“Because he found someone worth changing for?” Sage countered.
“Yeah but, this much? I mean, he asked me to move in with him this morning over pancakes!”
“He asked you to move in with him?” she repeated, sounding surprised.
“When the baby’s born, yes. He pointed out that he has three bedrooms and plenty of room for me to have my own space if I still had hesitations about us,” I explained, peeking out the window to see that he was still working on the driveway. “He said he wanted to be there every step of the way to help when the baby arrives.”
“And what did you say?” Sage asked.
“I told him I didn’t want our relationship to be a last resort just because I’m pregnant. I don’t want him thinking he needs to be with me because I’m having his kid, you know? Plenty of people co-parent without forcing a relationship.”
“Do you truly think he’s trying to force a relationship?” Sage demanded.
“Well, no. I don’t think that. I think he is interested in me, but what if that interest is only because I’m pregnant?”
“And what if Nix’s interest in me is only because we accidentally drank the love elixir on our first date?” Sage countered.
“You know that’s not true.” I rolled my eyes.
“Well, you seem to think that Noah’s changed his tune because you two may have drunk the love elixir at the Witches’ Ball, so how is that any different from Nix and I actually drinking Choco Temptation?”
“I mean…true.”
“Both of those notions are ridiculous, and I think you’re looking for reasons to doubt that what you guys have between you is the real deal because you’re scared,” Sage continued.
“Well, probably.” I rolled my eyes again.
“Stop being such a scaredy-cat, Nell. You’re made of tougher stuff than this,” Sage told me. “Even if things don’t work out between you guys, you will survive it. But you owe it to yourself and that baby you’re carrying to give him a fair chance. Which means, stop hiding.”
“I’m trying,” I murmured, closing my eyes. I was, I really was.
“Well, try harder. I challenge you to actually sleep in his bed with him tonight.” Sage sounded pleased with herself. She knew I loved a good challenge.
Before I could respond, I heard the front door opening and closing.
“We’ll see, I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
I walked toward the hallway, watching Noah as he pulled off his boots.
“I’m about ready for spring.” He sighed, sending me a tired smile. “Between the resort, here, and my parents place, I’m getting tired of shoveling snow.”
“I don’t blame you, I’m ready for spring too. But I would have helped, if you’d let me,” I reminded him, folding my arms across my chest.
He sent a pointed look at my rounding belly. “You’re doing enough.”
“Are you really going to bubble wrap me for the rest of this pregnancy?”
“If I can get away with it, yes,” he answered sincerely, straightening. He crossed over to where I was standing and put his arms around me, pulling me to him for a kiss. His lips and his hands were freezing, and I squealed, trying to push him away.
“You’re freezing!”
“Warm me up, then,” he dared, nuzzling his cold chin against my neck. I shivered, nestling in closer despite the cold.
We put on a movie and cozied up in his loft under a warm blanket. I tried to shut off my mind from whirling and buzzing. About our conversation in the kitchen that morning, about the pregnancy, about meeting his family, and Sage’s words, but it was challenging.
“I can practically hear you thinking,” Noah murmured halfway through the movie, his lips against my temple.
“Yeah, well. I’ve got a lot to think about,” I retorted, huffing with exasperation. Maybe I wouldn’t be so caught up in my thoughts if he hadn’t broached the topic of moving in with him so soon.
