Read Now and Forever for Free Online Page B

forever.”
    Cole tipped her chin up and met her gaze. “Well, since sex is out, how about if we go pay our parents a visit?”
    Emma looked away. She’d have to face the music eventually, might as well get it out of the way.
    “Em?” Cole asked. “Do you not want to tell them because . . . did you want to get married?”
    Her eyes narrowed and anger welled in her chest. “Did I want to get married?”
    He probably had no idea what a crazy question it was. Emma would never admit it out loud, but her fantasies about marrying Cole had started about the time she hit puberty. Dozens of times while watching him play football, she’d imagined he would realize how sexy his younger artist neighbor was. In the fantasies, he was waiting on her front porch when she came home from the football game. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her – with tongue – before telling her she was everything he never knew he always wanted in a girlfriend.
    “Em?”
    Cole broke her reverie, and Emma shook her head to clear her thoughts.
    “I don’t know, Cole.”
    His bright blue eyes flashed and his face darkened. “You don’t know if you want to marry me?”
    This was what happened to women who screwed up their birth control pills and accidentally got pregnant. Or maybe it was what didn’t happen. She wouldn’t be getting a romantic proposal. There wouldn’t be a joyful announcement to her parents. Being with Cole Marlowe was Emma’s dream come true, but she wouldn’t be getting the dream proposal and wedding.
    “It’s not that I’m not sure,” she said, avoiding his gaze.
    “If you want, we can tell our parents we’re getting married and then tell them about the baby.”
    Emma glared at him. Her emotions were all over the place these days, and she missed her usual even-keeled temperament.
    “We’re not getting married just so our parents will be less disappointed,” she said sharply.
    “I didn’t say that.” Cole crossed his arms over his chest and Emma hated the pull she felt toward him, even now. Those long, defined arms would feel perfect wrapped around her back right now.
    “You did, though,” she said, fighting her urge to melt into him. “You said we can tell our parents we’re getting married first. We don’t have to get married just because I’m pregnant. That’s what this is about, and I don’t expect it.”
    Cole reached a hand out and rested it on her hip. “It’s not just because of the baby.”
    “You’ve never said a word about getting married, and now that I’m pregnant, you’re asking if I want to. It is because of the baby, not because you just want to marry me. You weren’t planning to propose before this happened or anything, Cole.”
    “You know I want to marry you. I was waiting for you to feel better. How the hell can I propose when you’re puking or crying all the time?”
    His words were like gasoline on the fire of Emma’s emotions. “I can’t help it! You think I want to be puking and crying all the time?”
    “Babe. Of course I don’t think that.” Cole reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Look, I love you more than anything. I want us getting engaged to be a happy memory. And when you feel better—”
    “But I might not!” Emma interjected, hating the rising tears that made her voice quiver. “My book said I might be sick the entire nine months.”
    “But that’s rare. Most women get better after the first trimester,” Cole said.
    Emma furrowed her brow. “Since when do you know anything about pregnancy?”
    “I’ve been reading up on it.”
    Her pooled tears spilled onto her cheeks, but she smiled. “You have?”
    “Yeah, I want to be part of this, too. You know, as much as I can.”
    “Are you trying to find out how long you’ll have to live with a bitch from hell?” She squeezed her eyes shut and laughed at her own words.
    Cole wrapped an arm around her back and pulled her close. “No. I’ve been reading about all of it. Kegels and birthing