“For making me feel whole again.” He smiles, and it reaches his tired eyes.
“I love you, but you should go to sleep. Just call me when you wake up, okay?” Crisis averted—for right now, at least. He needs to sleep so he can make sure this is actually what he wants before we talk things through.
“I’m not going to change my mind.” How does he know? What the hell? “When I wake up, we’re going to talk about this, but I’m not changing my mind. I want you both.”
My throat releases a sound I can’t name. A cough? A giggle? A gargle? Something, but whatever it is, it’s relief. Relief that he sees me. Relief that he understands. Relief that I might actually be okay.
“Okay.”
“Okay. Give me twelve hours, and I’ll call you back.” I nod. “I love you, Hales.”
“Love you too.”
“Now, hang up,” he commands.
I roll my eyes. This little game he’s been playing of not wanting to be the one to say goodbye or hang up the phone first has been going on for months. “Not this again.”
“Hang up, baby. I need to sleep, and I can’t be the one to do it.” I roll my eyes. This man wants to make my heart race one way or another. “Have some mercy on me.”
I’ll take happily annoyed any day. “Fine. Bye, Asher.”
“Bye, Hales.” I hang up the phone and toss myself on to the couch. I guess we’re doing this.
We’re having a baby.
8
JULY 3031
I GUESS I’M IN LOVE by Clinton Kane • Wildfire by Cautious Clay • A Thousand Years by James Arthur
Asher
I finish seasoningthe burgers right as there’s a knock on the door. “Hold on!” I wash my hands quickly. I told these motherfuckers not to come until later, but they don’t listen to any command ever, including when to show up for dinner.
“What happ—” The words die in my throat, because on the other side of the door is a wish come true. I rub my eyes to make sure I’m not seeing the wrong thing, that it’s reality and not a dream.
“Well, are you going to let my giant ass in, or are you going to stand there with your jaw on the floor?” Hailey says, holding multiple bags with a smile. She’s so beautiful—she always is, but standing in front of me, outside my door while carrying our baby, she’s breathtaking.
I pick her up, holding her close. She fits perfectly, belly and all. “Put me down!” she shouts, and I smile with a mouthful of her hair.
“You’re here.” My words whisper the longing I’ve felt deep in my soul. Is this reality? She didn’t mention this at all, and we talked, what? A few days ago? I have so many questions. I put her down, kissing her softly before I lead her inside, carrying her bags with me.
I help her sit and pull her shoes off. She must be tired. It’s not easy to get here.Howdid she get here?
“I’m pregnant, not incapable, Ash.” She laughs. Her laugh . . . I’ve missed it. I’ve wanted to hear it live, near me. I’ve wanted to be in the same place where her laugh is. I’ve wanted to be the one to make her laugh.
“Let me." I look at her, waiting for permission, one she doesn’t grant. “Please.” She nods and I slide her socks off too.
I sit across from her, quietly massaging her feet while she sinks deeper into the couch. We talked about seeing each other soon. I requested leave, but shit kept happening here. It’s not as easy as just taking off and showing up somewhere when you live in the middle of nowhere, but I guess where there’s a will, there’s a way, because sheishere.
“What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see you,” she replies.
My heart. My whole heart.
“I wanted to see you too, but this is so far.” Far is an understatement. She either flew here from Anchorage, or she took the almost ten hour ferry. Or a float plane. All of those are inconvenient. At least it’s summer and not stupid cold right now.
