The best news
DAISY POV
I glanced at the clock before striking the match to light the gold candle sticks on the dining room table. Carter should be home within the next ten minutes. I'm bursting with excitement to tell him my news! I just know he's going to be as excited as I am!
I had called him earlier and told him I was planning a special dinner to share some really exciting news tonight, and he promised to be home on time.
As I'm basting the roast, I hear his tires pulling into our gravel driveway. I pull the roast from the oven and place it in the center of the table, arranging the carrots and potatoes so it is absolutely perfect. I reposition the rolls and green beans out of jittery nervousness, praying that he likes it.
I hear the front door open and I smooth the front of my black dress, the only dress I own, before clasping my hands tightly in front of me. The megawatt smile hasn't left my face since I found out and my cheeks were beginning to burn but I couldn't bring myself to care.
His keys jingle in the lock as he pulls them from the front door, swinging it wide. "Daisy? Something smells incredible!" Carter shouts as he slips off his shoes and tosses his keys in the bowl by the door. I can hear his footsteps as he pads down the hallway to where I'm anxiously awaiting him in the dining room.
His eyes grow wide as he takes in the spread that I've laid out for him before his gaze finds me. He rakes his eyes down my body hungrily, which never fails to make me blush. He comes over and wraps his arms around my waist before pressing his lips to mine tenderly.
"This looks incredible. What's all this for?" he finally asks as he pulls away to take his seat at the head of the table. I pick up his plate and begin to fill it with copious amounts of food before placing it back in front of him and filling his wine glass. I sit next to him, unable to focus on my own plate. I have to get the news out or I will positively combust. I can't hold it in anymore.
"I have some good news! Great news, actually. The best news," I gushed. "Well, I think it's great news and I have been just so excited to tell you. I haven't even called my mom yet-"
"Daisy, wait wait wait. Slow down," he tells me with a chuckle. "You know I can't understand you when you get all hyper like that."
My cheeks and neck heat with embarrassment as I mumble a quiet apology before taking a deep breath to slow my racing heart. "I finally got word today that I've been accepted into the residency in Montana! I can start as early as next month!" I clasp my hands together to try and contain my excitement but my smile grows impossibly wider as I lean towards him. "Isn't that fantastic?" I ask breathlessly.
The smile is frozen on his face as he stares at me in shock. "So, wait ... you're not pregnant?" he asks after an awkward long pause.
"Pregnant?!" I screech in horror and shrink back away from him. "What? No! Of course I'm not pregnant!" I exclaim with a shudder. Having a baby right before I start residency would be as close to my worst nightmare as I could get.
It's not that I'm against the idea of babies; just not now. I was an only child growing up and I always wanted a sibling. I knew one day I'd have at least two kids, maybe more. I wanted to be married and established in my practice first.
"I just don't understand. It should've worked by now," he mumbled to himself as he hangs his head. Is that frustration I see in his eyes? I'm so confused by his reaction that my smile melts off my face. What the hell is happening right now?
"Why would you think I would be pregnant, Carter?" I asked him quietly. A sinking feeling was growing in the pit of my stomach. "You know I'm on birth control."
His eyes dart to mine and quickly away again. The pit opens up in my stomach and swallows it whole. His face flashed with guilt before he masked it with his usual stoic expression. It was brief but I couldn't have missed it if I wanted to.
"What have you done?" I whispered, unable to find my full voice. I leaned away from him, everything in me telling me to run the other way.
"Don't be dramatic," he scoffs, refusing to meet my eyes.
"Look at me, Carter," I demanded. My eyebrows furrowed as I watched him carefully. His whole body was stiff as a board but his eyes gave nothing away. His face was a mask of indifference. "What are you talking about? What have you done?"
"Of course, I know you're on birth control," he scoffed. "I was just hoping that maybe you'd finally changed your mind about the whole baby thing. When you said you had exciting news I just figured..." he trailed off with a shrug.
I can smell the lie a mile away. "What have you done?" I question more forcefully this time. His eyes flash gold, telling me his wolf is near the surface and doesn't appreciate my tone.
Fear skated down my spine and I froze like a deer in headlights. I'd seen that look directed at other people often enough. After all, Carter was the strongest enforcer for his pack and built like a tank. One warning glare as his wolf flashes in his eyes was usually all it took for whoever was on the receiving end to fix themselves before Carter did it for them.
But he'd only ever looked at me with love and affection. Until now.
I heard the sound of the front door opening followed by the clack of high heels on the wood floors. My stomach sank impossibly further. That could only mean one thing. His mother, Jennifer.
"Sorry, I'm sorry, Carter but I just couldn't wait a second longer. I'm too excited! Tell me, is it a boy or girl?!" she shrieked as she rounded the corner, clapping her hands excitedly.
I gaped at her as Carter spun in his seat, growling at her to be quiet. She halted in the door way, staring between us with obvious confusion. Unable to remain so close to him any longer, I leapt out of my chair and backed to the far side of the room.
"Would someone like to explain to me what in the hell is happening right now?" I shouted as I glared at them.
