“You’re so annoying,” I sighed.
“Trust me, Gabe won’t say yes just because he’s your mate, but remember, you said he didn’t approve some of the designs ’cause he was worried you’d leave. Maybe talk to him about that. See whether there’s one he actually liked but didn’t approve.”
“You think that’s the only reason he said no?”
“Well, the only way you’ll know is if you ask,” Rhys pointed out.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
* * *
Gabe walked into our bedroom—mybelly flipped at the ‘our’—and walked over to drop a kiss on my lips. I smiled up at him from where I sat cross-legged on the couch. “How was your day?”
“Good, but I missed you.” He cupped my cheek.
“Missed you too,” I sighed. “But Rhys came over and kept me company.”
“Oh, that’s where he got off to,” Gabe teased as he straightened.
I looked down at my iPad where I’d been sketching for my Redbubble store. Gabe had ordered me a new tablet to replace the one that I’d dropped on the night of our first kiss.
“I’ll get out of these clothes, and you can watch me while I have dinner,” Gabe called from the walk-in.
“I waited for you,” I replied. “Even though I did demolish almost half of the cookies I baked earlier. But I left some for you.”
“This is why you’re my favorite person in the whole wide world.” Gabe peeked his head out to grin at me but disappeared again.
“So, I was thinking.” I nibbled on my lips, but blew out a breath and went on. “Did you pick the logo you liked from the options I submitted?”
Gabe came out, pulling his shirt on. “You don’t have to worry about any of that, babe. We can keep the design as it is or even hire someone else to do it.”
My stomach clenched, and I felt like I was going to puke. And I knew this had nothing to do with the fact that I was pregnant. “Oh!”
I swallowed, trying to dislodge the sudden tightness in my chest. Gabe was by my side immediately.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” he asked, taking my hand in his.
All I could do was shake my head even as tears threatened to fall.
“Kian, what’s going on?” Gabe squeezed my hand. “I can tell you’re upset.”
“Did you hate them that much?” I felt tears roll down my cheeks. “You hate my work.”
It felt like my heart was being squeezed slowly.
“What? Why would you say that?” Gabe shook his head.
“You wouldn’t even consider my work.” I swiped my eyes with the back of my hands. “You’re still so set in your ways. How will that work for us?”
Gabe’s eyes widened at my words. “Baby, I—” He snapped his mouth shut, and I could see him working through what I’d said.
“I know you like things just so, but we’re together now, and I don’t know about mates, but in a relationship, we gotta compromise.” I sighed. “I have to know that you won’t just walk all over me.”
“I would never.” Gabe’s voice was insistent.
“You wouldn’t mean to, but sometimes…”
Gabe put his head on my lap and sighed. “I can be very stubborn,” he acknowledged. “I don’t do very well with change. I know.”
