“What did you tell them?”
“That I’d ask you first. That we make decisions together now. That I’m not the same person I was when they raised me.” He paused. “Okay, I didn’t say all that. But I thought it really hard while telling them I’d get back to them.”
I laughed despite myself. “Diplomatic.”
“I’m learning.”
He disappeared again, and this time when he came back he was carrying a small folding table already set up with plates. The smell of roasted chicken hit me and my stomach growled loudly enough to be embarrassing.
Knox’s mouth quirked. “Thought you might be hungry.”
“I’m always hungry. Seven months pregnant and this kid wants to eat constantly. I’m pretty sure I’ve gained thirty pounds. My doctor says it’s normal but I feel enormous and my clothes don’t fit and I miss being able to see my feet.”
“You’re beautiful.”
“I feel so big.”
“My beautiful big.”
I threw a pillow at him. He caught it easily, grinning in that rare unguarded way that made my chest ache.
He’d brought enough food for three people. Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, fresh bread still warm from the oven. I stared at it all while warmth spread through my chest.
“You’re ridiculous,” I told him.
“You’re welcome. And before you ask, yes, I made Noah pick it up from that place you love in town. Yes, I specifically requested extra gravy. No, I didn’t forget the butter for the bread.”
“Have I mentioned I love you?”
“Not in the last hour. I was starting to worry.”
He settled beside me on the bed, close enough that our shoulders touched and our thighs pressed together. I grabbed a plate and started loading it up while Knox did the same. For a few minutes we just ate in comfortable silence while the day’s tension slowly drained away.
“Vivi made raspberry cream cupcakes today,” I said between bites. “I may have eaten three of them. They were small cupcakes though. That counts for right?”
“Did you save me any?”
“No. But in my defense, you weren’t there and I’m pregnant and the baby wanted cupcakes.”
“The baby.”
“Yes. The baby. Who is very demanding about food choices and has excellent taste in desserts.”
He shook his head but I caught the smile tugging at his mouth. This was us now. Banter and domesticity and the kind of easy comfort I’d never expected to find.
“The new hires are working out well,” I continued. “Both shops are staying busy. Pine Valley had a rush this afternoon. The book club came in and stayed for three hours gossiping about the mayor’s new girlfriend.”
“Sounds productive.”
“Very. I learned way too much about the mayor’s personal life. Did you know he has a tattoo?”
“I did not.”
“Neither did his wife, apparently. Or at least that’s what I heard through very aggressive whispering and some extremely pointed looks.”
Knox snorted. “Small town drama.”
“The best kind of drama. The kind that doesn’t involve rogues or pack politics or people trying to kill us.”
