“I’m not invading your personal space, Molls. I can make do on the couch,” he said, though the lack of confidence in his voice gave him away.
“Liam, I really don’t mind. We can buy a new mattress tomorrow. One night isn’t that big of a deal.”
He hesitated for a few seconds. “Are you absolutely sure? What if I snore?”
“What ifIsnore?”
“You probably sound like a cute little grizzly bear in hibernation when you snore,” he said, looking at me like he truly believed it.
“Ifeellike a grizzly bear—stuffed and ready for winter,” I replied, glancing down at my belly.
He reached out and took my hand, helping me up from the couch. I was still at the point in my pregnancy where I could get up on my own, but I wouldn’t be able to for much longer. I’d take all the help I could get while it was offered. Who knew how long I’d have it?
“Time for hibernation,” he said over his shoulder as he headed down the hall toward the bedroom.
Our bedroom.
No—mybedroom.
Right?
Liam
Sleeping next to Molly in her new house, in her new bed, was not how I’d imagined the night ending. Neither was the soft goodnight kiss she pressed to my cheek before rolling over and falling fast asleep.
If there was ever a moment where I was a stupid guy staring at a mixed signal with no idea what to do about it, this was it.
I might as well have slept on the couch. I didn’t get a wink of sleep either way.
Chapter 23 – Molly
“Shut up,” Cassie said, walking up to my new house for the first time, holding up one of the boxes I had packed. “You’re telling me he flipped this entire house and then just handed over the key. No strings attached?”
“Yep. That’s exactly how it went down. Ask Jace. He was there.”
“Oh, he told me last night at dinner, but I thought he was just overly happy to have his best friend back so he was trying to talk him up,” Cassie said, laughing.
“He even built you a new chicken coop,” Ellie said, pointing to the small building off to the side of the house.
“There’s a greenhouse tucked between the oak trees too. And he put heated floors in the master bathroom,” I added.
We made our way into the living room, and Cassie set the box down. “Shit,” she said. “I’d forgive him too.”
“He could’ve fixed up a shack for me, and I still would’ve forgiven him,” I said. “I forgave him because what kind of person cares about their son so much that they make sure he always has a place to live—even ifhe’s never actually going to live there with him?” I added.
“How was your first night sleeping here?” Ellie asked, glancing around the living room filled with stacked moving boxes and furniture the guys had been hauling in all morning. A few more boxes and I’d be moved in.
“It was great,” I said easily. “The bed Liam picked out for the master is so comfortable. And it’s so quiet out here in the country—nothing like having neighbors. I could hear birds chirping when I woke up this morning and watched the sunrise.”
Ellie’s eyes swept the room before narrowing slightly. “So…where did Liam sleep?”
“Well…” I started.
Cassie and Ellie immediately exchanged looks, identical smiles spreading across their faces as they leaned in.
“Molly!” Cassie squealed.
“It’s not what you think,” I said quickly, trying to shut down their giggles. “The air mattress popped, and I felt bad making him sleep on that tiny couch while I laid in a king-size bed. We literally didn’t touch all night.” I paused. “Except when I kissed him on the cheek before bed.”
