Chapter 25
Brandon looked like he’d been struck by lightning, and Jolie felt the same. She hadn’t expected the words to just come tumbling out of her like that. But, then again, she hadn’t expected Brandon to tell her that he was leaving her mom.
“What did you say?” he asked and stepped towards her around the desk. It was almost a threat. Instead of looking excited by the news, he looked angry.
“I said that I’m pregnant,” Jolie said and instinctively, her hand rose to her belly and she stroked it.
Brandon had caught the movement, and his gaze drifted to her belly before he jerked his face back up to her eyes. His own were narrowed and stormy. For the first time, he looked like he was mad at her.
“You’re pregnant with my child?” he said and Jo licked her lips nervously.
“I shouldn’t have said anything,” she said and turned to put some distance between them, but Brandon had caught her wrist and he held her there.
“Please don’t joke around, Jo. You have no idea what this could mean for me,” he said and she stared into his eyes. He wasn’t smiling, he wasn’t giving her any indication of what he was actually feeling…except that he was in complete disbelief.
“I’m not joking about this, Brandon. I am going to be a mother,” she said and he dropped her wrist and took a step back like he’d been burnt.
“You’re pregnant,” he said and ran a hand through his hair.
Jolie waited for a moment, watching every movement he made. Then he rubbed his face with his hand and when she saw his eyes again, he looked excited. That glimmer of hope had returned to his gaze.
“You’re pregnant!” he yelled and a laugh escaped his lips. Jolie was surprised by his reaction. She thought he was mad at her, that he was seconds away from running out of her office.
“I’m going to be a daddy!” he cheered and then he rushed towards her and lifted her up in the air. He was laughing and she laughed too, as he spun her around. She clung on to him as they laughed together. When he eventually set her back down on the floor again, he lifted his hand to her belly and stroked it.
“We’re going to have a baby together,” he said and pulled Jolie into his arms. He didn’t give her a chance to react, but, instead, kissed her lips wildly. By the time they parted, she was out of breath.
“I don’t believe this…I didn’t think this was going to happen. Not so soon anyway!” he said and he had started pacing the room. Jolie watched him, biting down on her lip. She couldn’t believe it either…that this news could make him so happy!
“I mean…I knew I wanted you. I knew I wanted you to be the mother of my children. I knew I wanted to spend every waking moment with you. I just didn’t know that it would happen so quickly!” he said and returned to her, pulling her into his arms again.
Jolie kissed him and then looked into his eyes.
“What does this mean, Brandon?” she asked him and he shook his head, still in disbelief, still giddy with laughter.
“It means that we’re having a child together. That we’re going to be together…” he said and she tried wriggling out of his arms. There were other things to think about, and he wasn’t being practical right now.
“But you’re my stepfather. Technically, you’re still married to my mom,” she said.
“Not for very long. We signed a prenup, and it’s going to be very easy for me to get a divorce. Alice won’t be able to do anything about it, and I don’t think she cares either. She’s going to make a sizable amount of money from the divorce,” he said and another ray of hope fluttered in Jolie’s chest. He was right. Her mother wasn’t going to care as long as she got her money.
“But that doesn’t erase the fact that you were once married to my mom. What are we going to tell people? What are we going to tell our kid?” Jolie asked and Brandon had started pacing the room again. He was still smiling wide.
“It doesn’t matter, Jo…don’t you see what this means? We can be together now, without any apology. We’re going to raise a child together. We’re going to be parents,” he said and she finally allowed herself a smile.
His positive energy was having an effect on her. It was electrical and contagious. She couldn’t help but be happy about it…she felt safe with him. Brandon was going to make sure that everything turned out fine.
“Jo…I can’t wait to begin our life together. You’ve made me the happiest man alive!” he exclaimed and he took her into his arms again. Their kiss sizzled as he held her close, pushing his tongue deep into her mouth to claim her. Jolie closed her eyes, savoring this moment which she knew she wasn’t going to forget easily.
Just when she was giving up hope and just when she thought she was never going to have her chance at happiness, Brandon had returned and he was going to make everything all right again.
“I can’t wait either,” she said, panting for air when their lips parted. They knocked their foreheads together and remained in each other’s arms. Jolie had never been more grateful for a vacation before.