Page 70 of Trial and Error

A shy smile blooms on my face and I feel heat prickling on the apples of my cheeks as I drop my gaze to where our chests are touching. “You’re too good to me.”

“I’m not too good to you for noticing how incredible you are. That’s the bare minimum. I’m never going to be too good for you, Bridget, I’m going to be as good for you as you are for me.” He leans forward and presses a kiss against the corner of my mouth. “We’re good for each other.”

His words sink in just as Olivia squeals and clings on to our legs. Elias breaks his gaze from mine as he laughs, bending down to scoop her up. He settles her between the two of us, and she laughs louder as we squeeze her between us, the three of us slow dancing in the kitchen.

It feels as though time slows as I look at him and the adoring gleam in his eyes as he looks at the two of us. I feel so seen under his gaze, and the thought of something I’ve wanted for my whole life, being provided to me from someone that barely knows me, makes me tingle from head to toe.

Elias is consistent in everything he does.

He’s a sure thing—and I think I’m falling in love with him.

elias

Olivia looks sleepy as she rests on Bridget’s lap while she runs a brush through my niece’s wet hair.

Dinner ended with pasta sauce all over Olivia’s face and in her hair, much to the amusement of us both. Bridget smiled the whole time, giggling at the stories Olivia would share and watching every little movement with keen interest. I wasn’t paying attention to anything but her and as we sat, eating and talking, I could visualize it then.

Her seated at a similar table, looking down at a child of her own with the warmest of smiles that would rival the morning sun. Her blonde hair twisted up on the top of her head messily and lines carved permanently into her cheeks from years of laughter and happiness.

Years I want to be spent with me.

My niece holds on to her plushy as Bridget’s long fingers weave Olivia’s strawberry blonde hair into a braid. Bridget’s knee brushes against my own as she ties a band around the ends of Olivia’s hair and she shoots me an apologetic smile, but I don’t miss the blush that appears on the tops of her cheekbones.

Knowing that us touching has her as flustered as me makes me feel better, like I’m not the only one going feral over the thought of touching her—being inside her—again.

Last night was otherworldly, and I’d be lying if I said I haven’t thought about it every waking minute since. I clear my throat, in an attempt to get rid of the images in my head and she looks over at me, tilting her head to the side.

Olivia slides off Bridget’s lap and moves into the space between us, curling into my side with her plushy tucked under her arms and her thumb in her mouth. My brother has been trying to get her to stop it, but I guess it hasn’t worked yet.

I sling my arm around Olivia’s small body and sigh as Bridget pulls a blanket over the three of us. Bridget pulls the footstool toward us and we stretch our legs out in front of us, and I smile when Bridget curls around Olivia.

I’m sitting here with two of my favourite girls and this sense of belonging fills me. And suddenly, I can’t imagine my life any other way, and as she reaches behind me, cupping her hand around the nape of my neck, something becomes apparent.

She feels like home.

I reach across Olivia and rest my head on Bridget’s thigh and she softly squeezes the back of my neck in response. Olivia is a pretty tough nut to crack, so to see her feel so comfortable around Bridget has me smiling to myself. The two of us look down just as Olivia turns and rests her head on Bridget’s lap and suddenly I feel jealous that my niece gets all her attention and I don’t.

I pout at Bridget and she rolls her eyes. Big baby, she mouths.

I’ll show you big, I mouth back.

She scoffs and turns her gaze back to the TV, but I see the smirk on her face.

Her gaze drops to her lap and her smile warms. “I think we might be able to skip the bedtime story tonight,” she whispers, nodding toward Olivia, who is fast asleep on her lap.

I nod and slowly lean forward, making sure I don’t disturb her. She stirs slightly and sleepily crawls onto Bridget’s lap, her head resting on her chest. “I guess you’re the one putting her to bed,” I say, pointing to the way Olivia clings into the front of her cardigan like her life depends on it.

She smiles as she scoops Olivia up into her arms, who doesn’t even bat an eyelid as she gets moved. Bridget holds her close to her chest as she rubs small circles on her back and looks up at me expectantly. “You’re going to need to show me to her bedroom.”

I put my hand on her lower back—because not touching her is becoming an issue—and guide her toward the staircase. The two of us quietly make our way up the stairs, down the hall, and into Olivia’s bedroom. It’s mostly dark aside from the wall closest to her bed where a small nightlight is plugged into the socket. I step into the room and walk over to her bed where I pull the duvet back so Bridget can lay her down with ease. Olivia lets out a soft sigh as her back meets the mattress and she snuggles down, curling herself in her duvet as I pull it over her. The two of us look down at her, watching as she pouts her lips and sleeps soundly.

“She’s so precious,” Bridget whispers as we walk out of her room.

I keep the door ajar and follow Bridget back downstairs, chuckling as she flops on the couch. “When do you want kids?” I ask as I sit down next to her.

She immediately stretches out over me and rests her head on my chest as we snuggle down into the plush cushions. She intertwines our fingers together and rest our hands on my stomach, her thumb brushing over my knuckles.

“I’m not sure.” she says softly. “When I meet the right person.”