“It’s just a drive-through,” he added, reading my hesitation. “We can eat at home.”
Before I could respond, Evie tugged on his shirt, whining, “I need to go home, Austin. Mom said she’s bringing me a giant chocolate chip cookie from work.”
I let out a small chuckle. “Okay, takeout sounds like a good idea.”
Austin smiled sheepishly, then glanced toward my desk. “Let me help you with your stuff.”
“That’d be nice.”
He moved across the room, already lightening the weight of the day.
We grabbed burgers from the drive-through, the smell of greasy food filling the car as Austin drove Evie home. She practically bounced out as soon as we pulled up, waving excitedly and shouting something about her cookie. Austin chuckled, leaning out the window to call after her before she disappeared inside.
With a shake of his head and a smile still lingering on his face, he shifted the car into reverse and drove us back to the house. When we arrived, he parked in the driveway and walked around to my side, opening the door for me like it was second nature. He rested his hand on the small of my back, guiding me to the front door.
“You ready to call your mom?” he asked as he opened the door, gesturing to me to head inside.
I closed my eyes, letting out a long breath. “No. It’s been a long day.” I opened my eyes and glanced at him. “I know I have to, but maybe we can eat first.”
He nodded without hesitation. “Whatever you need. I’ll leave after we eat, so you can have some privacy.”
Something inside me shifted with his words. The thought of facing my mom alone, without him there, suddenly felt unbearable. I didn’t want to do this by myself—not tonight, not with something this big.
“Please stay.”
He paused, his eyes locking onto mine. “You sure?”
I nodded, the knot in my chest loosening just a little. “Yeah. I want you there.”
He gave me a small, reassuring smile. “Okay.”
We settled at the counter, the aroma of burgers and fries filling the air as Austin opened the bag. He pulled out the food, handing me my burger before grabbing his own. The rustle of wrappers and the crunch of fries broke the silence, and for a moment, the weight of the day lifted.
“Alright,” I said with a smirk and bit into my fries. “I’ll admit I was starving. This hits the spot.”
He chuckled. “You and Evie both. She couldn’t wait to get home for that cookie.”
“She’s got her priorities straight.”
We ate in companionable silence for a bit before I cleared my throat. “Oh, by the way,” I started, glancing over at him, “I had a meeting with HR today. I got you officially added to my insurance.”
His brows lifted, and he paused mid-bite. “You did?”
“Yeah. They’re processing everything now, so you should be good to go. If your doctor asks, just have them bill my insurance. You’ll get your card in about a week.”
Austin set his burger down, leaning back slightly as he looked at me. “Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me.”
I shrugged, trying to play it off, but his sincerity made my chest tighten. “It’s no big deal. We’re married, remember? Gotta keep up the act.”
He shook his head, reaching over to rest his hand on mine. “It’s more than that, and you know it,” he said, gently brushing his thumb against my skin. “I’ve been on edge about not having coverage, and this... this takes a load off.”
“Just promise me you’ll take care of yourself, okay? You’re not doing this alone anymore.”
Austin’s eyes softened, and for a moment, his gratitude was almost tangible. “I won’t forget this,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Not ever.”
He squeezed my hand one last time before letting go. I ate my last fry and then picked up my burger.
“Alright, enough of the serious stuff. Let’s talk about the real issue.” He leaned forward with mock seriousness. “Who the hell eats their fries before their burger?”
