Rubble: Devil's Rose #12

Chapter 25: Nicholas Frasier

When I hear my phone ring and see that it's Alice, I instantly pick it up.

"Hey, sunshine," I answer softly, waiting to hear her voice."

"Nicholas," fuck I love when she says my full name like that, all sultry and shit without trying, "I need you."

"In what way?" I ask, wanting clarification before I go over to her place.

"In a non-sexual way. In a 'we need to talk' way," she asserts without hesitation.

I can get on board with that.

"I'll be over in twenty."

I could probably make it ten, but I don't want her to worry. Plus, it gives me an opportunity to gather my thoughts before I go. I'm not quite sure what she wants to talk about since we haven't seen each other in a couple of weeks.

At first, I was seriously trying to avoid her, going out of my own way to avoid her type shit. Mostly because I'm not fucking afraid of telling her how I feel. It's like there's so much riding on our feelings and whether they are the same or different that makes it so intense.

However, the MC got incredibly busy working with the police and having to take new inventory. There was just so much going on, and although Alpha is way less stressed since he asked for help, there was always something to do.

It had been nonstop for the last week and a half, so when I finally had a day off, I made sure that nothing would come between me and my TV all day.

But when Alice calls me, telling me she needs me, I don't care about anything else in the world.

I knock on her apartment door and wait quietly in the hallway. When she opens the door, she looks exhausted but also happy. I don't know where either of those emotions are coming from, but I'll take those two things over anger.

She invites me into her apartment, and it's clear that other people were over. She wouldn't need four separate glasses, which are all now sitting dirty on her counter, and I see a jacket that she doesn't own hanging over the back of her kitchen table chair where she would never leave it.

I lick my lower lip, wondering who could have been here and why they were here, but I also realize that it's none of my business. It's also progress that people are in her apartment anyway because she usually doesn't invite many people in, besides myself.

It's her safe place, and she likes to keep it that way.

We sit down on the couch and just look at each other for a second.

"It's only been two weeks, nothing's changed that much," I tease her, watching her eyes flick over my body for the second time.

"I know," she says softly, her cheeks flushing, "I just missed you."

The pang in my chest, that's been there for the last two weeks of me being unable to tell her how much I love her because I'm a coward, subsides.

If I'm going to tell her, it has to be now. This feels like my last fucking chance, and I'm not wasting it because I'm sacred. I'm not letting her get away from me now. I refuse.

I want to live the rest of my life with her, as her romantic partner, as the man she knows she can always go to. She always has a safe place in me.

"I don't know what you wanted me here for, but would you mind if I said something really quick?" I question, also being careful not to take over her moment.

"Of course," she affirms with a nod.

"I want to tell you that I love you. I'm in love with you. I think you should know that. I fell in love with you early in the sexual relationship we had and didn't know how to tell you. But I fully and without question love you. I want to be your partner in all things, now and in the future."

She sits there almost stunned for a minute.

"I'm so glad you just said that. Cause I was about to say that I'm in love with you too," she rushes out, but I know exactly what she's saying.

"You know, romcoms are so right. No one can tell me that they aren't real life," Alice continues, holding my face delicately in her hands, "I really am in love with you. I want to be yours for the rest of our lives."

"And beyond, baby, and beyond," I add tenderly.

Our lips meet delicately, her touch softening me. We fall backward on the couch, my hands running up her hips.

"Wait," she whispers, breaking our kiss, "I have to tell you something."

We sit up, back to our original position, just a bit closer. I can see the nervousness on her face, and it fucking terrifies me.

"What's wrong, sunshine?"

She takes a deep breath, her hands laying gently on my biceps.

"Please don't freak out."

"Freak out?"

What is she going on about?

"Yeah, 'cause I'm not sure you'll be happy about this."

What the fuck is she not telling me?

"If you had sex with someone else, I don't care. As long as I get you to myself now," I declare, not wanting to be scared about that.

We were on a break, I guess. So, I'm not going to be mad about that. We weren't even official and never had the conversation about being exclusive, we just both knew that we were, so I can't be mad about that.

"No," she chuckles with a shake of her head, "there's no one else. I don't want anyone else."

"No matter what you tell me, I'll still love you. You never have to worry about that."

I want to reassure her as much as I possibly can. Clearly what she's about to say is hard for her, and I want her to that she can rely on me to respond without much anger. She can tell me anything.

She always has been, and I don't want that to go away just because we're something more. Maybe I should ask her a question, tell her something that scares me, on top of what the both of us have already said.

"Okay, how about this? I want you to be my Old Lady. It's a ton of responsibility and you know that, and it means a lot to me. But I don't want it to be anyone else but you."

"That's more than a marriage proposal," she announces, even though I already know that.

"Yes, it is, but I'm spending the rest of my life with you, so it doesn't matter. Be my Old Lady, please."

"Yes, of course. I want to be yours, fully."

"Good. I got that off my chest. Your turn."

She smiles at me, licking her lower lip. I know it's out of nervousness, but it's hot as shit.

I know I shouldn't be thinking like that right now, but I can't help it. She's just so damn sexy. How could I not? How could I not think she's the most beautiful woman alive? Our children are going to be fucking gorgeous; there's no doubt about it.

"Nick, I'm pregnant," she blurts out, shocking my entire system.

"I'm sorry, what?" I answer, unsure of how to respond.

"We're having a baby if that's what we decide to do."

So the children thing came sooner than I thought it would. Holy shit, I'm going to be a dad.

"Wait, do you want to have this kid with me?" I ask her, wanting to know what she thinks before I start to celebrate and cry tears of joy.

"Yes, since I know you would have loved me regardless of the baby, I want to have this baby with you."

"This baby only makes me love you more. It's not what makes me love you in the first place," I reassure her, understanding where she's coming from.

"So, you're excited?"

"Fuck yeah, Alice! I couldn't be more excited! We're going to be the best parents ever!"

I wrap her up in my arms, trying to contain myself.

And while I'm freaked out, this is literally the best fucking day of my life. Nothing could even come close to how fucking perfect this moment is. Shit, I'm going to love the fuck out of my, our, family.