Shelby Quinn

Logan and I could hardly keep our hands off each other long enough to shower, get dressed and make it back downtown in time for Dinner with Dallas. Between then and finishing a delicious plate of Tex's baked salmon, I haven't found the right moment to talk to Logan about the unexpected and unplanned surprise of it all.

Our unborn baby.

Perhaps there is no such thing as the perfect moment. Perhaps I am simply overthinking and avoiding it because I am terrified telling him will change everything.
Including his decision to agree to marry me. Maybe it was hasty of me to propose, but I needed to know he wanted to be with me, for me, and not just out of some sense of obligation. But I want more than anything to call him mine. To watch him become a father to our children and to live every day with him by my side.

Spending time with Logan and Dallas only solidified how idyllic that future could be. And I don't know if I am strong enough to bear his rejection if he doesn't want all those things too.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Logan calls from the kitchen as Dallas dashes past the door, dressed in a pair of ripped blue jeans and a cropped sports tee.

She sheepishly skids to a halt, reversing two steps before joining us by the kitchen island where Logan and I sit. "Well, I thought you two might want some time to catch up, so Dusty is taking me to the movies."

"Oh, fun!" I look up from the plate of fruit I'd been snacking on to smile and she beams back at me with an enthusiastic nod, her strawberry blonde curls bouncing wildly..

"I know, right!"

Logan eyes her protectively and she steps forward with sweet puppy eyes. "I'll be home before midnight, I promise."

"Alright." With an assuaging sigh he reaches into the back pocket of his pants to pull out his wallet. Plucking a few fresh bills he offers the money in an extended fist to the teen and her grin widens. "You better take this then."

"Really?" She squeals, rushing around to simultaneously snatch the cash as she bounces on tiptoes to peck him on the cheek. "You're the best!"

He rolls his eyes and shakes his head at me, demonstrating what a complete softy he really is.

"Bye Uncle Lo, bye Shelby!" Flinging an impractically tiny handbag over her shoulder she calls out her farewell as she hurries out of the kitchen and off on her date.

Leaning casually against the counter, Logan smiles at me. "There's no way she makes it home before midnight."

"Probably not." I giggle, popping a particularly juicy grape into my mouth. "But she's a good kid. And Dustin is a sweet boy."

"Uh-huh." Logan hums doubtfully. "Yeah, I think I need a drink." My throat dries as I watch his impressive muscles flex when he reaches above his head to retrieve a top shelf scotch from the cabinet. He turns to me with an inviting wave of the bottle. "You thirsty, Barbie?"

"No, thanks." I quickly shake my head, seeing the opening I'd been waiting for and kicking myself for being such a coward. I have faced far more dangerous fears, but somehow this feels scarier than any of them. "Um- actually- remember that thing I wanted to talk to you about?"

He pours out two fingers of amber liquor, sloshing the glass back and forth before tossing it back. "If this is about the Specter job, I already told you, Sweet Thing, I'm good with it. And Iris wasn't the one who convinced me to take it-"

"It's not that-" I interrupt.. My heart rate quickens dangerously and my tongue feels swollen, suddenly every inch of my body runs hot with rampant anxiety. "I just- I have to tell you something and you gotta promise me that you won't freak out."

"Alright." Logan sets his glass down, looking over at me with a playful grin. Lifting a hand to swear on an invisible bible, he jokes. "I promise I won't freak out."

"The thing is-" The words stick in my throat and no sound comes out.

Why is this so damn hard?

"I know this is going to sound crazy to you, and you probably won't believe me-"

"Crazy is one of your sexiest qualities, Barbie." He winks with a suggestive smirk..

"Shut up." I roll my eyes, growing frustrated with myself for being such a chicken-shit. "I just- I want you to know that this, us, it's all new, and I don't want to fuck it up by moving things to fast or making you feel trapped. I mean, you make me so happy and I don't want that to change-" An uncontrolled tidal wave of verbal vomit spills from my mouth, rushing so fast I barely manage take a breath..

"Okay, now you're starting to freak me out." Logan frowns in concern, his gaze flicking down to my hands that are twisting violently together, trying to work the fidgets out of my body. "Shelby, what's going on?"

Ugh! Just say it you pussy!

"I'm pregnant." I finally manage to choke out a strangled whisper and time seems to screech to a halt.. A scalding flush creeps up my neck, fast becoming an uncomfortable itch as I wait what feels like an eternity for him to speak..

Logan's torturous silence stretches on for so long that I begin to wonder if he hadn't heard me at all.

"Logan?" I squeak. "Please say something."

His expression contorts through the full spectrum of emotions, confusion, disbelief and uncertainty.. I can practically see the calculations as they compute in that big overthinking brain of his.

When he opens his mouth the result is a less than articulate stammer. "You're- what? I can't believe it-"

"I found out that night, after you were shot.. Dr O'Cleriegh ran all the tests and I guess I'm about eight weeks now.." Trembling with nerves I slide off my stool, shifting closer to where he stands to try and explain. "Whatever that sadist David Wainwright did to you, I guess it didn't work, because I'm having your baby. I know what you're thinking, but Logan I swear there hasn't been anybody else-"

"I believe you, Shelby." Logan is quick to shut down the suggestion of infidelity as if it were not even a thought in his mind, seemingly still dazed as he grips the edge of the counter to keep himself steady. "I just- I don't understand how this is possible."

"Well, I mean, you do know where babies come from, Logan, don't you?" In an attempt to cut the heavy tension and lighten the mood, teasing seems like the safest option. Propping my hand on my hip, I challenge him not to check me out and he fails..

"Oh I know exactly how it happened, Barbie." A slow smile spreads across his face as his molten hot gaze wanders eagerly along the curves of my body before snapping to meet my awaiting eyes. "What I don't understand is- how Dixie could have known all those years ago..."

"Known what?" My arms fall slack at my sides.

"That you'd make me so fucking happy, Butterfly."

"Really, you are?" I finally release the terrified breath I'd been holding..

He strides across the tile in two swift steps and hooks an arm around my waist to draw me tight against him, pressing me with his body from neck to knee. "Shelby, this is a fucking dream- it's the best thing that's ever happened to me." Lowering his lips to mine, the kiss we share is romantic and reverent. Warm hands cradle my face and my head tips back as an appreciative moan rumbles deep in his chest.. "You are the best thing that ever happened to me."

Tears fill my eyes and I cling to his shoulders to keep from floating away on a cloud of pure, unbridled joy. "You're going to make such an amazing father. You already are, to Dallas. You know, I thought we could ask Tex to be godmother- oh but only if she wanted to."

His sweet chocolate gaze softens as a single silver tear stipes his cheek, which he doesn't even bother to wipe away. "You'd do that for her?"

"Of course I would, Lone Star. I want us to be a family. You, me, Dallas and Baby." I pet the barely there bump that swells at the bottom of my belly.

He nods, eyes transfixed in where my hand cradles our miracle. "I want that too, Butterfly."

I take his hand, pressing it to my stomach beneath my own. "If it's a boy I was thinking we could name him after my grandfather, Harvey. He was always so kind to me."

"And if it's a girl?" Logan chuckes.

"If it's a girl I'd like to name her, Dixie."

He swallows a soft gasp, his amethyst eyes swimming with emotion, so much that he is momentarily rendered speechless.

"I know how much you both loved her. And that's all I want for this baby, to be loved like that. But I understand if it's too much-"

He swipes away the mist from his eyes, wrapping his strong arms around me and leaning down to kiss the top of my head. "No, it's perfect, Butterfly. You're perfect. And Dixie would've loved you. I just know it."