I studied his face, looking for any signs of pain. “And you’re sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, more than okay,” he said with a chuckle. “I’m feeling good. You’ve been helping me so much, let me treat you to a night out.” He leaned forward and kissed my cheek.
“But I like helping you,” I said, still not believing he was actually feeling well enough.And I kind of like staying in,I internally added. We had a whole routine. I’d spend most of the day working on the nursery or online shopping for the babies, and then we’d spend the rest of the night on the couch, munching on popcorn and watching movies.
He grinned. “Let’s go out tonight. Let me show you Chicago.”
__________
“We can leave whenever you want, okay?” I said for what felt like the hundredth time. I couldn’t help it. He looked okay, and he said he was feeling okay, but his shoulder was just drilled into a week ago—there’s no way he wasn’t in at least a little pain. On top of that, I was now paranoid about someone bumping into his shoulder as we walked through the busy stadium for the basketball game.
JP didn’t seem worried at all. He chuckled softly and tightened his hold on my hand. He only let go of my hand once tonight to pull his hat lower when a group of young guys spotted him. “I promise I’ll tell you if it starts hurting, good?”
I nodded, but his words didn’t quite ease my anxiety.
“Areyougood?” he asked. “Hungry?”
I twisted my lips as I eyed the concession stand. We did just have a full meal at a swanky restaurant, but it was hard to resist the smell of popcorn. “No, I’m fine,” I finally decided.
“Oh, come on.” He gave me a get-real look. “Says the woman who hogs the popcorn every night.”
I gasped. “I do not hog it.”
He grinned down at me. “Fine,Iwant some popcorn. Will you eat some if I get it?”
I struggled to tamper down my grin. “That sounds like a brilliant idea.”
“I’m full of those.” He winked at me.
“Oh, you really are,” I quipped back. I cleared my throat and used my best guy voice to imitate him: “No attachments, no promises. Just a week together, what could it hurt?” I eyed him. “Childbirth could hurt a lot, JP,” I said with a laugh.
He rubbed his jaw, trying to cover a sheepish laugh. “I am sorry about that part.” He gave me a weak smile. “But I’ll be the best birthing partner you could ever ask for.”
I rolled my eyes and let out a laugh. “I know,” I said assuredly, making a grateful smile appear on his face.
After securing our popcorn, JP shoved two water bottles in his sweatpants pockets, then held my hand again to lead me to our seats. As we walked, I was shocked at how far down the stairwell towardthe court we were going.
“Wait, we’re going really far,” I murmured.
“Yeah.” He grinned over his shoulder at me.
I stopped. “Did you get us floor seats?”
His face lit up with a grin. “The best way to see a basketball game, babe. C’mon.”
I grinned back, but as soon as he turned around, my face dropped. While it was nice he spent so much money on this date, now I was really paranoid—what if a basketball, or worse, a person, came out of bounds and hit his arm? I wouldn’t be much help at all. I’d be too worried about protecting the babies to protect him. I swallowed hard, trying to reign in my nerves.
As soon as we got to our designated seats on the floor, JP maneuvered me to his left side before sitting.
“Okay, what’s got you worried?” he asked, his eyes going up to the jumbotron.
“Nothing,” I lied.
He set the popcorn down between us and pulled my hands into his lap. “I should tell you something.” He weighed his head to the side as he stared down at my fingers. “Ah, maybe I shouldn’t.” He shook his head. “Never mind.”
I pulled back. “You can’t do that.” I swatted his good arm. “Now you have to tell me.”
He laughed to himself before letting out a sigh. “You start twisting your fingers when you lie.” He smoothed my fingers out on his thigh. “You’ve done that since we were young.”
