Ride with Me by Chelsea Camaron, Ryan Michele Page B

you’re going to need.”
    She’s right and I know it.
    “All right, Ma.”
    ***
    I call Blaze, asking her if she can handle everything at X for a couple of days until I get my head straight. I don’t tell her that last part, just that I am spending time with Cooper, which isn’t a lie. I swear we have played every game in this house, done arts and crafts, and watched movies. I love my boy, but damn, he has so much energy.
    I appreciate the movies, though. He settles down enough for me to take naps. The greatest thing about him keeping me so busy is that I don’t let the fears of hurting my baby come into play. I simply enjoy my boy and the prospect of having another.
    I imagine the three of us playing games, just like I have with Coop, and I have to admit the thoughts are wonderful.
    Cruz calls and says he will be home late tonight. I want to stay up to talk to him, but sleep overtakes me, and I pass out.
    ***
    Raging heat blankets me, and my eyes fly open, trying to get rid of the heat that is sweltering my skin. Cruz lies next to me, his arms and legs wrapped around me so damn securely his body heat is entrapping me. I shift, trying to get his beefy arm off my chest, but he just grips me more tightly.
    The heat is too much. I’m on the verge of passing out, so I elbow him in the chest.
    “Cruz, let go!”
    He groans yet doesn’t let go, so I elbow him again, frantic to get away from the heat and get some coolness. Normally, I love waking up with my man wrapped around me, but this morning, it is a no go. The next hit is hard.
    “What the fuck?” he growls, pissed off.
    “Cruz, let me go. I’m fucking hot and need some air.” My words are frantic because, for some reason, I’m feeling a shit load of anxiety that I have never felt before.
    His arms relax, and I scurry out of them and sit on the edge of the bed, my breathing labored. I close my eyes as the coolness of the room caresses my skin. The panic recedes as my body cools down.
    My eyes drift over to Cruz who has the most puzzled look on his face.
    “Sorry,” I mumble.
    “Care to tell me what the fuck is going on here?” He sits up, resting his back on the headboard, his arms at his sides. Even angry, my man is hotter than hell.
    “I …”
    “Mommy!” Coop calls into the room just as he barrels through the door. I’m glad I wore a T-shirt to bed. I swear that little guy can sense when Cruz or I are naked. Cruz doesn’t give a shit. Me? I do.
    “Hey.” I smile just as his face finds his father’s.
    “Daddy!” he screeches and runs directly to Cruz, jumping up on the bed and into his arms.
    Watching my man hug my little man is enough to bring tears to my eyes. Fuck, what’s wrong with me? Pregnant, Princess. Fuck, I need to talk to Cruz.
    “I misseded you,” Coop tells his father.
    “I missed you, too, buddy.” The smile on Cruz’s face would bring any woman to her knees. I love seeing their interactions, love seeing how good Cruz is with Coop—gentle yet stern. It only makes me love him more.
    “Mommy and I payed games …” Coop goes on an entire tirade, giving Cruz a blow-by-blow of every single thing we did while Cruz was gone.
    I get up from the bed and head to the bathroom where I do my business and wash my face.
    In about five minutes, I’m going to rock my man’s world. The nerves kick in a bit, not in fear, but in anticipation. I’m excited to see what his reaction will be, what he will say, if his mouth will drop open, considering I was on the pill and then boom. We didn’t plan it, but I know he will be happy. I almost want to set up a video camera and tape how he reacts.
    I smile into the mirror, my face having a slight glow, but I don’t look different. I do feel a little different, yet I don’t know how to explain it. Maybe I shouldn’t know yet. Maybe I need to let all this digest before I figure it out.
    I hear Cooper still blabbing on about Hungry Hippo and Chutes and Ladders. I hate those fucking chutes. I