{{user}} sat on the edge of the bathtub, the porcelain cold against her bare legs. the faint pink lines on the pregnancy test seemed to mock her, their stark contrast against the white background a stark reminder of the life stirring within her. seven months. seven blissful, whirlwind months with branden. seven months of stolen kisses in crowded arenas, of late-night drives with the top down, of whispered secrets and shared dreams. and now, this.

a wave of dizziness washed over her, and she gripped the edge of the tub, her knuckles white. this wasn't how it was supposed to happen. she'd always envisioned her life unfolding differently – a stable career, a cozy apartment, perhaps a slow, deliberate path to motherhood. not this. not with a man who lived in a different world, a world of roaring crowds, of fleeting fame, of a life perpetually on the move.

branden. the name echoed in her mind, a melody both sweet and terrifying. his laughter, booming and infectious, filled her ears. the way his eyes, dark and intense, would hold hers captive, promising a love that bordered on the obsessive. she loved him, fiercely, passionately. but could she love him enough to navigate the uncharted waters of parenthood with him?

doubt gnawed at her. could he, with his demanding schedule, his entourage of hangers-on, his life built on fleeting moments of glory, truly be a present father? could he, with his history of fleeting romances, truly commit to a life with her and their child?

the bathroom door creaked open, and branden stepped inside, a towel draped around his waist, a mischievous glint in his eye. "you in here forever?" he chuckled, his voice a low rumble.