I smile, kissing the top of her head. “Better thanRivals?”
I feel her grin against my bare chest, and she looks up, resting her chin on her hand. “Yep.”
There’s still a shadow in her eyes, but I’m not worried. I’ll call my doctor to book my vasectomy first thing tomorrow morning. It’ll put her mind at rest, and that’s all that matters to me, now and always.
Whatever it takes.
“Fancy some strawberries?”
Chapter 10
Now
Nat is 31, Tim is 30
Tim
Three months later
Tonight’s the night.
It’s been twelve weeks since my vasectomy, and I got the all clear from my doctor this morning. No more bullets in the gun. I am good to go.
Thank god,because Nat and I have been counting the days. She’s been so grateful to me for doing this for her, and she really needn’t. We’ve done the parenting thing: now, we get to spend the rest of our lives beingus. I mean, was the vasectomy procedure the best fun I’ve ever had? No. But it was also no big deal. A local anaesthetic and twenty minutes of my time, and bingo. Nothing to write home about, and I was back at work the next day.
And this evening, once we’ve come home from the date I have planned, it becomes fully worth it.
“Am I dressed appropriately?” Nat asks me, giving me a twirl in her daisy print cotton dress and denim jacket.
“Yes. And you look beautiful,” I add, kissing along her jaw until my lips meet hers.
“Gross,” Eleanor pipes up as she passes us in the hallway on her way to the kitchen. The happy grin on her face takes the sincerity out of her smartarse comment. Nat and I have been discreet, but very obviously together over the past three months, and she’sthrilled to pieces by this development. My ears are still ringing from her whoops of glee when we told her.
“Sorry, not sorry,” Nat tells her, hugging me openly. “How’s revising going?”
El makes a face. “Like a snail with arthritis trying to cross the road.”
“Sounds like you’re gonna pass English with that kind of turn of phrase.” I smile at her sympathetically. I remember the days when I was trying to pass my GCSEs. “At least you don’t have a screaming baby in the background while you memorise the periodic table.”
Our daughter rolls her eyes. “Yeah, I know, you had to change nappies by the time you were my age, blah blah blah…” I ruffle her hair, and she ducks, opening her bag of popcorn and throwing a few kernels at me. “You going to Teagan’s tonight?”
She nods. “Yeah. Jenna will be there, too.”
“And you’re gonna study, right?” I put on my best Strict Father voice, but I can’t keep a straight face.
With a sardonic look, she quips back, “No, we’re going to have an orgy with the boy’s rugby team. I’ve got a bag full of condoms, and Teagan’s bringing the weed.”
A tiny part of me starts having an anxiety attack, even though I know she’s joking, until Nat snorts with laughter. “OK, who’s bringing the porno DVDs?”
“DVDs? How old are you?” El pokes her tongue out. “There are free websites for that.”
Nat pulls her into a cuddle, kissing her cheek loudly and rubbing her back. “Have a great time, Toots.”
“And maybe have your next study sleepover here,” I add faux-sternly.
“Not happening. Teagan thinks you’re hot, and it’s weird.” She grabs her rucksack and slips on her Converse; Teagan lives two doors down, so El doesn’t need a ride. “Laterz potaterz. Have a lovebird-tacular night.”
I gape at Nat when El’s gone. “Um…yikes?” Nat is doubled over with laughter. “Stop, I’m…ugh. That is not information I needed.”
