Page 409 of Safe With You

Ellis stared at me from the bedroom doorway.

I stared back.

“That’s not how time works.”

“I don’t appreciate your tone.”

His mouth twitched.

“Baby.”

“I’m coming.”

“You aren’t even dressed.”

“I am dressed.”

Ellis’s eyes traveled slowly down my body, taking in the T-shirt I’d thrown on after my shower and the shorts I’d had on since that morning. When his gaze made its way back to my face, one eyebrow was raised.

I looked down at myself like maybe I’d missed something. “This is an outfit.”

“For the house.”

“According to who?”

“Society.”

I rolled my eyes and turned back toward the clothes spread across the bed. I’d already changed my mind twice, which was probably why he’d been standing in the doorway watching me instead of believing any of my promises that I was almost ready.

“Go help your child,” I told him, waving him toward the hallway.

“Our child was ready before both of us.”

My hand stilled over the dress I’d been reaching for.

Our child.

I paused.

Even after two years, he still did that sometimes. Said something without realizing it carried enough weight to stop me where I was.

Not in a way that erased Elena. Nothing in this house did. Her pictures were still here. Mila still told stories that began with, “My mommy used to...” Ellis still said her name. So did I.

Loving them had taught me that making room for something new didn’t require destroying what came before it. Grief could live beside joy.

“Luna?”

I blinked.

Ellis was still watching me.

“What?”

His expression softened.

“Where’d you go?”

“Nowhere.”