Tanner's Unrelenting Soul (The Cunningham's Book Two)

I Love You

TANNER*

“You’re looking at me like I’ve gone crazy.” Kaysen shakes her head, chuckling. “I mean what I said. We should move in together,” she says, embracing me and nuzzling her nose into my neck with a contended sigh.

“Alright babe, this is all happening so fast and I just need some time to collect my thoughts and process everything. This is all so new to me, but I’m loving every minute,” I said, smiling as I chuckled and skimmed my fingers through her silky, long hair.

“I feel it deep in my soul that we belong together, Tanner.” Kaysen smiles at me and says, “Since I’m pregnant and we’re together now, it just makes sense for us to live together.”

“Well, first off, we need to check out homes to buy in the area and then contact a realtor. We could also check out rental homes, and I could talk to Jace and Blaze about building us a home. What would you like to do, Kaysen?” I asked, reaching over to the coffee table and pulling my laptop onto my lap.

“Let’s find a four-bedroom rental home for now, so we have enough space. After the twins are a couple of months old, we can consider moving again. Given my condition, I need to avoid stress and any strenuous activities, including lifting Cora. It’s going to be a challenge, but I will do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of the babies. Before we announce the pregnancy, I want to make sure everything is alright, at least for the first two months. Can we keep my pregnancy between you and me, Tanner? Especially from my parents, as my mom might not take the news well. Just mentioning that Cora and I will move out will cause her to freak out. When the time comes to tell my parents we are leaving, I’ll need your support as a mediator to keep my mom from overreacting. That she likes you will benefit us.”

Kaysen and I need to talk more about her mother. I haven’t had a good feeling about the woman since I met her yesterday and I’ll be damned if she upsets Kaysen.

“Of course I’ll be there with you when you tell your parents you are moving out. I wouldn’t allow anyone to upset or hurt you, Kaysen. We might pull off keeping your pregnancy a secret. For at least a month, but you’ll start showing by your third month if you are anything like Lyra was, and we are still in the summer months.” 

“I need to meet Jace, Blaze, and their wives. You talk about them often. It would be nice to spend time around other mothers.”

“Maybe tonight, after you have picked up Cora, you could come over, and we could go over to Blaze’s. Vega and Jace spend most evenings there so that all the kids can play. Having Cora there to play with Adelaide would make her so happy.”

“Michael and I got married right after I graduated high school, then I got pregnant with Cora a couple of months after. So I’ve lost contact with all of my friends. It would be wonderful to meet them tonight if I felt up to it by then. I’m supposed to be taking it easy and I’ve been having bouts of nausea this morning. It’s a wonder I haven’t started puking my guts up already, but I’m alright, don’t worry.” 

“Is there anything I can get you to settle your stomach? There’s a Walgreens down the road and I have bottled waters in the refrigerator?”

“I took my anti-nausea meds before coming here. So I should be fine. A bottled water would be nice though. If you have saltine crackers, that would be a bonus, but unnecessary if you don’t have any.”

“I’m sure I have some. Lay back on the couch and get comfortable. I’ll be right back,” I said as I rose from the couch and made my way to the kitchen.

Kaysen protested when I insisted on going to Walgreens to purchase some saltine crackers for her. But I went anyway after handing her the water bottle.