I can feel the way Mallory shakes with repressed laughter.
I could correct Ruth, but is it worth it? Like the afternoon we visited David Boylan, it's easier to allow Ruth to assume I'm the father of Mallory's baby.
We order our ice cream, and on our way out the door Mallory snaps a photo of the sign on the wall. "That's going to make Jolene cackle."
We sit outside under the shade of an umbrella, and as absurd as it sounds, it feels like today was made just for us. Mallory pushes her toes past the umbrella's shade, into the sunshine.
She wiggles her toes, and damn do I like seeing her this way.
Just looking at her makes me want to take her back to my house, back to my bed. The only reason I haven't is because I'm nervous about the baby. I have questions, none of which I'm willing to enter as a search query on the Internet. My best bet was to ask the doctor, and I almost did, but then I froze. The last thing I want Mallory to think is that I'm expecting sex from her.
What happened in the olive grove was amazing, but it was a far cry from all the things I want to do with her. To her. But I don't want her thinking I expect it, and asking questions about the safety of having sex while she's pregnant might make her feel that way.
Looks like I have another night of fucking my own hand in the shower to look forward to. The thought is depressing enough, but then it's followed up with a voicethat elicits from me the same response as nails on a chalkboard.
"Mallory! There you are!"
Mallory straightens up as Liane Rooney stops in front of her. "Hi, Liane."
"I haven't seen you around town recently. I was wondering where you've been keeping yourself."
Mallory glances at me. She looks unsure of how to respond.
We've already set tongues wagging by being in the doctor's office together and kissing on the sidewalk. Might as well go all in. "Mallory is staying with me out at Summerhill."
Liane's eyes grow to the size of salad plates. "Is that right?"
"It's lovely out there," Mallory says.
"It sure is," Liane says, adjusting her purse on her arm. "I'll have to come out to visit you. I need to stock up on the prickly pear white balsamic. Wouldn't dare dress my arugula without it."
"Ooh, I'll have to try that," Mallory responds. She looks at me. "Can you bring a bottle home with you?"
"He has to check with the boss, right Hugo?" Liane taps my shoulder and laughs too heartily at her own joke.
I muster up a smile and nod.
"Speaking of things I wouldn't do, I better pick up the vanilla bean the mayor loves so much. Can't serve a warm butter cake without that ice cream."
Liane disappears into the ice cream parlor. As soon asshe's safely inside the store, I push back my seat. "Let's get the hell out of here before she comes back."
Mallory is already pushing back her seat, falling in step with me as we hurry away. "She's nice, but she can be intense."
"Small doses," I say as we arrive at the passenger door of my car. "I can only handle her in small doses."
Mallory waits for me to climb in the driver's side, then she says, "Promise you'll tell me when I've worn out my welcome? I don't want to become someone you can only handle in small doses."
As much as I would love to get the hell out of here, her comment needs to be handled immediately. Setting my ice cream down in the drink holder, I reach over the console. I tuck her hair behind her ear, stroke my knuckles over her jaw. "The doses I want of you don't come in a big enough serving size."
Her lips tremble before breaking into a shaky smile. "You know eventually I'll have to go back to Phoenix. Eventually, I'll have this baby."
The reminder isn't necessary. I think about her, and everything it means to be with her, all the damn time. I drive myself crazy trying to figure out how to make all this work.
"I know. So can I please enjoy you now, while I have you?"
The look Mallory gives me is vulnerable. Fragile. She's tough and she's strong, and has survived unimaginable pain. I only want to be good to her. For her.
Her tongue darts out, swipes over her bottom lip. "I keep waiting for you to enjoy me."
