Melody of the Heart (Runaway Train, #4)(66)

Striding over to the bed, I knelt down in front of Lily. “Baby, I’m so f*cking sorry for reacting the way that I did. I was just so surprised.”

Her brows shot up. “You’re not mad?”

Shaking my head, I replied, “How could I ever be mad about one of my dreams coming true?”

“Oh Brayden,” Lily cried, before throwing her arms around my neck. I cradled her trembling body in my arms as she shed what I hoped were tears of happiness. When she pulled away, she smiled at me. “Thank you.”

“For being an * who made you cry?”

“No. Thank you for loving me no matter what.”

I brushed the hair out of her face and then stroked her tear-soaked cheeks. “I’ll always fight for you, Lily. I’ll always fight for us. Now there’s just going to be more of us to fight for.”

Lily hiccupped a laugh. “It’s still so hard to believe.”

“Why didn’t you tell me last night?”

“We hadn’t been together in so long that I didn’t want to ruin it.”

“What kind of * am I that would make you think a baby would ruin things?”

Her hand came up to cup my cheek. “It’s not that. I’ve been upset myself. We’ve only been married seven months. You’re touring all the time and hardly home. Not to mention, that I just got my first teaching job, and now I’m pregnant. It was like I worked so hard for what?”

“For a college degree that you’ll have all your life.”

“That’s true.”

“Besides, you know I hate that you’re teaching instead of coming out on tour with me.”

“Once again, you have your dream, and I have mine,” she countered, softly.

Turning her hands up, I kissed her opened palms. “I know, baby. But there’s one dream that we share, and that’s each other. Nothing can take the place of that.”

“I love you,” she murmured.

“I love you, too.” I leaned in to place a tender kiss on her lips. When I pulled away, I smiled at her. I reached for the tie of her robe. Her brows lined with confusion when I pushed it open. Bending down, I bestowed a kiss on her abdomen. “And I love you, too,” I said to her stomach.

Lily sucked in a breath before her fingers tangled in my hair, and she jerked my head up. “I want you to know you’ve made me the happiest woman in the world.”

“Ditto,” I murmured, bringing my lips to hers.

Just as I pushed her back onto the mattress, a loud bang came at our door. “Everything okay in there?” Jake asked.

I groaned. “It was until your nosy ass came knocking!” I shouted.

“I just wanted to make sure Lily was okay.”

“Just when I think Jake is a selfish and unfeeling *, he goes and redeems himself yet again,” Lily said, amusement vibrating in her voice.

“She’s fine,” I called back.

“Uh, yeah, I’d rather hear her say that herself. You know, so I know there’s no coercion.”

Lily giggled. “I promise that I’m fine, Jake. Now will you please go away, so Brayden can f*ck me?”

As my mouth dropped open in shock at her words, Jake’s laughter bellowed outside the door. “You got it,” he replied.

Amusement shone in Lily’s eyes as she cupped my cheeks in her hands. “I wish you could see your expression right now.”

“I’m sorry, but that’s the last thing I expected out of your mouth.”

“I’d say we’re 0-2 on unexpected things said out of my mouth this morning, huh?”

I laughed. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“Now come on and make love to your pregnant wife.”

“Yes, Mrs. Vanderburg. I’ll be happy to oblige you,” I said before bringing my lips to hers.

***

The bus roared down the darkened interstate, taking us from Mississippi into Alabama. Lily lounged on the couch with a pint of chocolate chip ice cream on her lap. Occasionally, Rhys would reach over to dunk his spoon in for a bite. Each time he did, Lily used her spoon like a sword to fight him off. Rhys merely grinned at her antics.

Sitting across from them in one of the captain’s chairs, I had a notepad beside me and my guitar on my lap. Jake also had his guitar out.

Lily huffed out a frustrated breath. “You should be ashamed of yourself, Rhys McGowan. Stealing ice cream from a poor, pitiful woman who’s forty months pregnant.”

“Nice try, Lils. You’re only eight-and-a-half months pregnant,” he argued, before grabbing another bite.

Lily groaned. “It feels like I’ve been pregnant forever. I’m so ready for this baby to be born.” Glancing down at her belly, she said, “Did you hear that Michael? You can come out now.”

“Michael?” AJ questioned, from the kitchen area. “Is that what you guys decided to name him?”

I laughed. “No, that’s just the one we’re trying this week. Seeing how we like it since it’s my middle name.”

Cocking her head, Lily said, “Paul Michael Vanderburg sounds very prestigious, don’t you think?”

AJ made a face. “Isn’t there a hair products dude name Paul Michaels?”

Jake and Rhys snickered as Lily shot Jake a look. “Fine then. Michael Paul. Is that better?”