Tessa Teevan - Inflame

“Mom, I know it’s not what you expected. We just wanted to meet each other’s families, and well, I don’t want him to miss another holiday with his,” she says, and I watch as Marcy’s face softens. She might not like the idea, but I know she’s not going to argue with her daughter. “Plus, I’ll be back for a week at Christmas. It’s not that far away,”

What? I know she gets a two-week break at Christmas time, and well, I was kind of hoping I could spend that time talking her into moving in with me and setting up a nursery in my house. I know it seems fast, but we already spend nearly every day together, and it just makes sense. And in June, when Lucy gives birth to our child, I want them both under my roof. I didn’t even think about her coming back to Florida for the holiday, even though it should have crossed my mind. I don’t want to bring it up in front of her family, so I decide to ignore it for now.

“I understand that, honey. It’s just that we’ve missed you and I was hoping to get to know Kale a little better. I guess I’ll have to be the annoying mother and cram it all in tonight.”

Leaning forward, I interject. “I don’t mind, Marcy. Always been an open book. Fire away.”

“Well, let’s start simple. Tell me about your family.”

Easy enough. I quickly tell her about my mom and my sisters but try not to go into too much detail to where I bore the entire table. Marcy frowns when I tell her Dad left us when my sisters were babies, but I brush it off.

“My uncle was always around, and he was more of a father figure than my old man ever was. Trust me. It was better for all of us when he left. It’s long past and water under the bridge,” I say, meaning it.

Marcy gives me a weird look but quickly covers it with a sympathetic smile. “Well, that’s a nice way to look at it, Kale. It sounds like you had a good childhood regardless.”

As I nod, Steve interrupts the conversation. “All right, woman. Let the boy eat. He’s been answering questions left and right all night and his plate’s still practically full.”

Lucy gives him an appreciative smile while Marcy glares at him. “I’m sorry, Kale. I’m not trying to be rude. I’m just trying to get to know my daughter’s boyfriend. I might’ve known more if she’d ever decided to tell me about you on any one of our numerous phone calls.”

“Mom…” Lucy begins, but Marcy stops her.

“Okay, okay, I get the hint. I’ll back off. Just one more question and I’m done,” she says, and Lucy sighs but nods. “This is going to sound cliché, but I can’t help it. I have to ask. Kale, what are your intentions with my daughter?” she asks, and I can’t tell if she’s serious or not.

I rack my brain trying to come up with the perfect answer to appease her. I intend to marry her and start a family with her? No, because that’ll scare the shit out of Lucy. Well, at first I just wanted to fuck her, but now I’m falling for her, so we’ll see? Pretty sure I’d get a steak knife thrown at me. For the first time, I’m tongue tied, and before I can untie it, Lucy decides to forgo any prepping for the conversation.

“I’m pregnant,” she deadpans.

The table falls silent except for the sound of Marcy choking on the bite of mashed potatoes she just took. Steve quickly pushes her wine towards her, and I watch as she takes a long sip. Marisa and Jared are both staring at Lucy, wide-eyed.

Lucy looks over at me and winces. “Sorry, babe. It just kind of came out. Ripping the Band-Aid off and all that?”

Cupping her chin, I lean in and give her lips a soft kiss. “It’s fine, baby. If that was the easiest way, then I’m okay with it. You good?”

She shrugs her shoulders and looks over at her mom, who’s red in the face and staring at us, shooting daggers in my direction. “We’ll see.”

Marcy wipes her mouth and then throws her napkin on her plate. “Lucy Elizabeth Dawson, in the kitchen. Now.”

Lucy starts to protest, but Marcy’s already out of the room. “I’ll be right back. Try and enjoy the rest of your dinner, okay?”

I watch as she follows her mom into the kitchen then look back at the table. Three pairs of curious eyes are staring at me, and I meet each one.

“I guess congratulations are in order,” Steve says, breaking the silence, and relief that he’s not threatening to kick my ass for defiling his stepdaughter washes over me. “Although, I’m far too young to be a grandpa.”

I appreciate that he’s trying to lighten the mood, and I start to relax until I hear the raised voices coming from the kitchen. Scooting my chair back, I get up from the table.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, son. Marcy’s got a temper,” Steve warns.

“That’s my woman in there, pregnant with my child. I’ll be damned if I sit back and let anyone upset her when she’s in this condition. Not even her own mom.”

He eyes me up and down then nods approvingly. “This should be fun.”

Lucy

MOM’S PACING the kitchen when I enter the room, and I brace myself for her lecture. She pauses when she sees me, and the look of disappointment makes my stomach roll, but only for a moment. I remind myself that nothing about this life growing inside me is disappointing, and when she calms down, I know she’ll be happy for me. Now when that will be, I have no freaking idea.

“I cannot believe you’re pregnant! Lucy, are you two even serious? Is that why you’ve never talked about him before? Have you really known him for a year and a half, or is he a new guy you’ve hooked up with and just so happened to have made this mistake with?”

I wince at her words. “Nothing Kale told you about how we met was a lie. All of that was true. We’ve had feelings for each other for a long time, but it wasn’t until the baby that we actually admitted them.”

“Oh, that’s rich. How convenient is it that you decide you want to be together romantically after he got you pregnant? Did you learn nothing from your father?! Having a baby with no emotions is a terrible idea!”

Anger begins to boil inside me at her implication that this situation is anything like hers was, and my hand covers my stomach protectively, as if I’m blocking the sound waves from penetrating my skin and poisoning my child’s brain with this nonsense.

“Kale is nothing like that asshole, and our relationship is completely different than yours was. He and I should’ve been together all along. This baby brought us together. Tim lied to you about loving you just so he could get in your pants, and then what happened? You had me and I tore you apart! They are two completely different things. Don’t you dare compare Kale to Tim ever again!”

She pales at my words, and while I know they were harsh, it’s the truth and she needs to know it. I feel a strong arm wrap around my waist, and a moment later, I’m pressed against Kale’s side as he holds me close to him protectively.

“You okay, baby?” he asks quietly, and I shake my head, because in all honesty, I’m not. I knew she’d be upset, but I didn’t think she’d automatically compare Kale to Tim.

“Kale, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to speak to my daughter in private,” Mom says, gritting her teeth. I can hear the anger and frustration laced in her voice, and when I look at her, I notice her hands turning white as she grips the edge of the island.

“I mean no disrespect, Marcy, but yeah, I do mind,” he responds, his voice cool and collected but also determined. I hear Mom gasp, and as much as I know I should pull away from him and tell him that I’m fine, I can’t. I need his closeness right now before I break down.

“Excuse me?” she asks in an incredulous tone, as if she can’t believe he’d dare defy her in her own home in regards to her own daughter.

“Like I said, no disrespect, but as you now know, Lucy’s carrying my child, and her well-being means more than your acceptance of me. She’s exhausted all the time, and the last thing I want is for her to be upset, even if it’s from her own mother. Especially from her own mother. Look, I know this comes as a big shock. It was a shock to us, too. I know you just met me, but I can promise you, Marcy. There’s nothing I want more in this world than Lucy. Beyond that, there’s nothing I want more than my child, our child that’s growing inside her. I’ll do anything I can to protect them, even if it’s as simple as stopping unnecessary stress for her and the baby.”

Tears are flowing down my cheeks by the end of his little monologue, and in that moment, I decide that, whatever Mom thinks about Kale, she can think it. I know there’s no other person on this planet that I’d rather have a child with. Wrapping my arms around him, I bury my face in this chest until I calm down.

Once the tears stop, I turn and see Mom looking at us, and her face has softened. “Sorry. It’s the hormones,” I joke, trying to lighten the mood. I see tears in her eyes, and I leave Kale’s embrace and cross the room to give her a hug. “I’m sorry, Mom, for what I said, but it’s true. He’s nothing like Tim,” I whisper in her ear.

When I pull away, she sighs. “I’m sorry, too, sweetie. It was just…well, a big shock. I shouldn’t have said the things I did. No man who agrees to be the godfather to a little girl and spend all that time with her could ever be like Tim.”

Squeezing her hand, I smile. “Trust me, Mom. I like to think I have pretty good taste.”

“That you do, Lucy. That you do,” she confirms, glancing over at Kale, who’s watching us. My heart warms at his protectiveness, and I’m pretty sure that scene won him points with Mom, even if he wasn’t trying. “Holy crap. I’m going to be a grandma! When’s the due date? We have to plan a shower! Oh my gosh, I’m a grandma!!”

She and I both take the moment to burst into tears—happy ones this time. Mom grabs my hand, pulls me over to Kale, and proceeds to embrace us in some weird form of a group hug. He just chuckles and puts his arms around the two blubbering women who are holding him tight.

I hear Steve walk into the room and start to grumble at the sight. “Women.”

As she pulls away, Mom starts laughing even though she’s giving Steve a mocking glare. “It’s an emotional time, Stephen,” she tells him, using his full name.

He shakes his head at her. “You all good now?” he asks, looking between the three of us, and each one of us nods. “All right, then. Let’s get back to dinner. Lucy barely touched her food with, what I’m guessing, was her nerves about spilling the beans, and Kale didn’t get a chance to eat due to all the questions. Which, I’m now allowing Marcy to ask as many as she wants, seein’ as how you went and knocked her firstborn up. Sorry, man. The price you pay.”

Kale laughs it off like he couldn’t care less. “No problem, sir. It’s a small price and I’ll gladly pay it any day.”

Mom smiles at Kale in adoration, and I’m shocked at how quickly she seems to have changed her mind about him. Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised. He did the same thing to me, even if it took me so long to admit it.

Kale

I HAVE to admit that it feels kind of weird lying in Lucy’s childhood bed, but Marcy was right. That couch would’ve been uncomfortable as hell. Not to mention I’d hate spending the night away from my girl. Since we became official, we’ve been alternating spending nights at each other’s places, which is just another reason she may as well already move in, but I haven’t mentioned it since the first time, not wanting her to think I’m pushing the issue too much.

The door creaks open and I see her slip inside, quietly closing it behind her. She tiptoes over to the bed and slowly slides in beside me. I groan when I take in her outfit. Tiny white shorts barely cover her ass, and an even smaller tank top hugs her breasts perfectly. Turning on her side, she frowns when she looks at me.

“Kale, why the hell do you still have clothes on?”

“Because. You’re far too tempting as it is, and if I feel you cuddle up against my bare skin, I might lose all control. I told your mom sleep only, so it’s sleep only, baby.”

She rolls her eyes then leans over to turn the lamp off before she settles back in beside me. “I’m pregnant. Pretty sure Mom knows we fool around. Now please, take off your clothes.”

I can’t help but grin at her whining tone. Deciding to work this to my advantage to see if I can get her to beg, I shake my head adamantly. “Nope. Not gonna happen. Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean I’m going to go against your mom’s house rules. Sorry, babe.”

I chuckle as she drops down on her pillow, huffing. “Whatever. I can resist you, even with your shirt off, but if you don’t think you can handle it, then no cuddling for you.”