A voice behind me makes me flinch so hard I nearly jump.
“What’re you doing?”
“Jesus,” I hiss, clutching the bottle to my chest.
Lore stands behind me, smirking. “Jumpy.”
I try to get my heartbeat under control. “When did you, did youteleport? I didn’t even hear you.”
“When you were checking on Milo,” she says. “I went to get water.”
“I filled the pitcher by the bed this morning.”
She lifts the bottle to her neck, sighing at the chill. “Cold water. It’s so fucking hot.”
A shiver runs straight down my spine watching the condensation trail over her throat. It isnothot. The house is borderline freezing. But I know better than to tell my pregnant wife that.
Lore’s wearing a frilly sleep tank top that doesn’t stretch over her belly, her round stomach sits just above the tiny shorts she’s got on.
And I know damn well that if it weren’t for the chance of Milo waking up, she’d be walking around naked just like she did the last time.
I drag in a deep breath and whisper, “Goodnight.”
“Hey.” She stops me just as I turn. “No comment about… this?” She gestures vaguely at herself, her tank top clinging to her breasts, her shorts sitting low under her belly, her hair a sleepy, messy halo.
I just stare at her.
Her brows pinch. “Is everything okay?”
My throat works. I want to sayit’s fine, the automatic, easy lie, but for some reason, I don’t let the words out instead I shake my head.
“What’s wrong?” she asks softly.
I look down at the bottle in my hands and say the first stupid thing that hits my brain. “We should really switch toglass bottles. They’re better for the environment than these disposable ones.”
Lore purses her lips. “Oh boy.”
She grabs my free hand and gently tugs.
“Come on.”
She leads me into the bedroom,ourbedroom and only lets go once I’m inside. Then she closes the door firmly behind us.
I just stand there. It’s not like I haven’t been in this room the past month, I come in to change, shower, help out, but standing here right now, I don’t know what to do with myself.
“Why don’t you change first?” she says quietly.
I nod, throat tight, and walk to the closet.
I take off my button-down, hang it, then grab the long pajama pants because it’s even more cold in here with the windows open, and a plain T-shirt.
My fingers shake a little as I pull the shirt over my head. I have no idea what’s about to happen, if she wants to talk, yell, or send me back to the guest room after making me explain why I’m acting like a skittish deer.
When I turn around, she’s already climbed into bed, sitting against the headboard, legs stretched out, blanket draped over her lap. She’s watching me with this concerned expression that makes my chest squeeze.
I gesture to the open window. “Want me to close that?”
Lore shakes her head. “I’ll get hot soon enough.”
