’m upright, I straighten my skirt and together we walk hand-in-hand toward the restaurant.

It feels nice, being in public with him, but I can’t shake the twisting feeling in my stomach, either. We really shouldn’t be out together, obviously on a date, in town. Before, when I didn’t realize how much trouble both of us could get in, I didn’t think twice about our few dinner dates.

Now, I know the truth, and I’m not so much worried about myself as I am him, especially since we had a talk about his retirement. I’ve never thought about the future that way, but Thomas does, and he has so much more to lose than I do. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I cost him his job, his future.

“You look worried,” he frowns as we settle in our seats.

I was so dazed and lost in my own thoughts, I didn’t even realize we had been taken back to a table. “What happens, after your divorce is final… with us?” I ask.

Thomas lifts a brow and leans back in his chair slightly. “What do you mean? You’re mine, do you somehow think that changes when my divorce is final?” he asks, sounding almost accusatory.

I shake my head, my hair flying around my shoulders a bit. Inhaling a deep breath, I look up at him. “We can’t hide our relationship forever, Thomas. Someday someone will see us together, and taking separate cars to campus is great, but what happens when we’re at the grocery store, or out to dinner and a colleague of yours, or a student sees us? The last thing I want to do is jeopardize your career, just by being in love with you.”

We stay silent, and the waiter appears. Once we’ve ordered our dinner, the waiter practically runs from us, probably noting the tension in the air between us. I know that I can practically see it myself, it’s so thick. “I’ll get a job somewhere else. I’ll start looking during the winter break,” he announces.

“Thomas,” I hiss. “You’re being unreasonable.”

He shakes his head, his eyes lifting and connecting with mine. “It’s not unreasonable, Ines. You’re right. We can’t stay like this. There is no way I’m going to hide my wife from anybody,” he states.

“Your… wife?” I hiss.

I watch, my eyes widening, and almost bugging out of my head when he stands and walks over to my side. I watch as he reaches into his pocket and lowers down on one knee. My hand automatically lifts to cover my wide-open mouth and my audible gasp.

“I love you, Ines. I’m already yours, and I know that you’re mine, but I’d like to make it official. I don’t want to waste another minute without you. Marry me,” he says.

I feel like the entire restaurant is watching us, and yet I don’t care even in the slightest. Everything melts away as he lifts the lid on the small box in his hand. It’s the most beautiful ring I have ever seen in my life. It’s a light peach halo cut gemstone in the middle with small diamonds surrounding it and traveling down each side. My eyes fill with tears and I start to shake.

Thomas doesn’t wait for an answer, although he didn’t really ask the question either, he just sort-of announced it. He takes my left hand and slips the ring onto my finger. Then he stands, tugging me up to stand as well. As soon as I’m on my feet, I throw my arms around him and place my lips at his ear.

“Yes, yes, yes, Papi I’ll marry you,” I chant.

He chuckles and wraps his hands around my waist, holding me close to him. As soon as the blood in my ears stops rushing, I hear clapping and cheering around us. I try to take a step back, my face assuredly bright red, but Thomas doesn’t let me. He wraps his hand around my cheeks and presses his lips to mine. The kiss starts off as gentle, innocent even, but when his tongue gently sweeps across the seam of my lips, I open my mouth with a moan.

He pulls away, slowly, and presses his forehead to mine. “I’ll show you how happy you’ve made me, once we get home,” he mutters quietly.

I laugh and we each take a step away from one another. As we sit back in our seats, I can’t help but feel a bit sad that we have to be separated by this table, especially right now. The light catches my ring, and I finally take a moment to look down at it, again.

“It’s beautiful, Thomas,” I whisper.

The peachy gemstone winks at me, and I can’t help but smile, it’s as if it’s impossible to keep my lips from turning up. I don’t think that I could physically make myself frown or look impassive at the moment.

Visions of a wedding play in my head, me in a lacy white dress, my brother Kosmo walking me down the aisle on one side, my mom on the other. Then I think about how my sisters and Jessa could be my bridesmaids.

“What are you thinking about?” Thomas asks, taking my hand in his and giving me a squeeze.

I shift my gaze up to his and give him a smile. “I’m happy, so happy.” I don’t tell him about my wedding thoughts, it’s too early for that, but a girl can dream.

We finish eating, our conversation staying light, and Thomas keeps his hand on mine, his finger rubbing my new ring. I feel my stomach drop and flip as soon as I take my last bite of food and I let out a groan. Standing quickly, I excuse myself to the restroom.

Once I’m inside the lounge, I hurry to a stall, and everything I ate comes right back up—again. It’s been happening, every single night, like clockwork. At first, I thought that it was a stomach bug, now I’m not so sure. I’m actually terrified that something is really wrong with me, and I know that I need to make an appointment with a doctor, but I don’t know that I want to know if I’m really sick. I want to live in denial, I think.

When I’m finished, I flush the toilet and make my way over to the sink to clean up a bit. I swish water around in my mouth and then clean my face off before attempting to look at my reflection. “Not that I don’t blame you, because he is a fine specimen, but what are you doing little girl?” a woman asks.

I look over at her and cock my head to the side. She’s beautiful. Thin with dark blonde hair and delicate features. She looks like she’s around my mom’s age, but she’s dressed extremely elegantly in a dark blue pencil legged pantsuit. I feel like a cheap floozy next to her—I feel exposed, and young… incredibly young.

“Excuse me?” I ask, trying to keep my hands from shaking.

She smirks, her beautiful face twisting into something evil. “You are nothing but a toy to a man like that, Ines. Poor little Cuban girl, thinking that she’s found her white knight. Is that the way it is?” she asks giving a loud cackle of a laugh. “When he’s finished fucking your tight cunt, he’ll move onto someone younger and tighter,” she smirks.

I shake my head, refusing to believe her words, squaring my shoulders I level her with a glare. “Jealous?” I ask.

I have sisters, I know how mean girls can be. I’ve seen some doozies, and this bitch is just trying to intimidate me. She crosses her arms over her chest and shrugs. “You have him today, and you better enjoy it while you’ve got it, because trust me it won’t last long. There’s a reason I allowed him to play all of these years.

“I knew he wouldn’t be faithful, not ever. I knew with all the young girls surrounding him that he’d want a taste of something fresh when he needed it. Why do you think I never had his child? Sure, he’ll tell you it’s because I was focused on my career, but wouldn’t you be too, if your man was fucking every eighteen-year-old he could get his hands on?”

While her words do feel like a punch to my gut, I take a really good look at her. She is pretending to be truthful, pretending to just have a girl chat, especially since her first attempt to send me running didn’t quite work. She’s changed her tactics, but she’s done it all wrong. She should have planted those seeds of doubt first, not used them as her closer.

“I’ll take my chances,” I murmur.

She snorts. “Once he finds out you’re knocked up with his kid, he’s going to send your brown ass packing,” she quips and then she strolls away, leaving me standing there with my mouth hanging open.

My hand automatically goes to my belly and I frown. I couldn’t be, could I? I mentally try to count back how many days it’s been since my period and my belly swoops with another wave of nausea. No, no, no, no, no. I shake my head, almost violently, and then I turn to face the mirror again. My eyes are wide, my face pale, and realization has swept through me.

I am pregnant.

Holy fucking shit.

I should be terrified, especially after that woman’s words. That woman, who I know must be Danielle since she knew my name. Looking down at my hand resting on my stomach, that peach stone winks at me and all of my fears melt away.

He loves me, he loves me enough to propose to me because he doesn’t want to waste another minute of his life, he wants to be with me. I know he wants children, he’s mentioned them before, and Danielle is wrong—so wrong. Thomas loves me, not because I’m eighteen, but because I’m Ines Nazario and for no other reason.

Ines comes back from her long stint in the restroom, and I’m relieved to see her coming my way, but one glance at her face and I know that something is wrong. I frown as she gives me some bullshit smile and sits down across from me. I wait a beat for her to say something, but she doesn’t. Not wishing to push whatever it is in public, I lift my hand and ask our waiter for the check.

I pay the bill, and help Ines from her seat, then hand-in-hand we walk toward the exit. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and tug her against my side to try and keep her warm on the short walk to the car. She still hasn’t said a fucking word, and I can feel the anger filling me with each step we take.

Once we’re in the car, I drive home quickly, my temper rising with every second that passes silently. I don’t know what happened in that bathroom, but I’m about to fucking find out. I feel irrational, and yet, I know something had to have happened.

“We aren’t going to the movies?” Ines asks when I pull into the driveway.

Waiting for the garage to open, I slowly drive inside, closing it before I turn the engine off. “No, we’re not going to the movie,” I snap.

Opening my car door, I unfold from the vehicle and slam it behind me. Wisely, Ines is already out when I round the front and head toward the house. I can hear her high heels click behind me as I walk inside. I don’t bother turning any lights on. Quietly, I walk into our bedroom and only then do I flip a light switch. I turn around my breathing heavy, panting, as I try to calm my temper, and anger.

“Thomas?” she asks, sounding unsure, and perhaps a little scared.

I shake my head. “You better start fucking talking, Ines,” I demand. Waiting, I watch her, my eyes focused on her lips, but they don’t move. “You walked out of that bathroom and you looked shaken, you also haven’t said a fucking word to me since. I’m not always a patient man, so you’re going to need to talk to me.”

Her expression goes from surprise to almost relief. I clench my hands into fists and place them on my hips as I impatiently wait for her to speak. She doesn’t say a word, instead, she slowly closes the distance between us.

Placing her hands on my chest, she tips her head back. “Danielle cornered me in the bathroom,” she begins. I open my mouth, but she shakes her head. “She was saying things to try to get to me, but I didn’t buy it, Thomas. She was purposely trying to rattle me, but you love me, and not because I’m young but because I’m me, don’t you?”

My entire body relaxes, the tightness in my muscles just leaves me. Lifting one hand, I cup her cheek, and the other I place on the middle of her back. Lowering my face, I run my nose alongside hers. “I don’t love you because you’re young,” I state, trying not to chuckle at the ridiculousness that is that question.

Fucking Danny and her goddamn games.

“She just caught me off guard, I’m sorry if I seemed off,” she murmurs.

I grunt, feeling like a fucking asshole for throwing a temper tantrum. I was worried though, scared even. “You’ll still marry me?” I ask in a whisper.

“Tomorrow if I could,” she breathes.

I grunt. “Fifty days, the day after the fucking divorce is final, you’ll be my wife,” I announce.

She hums her response and slides her hands up my shoulders, and around my neck. “Let’s not talk about divorces, mediations, or anything else. Let’s just celebrate our engagement.”

I slide my nose alongside hers and inhale her sweet scent. “That sounds fucking perfect.”