"I love you more, Goldie."
"Not possible."
"Wanna bet? I died a little and came back just for you two. That's commitment."
"You did not die, you dramatic cowboy."
"Felt like it. Ask the peach."
We stay there. Foreheads together. Just breathing each other in, her hand resting over my chest, her finger tapping the same rhythm as my heartbeat.
"So," I say eventually. "When can you break me out of here?"
She pulls back, and there it is—that beautiful glint in her eyes. The one that means trouble. The one I'd ride through fire for.
"Tomorrow. But you're on strict bed rest, sir. You hear me? Doctor's orders.Myorders."
"Bed rest." I run my finger along my bottom lip, slow, watching her track it. "With you in the bed?"
"That is not what bed rest means."
"Sounds like a negotiation."
"It's really not."
"Everything's a negotiation, baby. I'm in the mafia."
She laughs, this time really laughs, head tipped back, the sound filling up the sterile little room and turning it into someplace worth being. Then she settles back into her chair, pulls the blanket around her shoulders, and laces her fingers through mine.
"Sleep, Ace."
"Yes, ma'am."
I close my eyes. Her thumb traces circles on the back of my hand. The peach is the size of a peach. The woman I love is breathing beside me.
Tomorrow, I go home.
And this time, I'm taking everything that matters with me.
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE
Harper
Song- Orbiter, Noah Khan.
Two weeks later…
After the crash, as soon as we got home, Ace decided that rather than focusing on recovery, he'd spend his spare time reading up on all things pregnancy, birth, and fatherhood.
Which is also how I've ended up back in a hospital waiting room. Except this time, it's in New Falls with my new private team, the ones who'll look after me for the rest of my pregnancy and the birth.
Ace squeezes my hand. This man is supposed to be at home, recovering and resting. But I don't think there's a single force on this planet that would stop him from seeing his baby on a screen for the first time.
"You good, baby?" he whispers, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
I glance down at my bouncing knee.
I thought I was okay. I'm sure I've started to feel the baby move a little. But every day I just hope they're doing okay. That I'm doing enough for him or her.
