“Without a doubt.”
She puts a fist on my chest, extending a pinky. I hook mine around hers, sealing our promise.
I am with her in this and anything else she needs me for. I’m with her until the end, if she’ll have me for that long.
Before Isabelle, I walked through life with eyes wide shut, ignoring the way my grief was stifling my ability to move forward. I thought I was making up for my mistakes by protecting people, protecting myself from feeling loss and heartbreak again. Instead, I was building walls, gatekeeping a heart that was stronger than I was willing to test again, untilher.
She didn’t break down my walls. She chipped away, brick by brick, replacing them with love. Her love. That’s what keeps mestrong. That’s what keeps me brave. Not fighting against loss, but letting love guide me through the trials.
Chapter thirty-four
The scent of vanilla and rum fills the air as I roll into the pillow, searching for more. My hand stretches across the sheet, but Gage’s warm body is nowhere within reach. I pry one eye open. The room is mostly dark, but there’s a clock on the bedside table showing it’s nearly seven o’clock. I’m normally on my way into the office by now, if not already there. Something Caleb is no doubt going to notice.
I sit up, soft black sheets pooling around my naked waist. I’m not sure where my clothes ended up last night, but Gage’s T-shirt is thrown against the chair in the corner. I pull it over my head, delighting in the feel of the worn cotton, soaked in Gage’s cologne. I dig my nose into the neck, shamelessly inhaling.
There’s a glass of water on the bedside table that I’m instantly reaching for, but my attention is swiftly stolen by a photo leaning against the lamp. It’s me and Gage. This is from the plane, the first weekend we met, and the start of when everything changed. I’m snuggled right into his side, our hands almost touching where they rest over his stomach, and one big arm is wrapped behind my back, holding me tightly. I place it back against the lamp with a smile, then make my way out of the bedroom in search of him.
As I draw closer to the kitchen, I can hear the low rumble of his voice.
“We believe my wife may already be a few weeks along.”
I freeze when I hear Gage call me his wife. My jaw drops, hands braced in case I fall, because I’m not sure if I heard that right.
“We were in a car accident last week, so I want to make sure they’re okay. I—” I hear Gage sigh into the phone. “I need to make sure they’re okay.”
I melt on the spot before creeping further down the hallway, poking my head around the wall to peer into the kitchen. Gage has his phone held between his ear and shoulder, and he dunks a teabag in a travel mug.
He stops to pick up a pen from the benchtop and scribbles on a notepad. “Today? That’s great. Thanks. We’ll see you then.”
I quietly join him in the kitchen, circling my arms around his waist as I press my chest to his back.
“So, does your family know about this wife you supposedly have?”
He chuckles, resting a hand over mine.
“I wasn’t sure if they’d let me make an appointment on your behalf if I said you were my girlfriend.”
“Ah, another conversation I’ve not been privy to.”
He’s already smiling as he spins on the heel of his good foot, bringing us face to face. One hand comes up, tucking my hair behind my ear before he leans down to kiss me.
“Good morning, Buttercup.”
I hum, running my hands up his back. “Morning, Grim.”
“You’re right. Things were said last night, but perhaps not one of the most important things. We’re having a baby together. We obviously have feelings for each other.”
“We do?” I gasp.
Gage rolls his eyes and bites his bottom lip as he leans down, wrapping an arm behind my back and hauling me onto the benchtop behind him.
“Careful.” I slap his shoulder. “You’re going to hurt yourself if you keep doing things like that.”
He stands between my open legs, kissing over my heart and up my neck. “But I like moving you exactly where I want, so I can do whatever I want to you.”
“Well, you’re just going to have to curb your urges until your leg is better, mister.”
“Impossible when it comes to you.”
