EMMA

Still unnerved by the mysterious phone call, calmed somewhat and only because I'm with Beau, I try to shake off my fears and focus on whatever he has in store for me.

Beau pushes the door to the tiny guest room open, smacking my butt as I walk past and I blush hotly. Eyes hurriedly scanning the room for the surprise, I try not to look too disappointed.

It's the same as it was the last time I'd seen it: a relatively bare room. Piles of laundry probably, on the futon, concealed with a blanket to appear neater than it is. Some of Beau's guitars. Boxes. A few of Beau's favorite awards hanging on the walls in clear glass frames.

"What is it?" I ask, peering up at him curiously.

"Move the blanket, Em." He chuckles as if it's obvious, rolling his eyes as he leans against the doorframe and crosses his arms over his chest.

"Okay," I bite my bottom lip. If it is laundry, as I suspect, he really needs to be more on top of it.

And I certainly don't feel up to it at the moment.

Trying to downplay my excitement, I carefully remove the sheet, my breath hitching in my throat once I see what's underneath.

Not laundry at all. Well, some laundry atop the pile to disguise the rest: a large box, containing what appears to be a sleek, white baby-crib, pictured on the outside of box, a chubby baby smiling inside, arms raised above its head. Beside the crib, a few different gallons of paint.

I turn to Beau slowly, an apprehensive grin on my lips.

"I don't know how we'll do things when the baby gets here, and I figured you want to do most of the decorating and stuff..." he rubs the back of his neck. "But I figured I might need a spot here, so... This is a start."

My belly swarms with butterflies. Approaching the package, I scan it quickly, fingers tracing the edges as each detail gets me more excited.

My eyes trail to the paint cans and I examine them carefully, reading the labels, visions of our nursery already coming alive in my mind.

Garden Fern. Sweet Clementine. Cool Mint.

My gaze rests on the last one.

Sunshine Yellow.

"It's perfect," I murmur, turning to Beau slowly, both impressed and proud of him for the selections.

"It had good reviews," Beau rushes, drumming his fingers along the packaging. "Sturdy railings, durable, easy to build, all that."

"Good," I nod, wrapping my arms around his waist, the set-up process of the crib one of the last things on my mind at the moment. Tilting my head back to see his face, I scrunch my nose. "But it'll look even better in the lake house."

"I don't know, Em. I don't want to stay there by myself. It's your place." He glances around the small room, the discontentment pretty clear in the firm set of his lips.

If he felt guilty about bringing Zeus here, I can imagine he isn't super happy about having the baby in the apartment, either. It's not a bad place - but definitely not like what the old Beau Lewis would have provided his kid. I know it's what he's thinking.

I peer up at him, his face even more ruggedly handsome than the first time I'd seen him. More mature, healthier, but still deviously seductive. I stand on my toes, placing a gentle kiss to his lips, the spark it sends straight to my heart just as electric as when our lips met for the first time.

I love him, and the answer is simple.

"So move in with me."

As soon as the words are out there, floating in the air between us, I realize how badly I want them to become reality.

Beau and I, raising our baby in the same place my parents used to take me every summer. It was my happy place growing up - it'll be the perfect place to raise a baby, be a family.

Our family.

I meet Beau's eyes, wondering if my own look as desperate as I feel.

"Are you sure?" Beau cocks his head to the side, a sexy, half-smirk on his lips. "Moving in together is kind of a big deal."

"Yeah." I shove his chest playfully. "So is having a baby. So, what do you say?"

Grabbing my hand and holding it to his chest, Beau doesn't say a word, he just smiles down at me, an oddly serious look in his eye.

"Come on." I press my mouth to his, hoping to be encouraging. "Don't make me ask twice."

Tracing his tongue across my bottom lip, Beau barely whispers against my skin.

"What if I want to see you beg?"

My breath hitches in my throat, my heart beat pounding as I softly whimper into Beau's mouth, his teeth gently nipping at my lip.

Heat spreads through me, the pressure deepening in my lower abdomen, making me seriously consider his request.

I narrow my eyes at him as he pulls away suddenly, a mischievous smirk on his face. "Just kidding. I'd love to live with you and Little Lewis, Em."

Extending a hand, like he didn't just get me all hot and bothered and then call it quits, he leads me out of the guest room, a careful tone in his voice as he continues.

"But before you decide, I should talk to you about some things."

The cafe is as welcoming as ever, the scents of rich coffee, cinnamon spice, and freshly baked pastry provide a much jollier atmosphere than the way I'm feeling now.

It's busy - we haven't even been able to say hello to Nadine yet - so Beau had me grab a table while he waited in line to order for us.

A black coffee for him, an extra creamy hot chocolate for me. And a chocolate croissant because once I smelled the baked goods, my pregnancy brain couldn't stop thinking about them.

Haphazardly flipping through the pages of a home improvement magazine, my mind is running at full speed, thoughts light years away from end tables and throw pillows.

What does Beau have to tell me now?

My eyes find him in line, his dark mess of hair odd and stand-out amongst the town's women.

Why is it that any time we finally move forward, something else pops up, determined to stand in our way?

I quickly scan page after page of furniture and light fixtures, tearing through them too quickly to even absorb any of the options.

"Whoa," Beau murmurs, tattooed fingers gently sliding my mug across the table. Sipping his dark coffee, he peers at me over the edge and raises his brows. "Good thing you're not nervous or anything, right?"

I try to smile, to crack a laugh. But I can't, too familiar with how these scenes normally play out.

"Okay, I'll start easy." Beau picks at his nail polish. "Parker will be out soon, he wants to come by. I think we should wait to move in till he comes, so he's not here mid-move."

"That makes sense." I chew on my cuticles, nodding my head slowly. My brows furrowed, I add quickly, truthfully, "I'm excited to meet him."

Beau grins, tight-lipped and forced. "You'll like him. It's a good thing he's coming, too. Because I don't want you to be alone and-"

Here it is. My chest clenches tightly. The ball that always drops.

"Zoey asked me to go with her on a road trip, kind of." Beau searches my face for signs of panic, his eyes focused and intent. I try to remain calm, appear neutral as he explains. "A short one - just to see Max. We got some information on him, she wants to check it out. Make sure he's okay."

My mind moves slowly, trying to see all the possible outcomes of this. Zoey's face, so perky and bright at brunch, glows in my mind, taunting me, reminding me of their past.

Images of our future and the possible threat this little trip poses linger just as dreadfully.

Conflicting emotions clash inside of me.

But in the end, I'm most concerned for Beau.

Reaching out across the table, I place a hand over his.

"Is that a good idea?"

Beau sighs, running his other hand through his hair. "It's risky but if I am his father, it's my job to protect him, do what's best for him... Right?" He grimaces. "Even if it means protecting him from Zoey. I feel better being there, you know, just ... in case."

My stomach flops.

Protecting him from Zoey? What does he think she'll do?

"I get it." I tell him honestly, admirably.

If it's truly his son, I don't have to imagine the pull he feels to do right by him. I haven't met our child yet and I know... there's nothing I wouldn't do for them.

"I just don't want you to get in trouble, that's all." I continue.

Not when we have so much ahead of us.

In an instant, Beau's expression changes from one of seriousness and doubt to one of devilish playfulness.

"Why don't you come?" He murmurs, eyeing me from under his dark lashes. "Keep me out of trouble for yourself? Or... get me into trouble, whichever you prefer."

For what seems like the hundredth time today, Beau sets my core on fire with nothing more than words and a suggestive smirk.

Breaking away from his stare to catch my breath, I gulp a little.

If he's inviting me to go, he must not be worried about too much funny business going on between he and Zoey... right?

"Me?" I chuckle humorlessly. "Come on a road trip with you and your ex to find your son?" I crinkle my nose at him when I finally turn back, trailing my finger around the ring of my coffee cup again and again.

At that , Beau laughs lightly. "Yeah... Shit." Running a hand over his face, he blinks at me slowly. "Thanks for dealing with me."

Smiling back at him, I shrug. "Thanks for being worth it."

Beau takes a deep breath, like he's preparing for something else. "I'm glad you think so,"

Oh, for the love of God, what now?

"Because Zoey invited us to a party for Jack and I have a feeling she won't take no for an answer."

My heart drops. Spending time with his ex is not something I want to do. At all.

Feeling a gentle flutter in my belly, come and gone so quickly I hardly have time to register it, I think of Beau's nephew, Jack.

Our baby's cousin.

Baby Beau pops into my thoughts and my heart feels like it's being pulled on a string.

It's his family. I can't deny him his family.

"Oh?" I try to keep my voice light and cheerful, crossing my fingers and praying for the best. "Sounds like fun."

Happy Friday lovelies!
ugh the Bemma love.. I can't take it - tell me what you think!
thoughts on the chapter?
predictions for what happens next?
also all the comments bashing "bad" characters in the series make me lol so... let's have a contest:
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