Now,it’s like all the sexual tension is gone, and what’s left is…this.We’re watching a comedy together, and chuckling at the same time,while Maverick’s arm is around me, and he’s sliding his palm up anddown my back, soothing me almost into a meditative state. “So, howcome you had a change of clothes in your truck?” I askhim.
“Well, I figure it could go either way, you know, when I toldyou about the cat being out of the bag and all. I like to beprepared for things, on both sides. I figure at least if I’ve gotclothes with me, but I don’t bring them in, I’m not being toopresumptuous.” He pauses. “Besides, I always have a change ofclothes with me. Working around horses all the time, it becomespractice. Y’all are going to get dirty no matter which way youslice it.”
I feel awave a nausea hit, so I run to the washroom. Maverick is rightbehind me. It seems that my morning sickness is coming at night. Heholds my hair back, while I puke up all the Chinese food I hadearlier with Denice. Like, every drop. Hell, I think I see a bootin there, so much comes out. It doesn’t faze Maverick at all. He’sgot the washcloth at the ready, and he uses soothing words andtones, and I’m so weak once I’m finished, he picks me up off thefloor and carries me to bed.
As welay there together, I don’t know which one of us is more tired.“You look worse than me, Maverick.” I comment, voice cracking frombeing sick.
“It’s been a long week, darlin’.” He says, combing his fingersthrough the hair at the side of my head. I feel so awful. He’sdoing triple-duty, looking after the ranch and looking after me.Plus, looking after Gunner, too. “Y’all don’t need to worry about athing, though, love. Ain’t nothing I can’t handle.” He says, eyesheavy.
Hefinally gives in and closes his eyes. His finger is still strokingthe back of my neck, like it’s instinctual. And when it finallystops moving, and his breathing becomes shallow, I stare at him inthe moonlight. He’s naked from the waist up, opting to leave hispants on. His skin glows in the darkness. He’s so beautiful. Andnow I realize that he’s beautiful on the inside and out. He laysthere so peacefully, with a half-smile on his face, and I can’thelp but think about how my life has changed since I met him, andsince he helped me make this baby.
“I love you.” I whisper softly. He doesn’t stir. He doesn’tsay it back. I want so badly to hear him say it, to know for surethat he feels for me like I feel for him. But the nagging anxietyin the back of my mind still exits, and I fear that it always will.Is he only here because of the baby? That thought will terrorize mealways. Nonetheless, I can’t help the fact that I love him. “I loveyou so much.” I repeat, even softer than before.
…but he doesn’t hear me.
***
“Mornin’, sugar.” Maverick says, voice gravelly, as we bothwake up.
“Morning.”
“How are you feeling?”
I do aphysical inventory. Everything seems fine. “I’m okay. How are you?You were so exhausted last night.”
“I was. Slept like a baby though.”
“You did. I read you a bedtime story, and you didn’t even hearme.” I joke.
“You did?” he chuckles. “Well, you’ll have to tell me it againtonight.”
“I will.”
Hisphone starts ringing. “Shit, darlin’. I’m so late. It’s going oneight o’clock.”
“You go. I’ll go grab a bowl of cereal this morning. I promiseI’ll eat.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
He picksup his phone, tells Blake that he’ll be there in ten minutes,kisses me goodbye quickly, and heads out the door. “I’ll swing byfor lunch, okay?”
“If you’re not busy, sure.” I nod, calling to him, as he walksto his truck.
I’m notback in the house for two minutes, when I hear the doorbell ring. Ifigure he forgot something, but when I open it, I see that it’sDenice.
“Hey, good morning.” I smile, chuckling. “What are you doinghere so early?”
“Thought I’d bring coffee and muffins on my way in. is it abad time?”
“No, not at all. Come on in. You just missed Maverick. Weslept in.”
“I bet.” She says. “Being pregnant takes it out ofyou.”
“Ain’t that the truth.” I yawn. “It’s just thank God that Iwork from home, and I can get away with sleeping in mostdays.”
“Yeah, them banker’s hours work well for this, forsure.”
