At the restaurant the waiter says. "Follow me,"

Nico and I follow the waiter to the table. When we get close the table I freeze when I see who's sitting there.

Hell no. I'm not staying here.

I turn around and start to run from the building.

"Val," I hear someone yelling.

"Excuse me. Where's the bathroom?"

He points to the left. "It's just down that corridor."

I run to the bathroom and close the door. I sit on the toilet seat.

I hear the door creak open. "Valentina?"

The guy lies on the floor and moves underneath the door. He looks at me from the floor. "Are you going to talk to me?"

I shake my head.

I hear a door creak open.

A woman screams.

I open the door in time to see an old lady hitting him with her walking stick.

I laugh.

He glares at at me.

The old lady drags him out of the toilet. "Stay out of here, perv." The door closes leaving me with the old lady.

I wash my hands and dab my face with a paper towel.

The old lady looks at. "Are you alright, miss?"

I shake my head. "That guy is a long story."

She laughs. "I remember all the long stories I have of my ex's. But, the longest story I have is being married for fifty great years. Six children, twenty grandchildren and three great grandchildren." She looks at my protruding belly. "Is that your first?"

I nod. "That long story and guy is the father of this little one." I put my hand on my belly. "I have to face the father, now."

I take a deep breath and let it go. I walk to the door and open it.

He's standing across the wall. He looks great in his tux. His eyes looks me up and down. "Did you eat your way through comfort food after I left you."

I slap him and it could be heard through the hall.

Shit my hand hurts.

I shake my hand. "You're an arsehole. I wouldn't waste my time with comfort food over you. I'm pregnant."

He crosses his arms. "Is it mine?"

I look across the room and I see Nico and Colton holding hands. They look into each other's eyes and their faces lighten up with laughter.

I head towards their table. I kiss Nico and Colton on the cheeks. "Thanks for inviting me tonight. I'm going to go home." I glare at Austin. "I've been turned off my food. Goodnight."

As I walk away an arm grabs me. "Can we talk?"

I cross my arms and look around the room. "I thought you did outside the rest rooms."

Austin shakes his head. "No, we need to talk about everything and our future."

"Fine, we can talk. I don't want to make decisions based on tonight. You'll have to go home without me."

He takes my hand and we walk into the garden of the restaurant. It's dark outside and the garden is lit with small fairy lights.

He take me over to a chair and we sit side by side. He places you hand in his and I feel my hand become sweaty.

Austin slightly turns his body and faces me. He caresses my face. "I want to kiss you so badly."

I do too.

I remove his hand from my face. "What do you want to talk about?"

He sighs and looks at the footpath. He brings his eye back up to my hazel ones.

I can see his blue eye get misty as he looks at me.

He places his hands onto the chair and holds on tight. "After we got back from your sisters wedding, I came back a changed man. I wanted to change my life and make you proud of me. I quit my job at Hubby for Hire. I brought my own bar and the business is doing well. I sold my old place as I didn't want you to come to a place where my tainted memories were. I needed a fresh start." He kneels in front of me.

No, please, don't propose to me.

He takes my hand. "We need a fresh start, Val. Will you ... "

I wish he would hurry up and finish the sentence. The suspense is killing me.

A waiter walks over. "I have a table ready for you, Sir."

Austin holds my hand as we make our way to the table.

The table is round, set for two people and a white table cloth. In the centre of the table is a candle. The light flickers across his face and I can see the day old stubble on him.

The waiter places the menus in front of us.

I look at Austin. "What were you going to say before we were rudely interrupted by the waiter."

Austin kneels in from of me. "Valentina, will you be my girlfriend?"

I have tears running down my face. "Yes, I will."

A waiter looks at us. He yells out. "Free champagne to the engaged couple."

I turn to the waiter. "I can't drink."

Austin rests his head in the crook of my neck. "I'll drink yours."

"How are you going to get home?"

"Colton's driving me home."

"That's good." I look at the menu and the ravioli catches my eye.

Looks like that's what I'm ordering.

The waiter returns with two glasses and a bottle of champagne. He fills both glasses and places it on the table. "Would you like to order now?"

I nod. "I'll have he ravioli and garlic bread."

I fold the menu and place it on the table.

Austin looks at me. "I'll have the ravioli."

The waiter writes the order down and takes off.

Austin lifts his glass and I follow his actions. "To us and the little one." We clink our glasses and I set mine on the table. I take a sip of the water.

"Austin will you go with me to the next ultrasound?"

He smiles. "Yes, I'd love to go with you."

I open my bag and pull out the ultrasound picture and I place it in his hands. "This is our baby." I point to it.

"Can I keep this?"

I nod.

He folds it up and places it in the second picture holder in his wallet. In the first on is a picture of me from the night the lightening hit the ocean from my favourite place back home.

He shuts his wallet. "I didn't want to forget the love of my life. I had to change mine to fit you in it."

"I quit my job and I've been designing baby clothes, for the last two months. Before, we left my Dad gave me money and told me to find something I'm passionate about. I'm passionate about giving my child the best clothes to wear. Clothes are easy to buy for little girls. When it comes to boys not so much."

Austin holds my hand across the table. "I'm glad you found something you're passionate about. At least now you won't let life pass you by. You get to live in the now and look towards a future with our baby and I.

***

Thanks for reading

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I was wondering if there's anyone that's reading this book that does cover. As I'd like a new one for this book. - thanks