Mom waved me down and obliged so she could give me a kiss on the cheek and send me on my way.
I jogged into the kitchen, expecting to find chaos, but everyone was doing their job, jamming to the kitchen playlist I’d made for them.
Preparing myself for a disgruntled customer instead, I stepped out into the dining room. “What’s going—”
“Hi, Kallum,” Winnie said as she sat perched on a stool between diners. She bit down on her lower lip and stood with one arm resting on her belly, like she’d done so often lately.
“Winnie.” My heart raced the way it always did when I saw her lately. The last month had passed in what felt like glimpses. We talked so much, and I’d been spending more and more time in LA, but at times we felt like best work friends and our job was the baby. Seeing her here now outside of baby business felt thrilling and a little bit against the rules.
She wore a soft pink sundress that perfectly matched her lips and the blush in her cheeks... and other parts of her body that were definitely not on display. Okay, maybe the grand opening wasn’t the best time to rock a semi for my baby mama, who was definitely only a friend.
“Can I, uh, get you something?” I asked her.
“I already ordered one,” she said. “But I like the addition to the menu.”
I glanced over my shoulder to the huge menu above the counter that was basically a shrine to pizza. Right there under specialty pizzas was the Winnie. Mozzarella, maple syrup, sliced pears, and bacon. “I had to name it after you,” I told her.
“I’ll take a daily lunch order as my royalty payment,” she said very seriously. “I want the grand tour of the pizza palace.”
I held an arm out for her and she kept her hand on my biceps as I guided her through the very small dining room and then to the office that would be mostly for Samantha but also for me when I was here. Winnie had been in and out several times over the last month on our way to appointments or hospital tours, but showing it to her now, I felt a little inadequate. Winnie’s ex was a slimy fucker, but he had power in this town in a way I could never offer her, and here I was showing offmy little pizza place wedged between a tax prep business and a nail salon.
“It’s perfect,” Winnie said as she looked all around the office, her sights settling on the sonogram framed on the wall.
She took a deep breath like she had so many times on set to calm herself. “I need you to sit,” she said suddenly. “Can you sit?”
I settled into the chair just as Samantha knocked on the doorframe.
I opened my mouth, about to ask her if everything was okay, when she turned to Winnie and said, “Small pepperoni for Baker.”
“Your timing is perfect,” Winnie said as she took the small Slice, Slice, Baby box.
“Pepperoni, huh?” I asked as she placed the box down on the small folding chair across from my desk.
She rubbed her belly nervously and then sat on the edge of the desk in front of me.
I looked up at her and was reminded that I liked this view way too much.
“A few months ago, I asked you for space. For—for room.”
“I know,” I said. “And I know the apartment and setting up shop here... it probably feels like a lot. I don’t want you to feel crowd—”
She shook her head and bent down, her lips colliding with mine so hard she might leave a bruise. Fireworks exploded inside of me and instinct took over as I pulled her into my lap.
My brain caught up after a moment. “Wait, Winnie, wait. What’s going on? I don’t want...” I pressed my forehead tohers, trying to breathe. “I don’t want to be friends with benefits. Or a hookup.”
“No, no,” she said frantically. I could feel her exhales against my lips. “No, I—I need you to shut up. Because I have to just get this out and all I want to do is kiss you.” She took another deep breath as I tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I wanted space, but not anymore. You gave me what I asked for and somehow still found a way to be here for me and the baby. You gave me what I needed without any obligation or expectations. You loved me, Kallum. You loved me in the exact way I needed.”
“I still do,” I said, the words catching in my throat. “Winnie, I love you. I never stopped.”
“I love you too. It’s true now more than ever. Kallum, I want everything with you. I want kids. And a house. And vacations to Disney and weekends at gymnastic meets or debate competitions. And I’m so sorry for— Oh, oh, wait!”
She left my lap to run around and reach across the desk for the pizza box. Her lips curled in a hopeful smile as she opened the lid. There on one of my own pizzas wasi’m sorryspelled out in pepperonis.
She was the perfect woman for so many reasons, but damn, she knew how to speak my language.
“I’m sorry,” she said again. “I’m sorry I pushed you away and didn’t give you the... the grace you deserved. The grace you give others so freely.”
“Grace,” I said with a smile and tears beginning to brim. “Grace.”
