She did her cute waddle out to my new truck when she clocked out. My nerves were all over the place when she got in. Watching her push herself like she had rubbed me the wrong way.
“God, I need some peanut butter,” she said, making a smile tug at my lips as we got on the road.
I reached over to grab her hand. “You can have all the peanut butter you want, toots.”
She shot me a smirk. “That felt like a long night.”
Squeezing her hand, I muttered, “Will you please tell me how bad it was so I can stop freaking out?”
She stared at me for a long minute before sighing. “It was pretty painful.” It wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but I was thankful for her honesty. “I’m going to talk to Dr. Clarke about it on Tuesday.”
“It isn’t so urgent we should go to the hospital tonight or first thing tomorrow morning?”
Mouth quirked, she shook her head. “No. They slow down when I’m sitting. And I’ll drink lots of water when we get home. I’ll be okay.”
I knew she’d done her research on all things baby, so I wouldn’t question her.
When we got to her place, I got the peanut butter and a spoon out while she showered. Not thinking about the one night we had together was nearly impossible. But another part of my research said that could help labor along, so I was determined to keep my distance for the time being. No matter how amazing that night had been or how badly I wanted her again, I didn’t want to risk anything.
The moment she came into the kitchen wearing sweats and one of my T-shirts I had lent her that stretched over her perfect belly, she grabbed the peanut butter and spoon off the counter and ate it right from the container. While she sucked on the spoon, I leaned against the counter, nursing a beer. “So… I’m leaving in a week and a half.”
“You don’t have to remind me.” Her nose wrinkled.
At least I knew she liked having me around.
I smiled and took another sip of my beer, wishing I could go outside and have a cigarette instead. But I’d been pretty good since that night, having cut back to only two a day once again. And I’d already had my two for that day. “We haven’t really talked about it much.”
“What’s there to talk about?” Her eyebrows shot up, that spoon stuck in her mouth.
I shook my head to keep focused on the topic at hand and not her mouth. “Well, for starters, what will you do if anything happens? If you need to get to the hospital or something?”
The blood drained from her face. My stomach churned. She would be alone in this house with no one around. “I would call Ava… or an ambulance.”
“What if Ava just came and stayed with you for a while?” I suggested.
She made a face, rocking her hips back and forth. My mind kept on going straight to the gutter. “For three months? Why don’t we consider that when it gets closer?”
“Kate, it’s getting close enough. I don’t want you staying here alone.”
“But that’s what I’ll be doing. I have to finish school.”
Running my hands through my hair and pulling on it, I puffed out a big breath. “I get that. So compromising is what’s going to happen. Like with your work and your life in general right now. I won’t demand you move to Ohio. I’ll still request it, even though I know you won’t. But if you won’t, you have to have someone staying with you.”
She glared for a long minute. I wanted to say she would move to Ohio with me. That was where she should be—with me. She should have been wearing that ring my dad gave me. But thoughts like that were dangerous. “I’ll think about it. All of it. But I’m not promising anything.”
“Fine.” I took a deep breath. “The other thing is I have to go to Ohio to check out some housing I’ve been looking at. I’d like it if you came with me.”
“I’d love to!” She beamed.
That helped me breathe. At least it wasn’t a no and we were making some ground. She could give me some input so I could know what kind of place she’d want to bring the twins to when she was done with school.
“Anything else?” she asked.
“Still won’t let me get you a better car?”
She smirked, saying, “Nope.”
“It was worth a shot.”
“Can we watch that Bruce Lee movie now? Before I fall asleep?”
“Of course, toots.” I took her hand after kissing her on the cheek and led her to the couch. We turned our movie on while she rested her legs on my lap and I rubbed her feet. She barely made it ten minutes before she was slumped over, snoring softly.
She had quickly become my world, despite all my fears, my hang-ups. Though we had some rough times ahead of us, I couldn’t be happier with this beautiful woman in my life.
Sitting in the exam room, waiting for Dr. Clarke, Kate cracked her knuckles.
“Why are you so nervous?” I asked her.
She gave me a hard look, then rolled her shoulders.
“So either it’s been worse than you’ve been letting on, or there’s no reason for the nerves.”
Eyes in thin slits, she crossed her arms. Before she could say anything, Dr. Clarke came in. “How are we doing today?” he asked, sitting on the stool with his tablet out.
“Just a little uncomfortable.” Kate gave him her best smile.
So it was going to be one of those days. The doctor looked over her chart, making hmmming noises. Then he listened to the babies and measured her belly. When he helped her back up, she cringed, breathing heavier. It was happening, right in front
