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I swallow hard and place my open hand on his chest. “I love you.”
“Tess, I will never love anyone more than I love you.” He leans in, and I stop him.
“Hold that thought.” Inhale. “Could you love someone AS much as you love me?” My hands start to get super sweaty. Exhale. Inhale.
“That’s an impossible scenario.”
I say, “You know how authors love creating the possible from the impossible?”
He grins and looks proud of me. “You called yourself an author.”
“I am. What I write does matter to people. Entertainment has value, as do I. I get that now.”
“That moniker looks good on you.”
I take his hand. “I’ve picked up a new moniker as well.” I pull up the latest ultrasound on my phone and slide it to him.
82
Alex
I can’t identify what I’m looking at. Then my head zings between this picture of a squishy creature and her face. I stare at her serene smile. My eyes fill instantly as I look at her and then back to the phone. She shifts in her seat and tugs her blouse down again, and I get it. The almost too tight blouse is emerald green, and her eyes and stomach pop against it. She’s never looked more beautiful.
She says, “I still don’t know if it’s he or she, but I do know it’s us.” Her hand reflexively goes to her belly. I stand and step to her, holding her close. I take in her scent, which is slightly altered. It’s Tess, but there’s something extra. Like I can smell our baby too. Our baby. I coo softly in her ear, “This is everything.”
She whispers back, “It is.” We stand there, letting the world move around us, knowing ours has shifted again. Everything I will ever need is in my arms, effortlessly.
“Why didn’t—”
“I needed to know if we’d be a couple before I told you we were a trio.”
“I love you so much. This is a huge bonus that I didn’t think I wanted, but I do.”
She teases me, “What are you babbling about?”
“Before and after whoever this stranger turns out to be, long haul. You may never leave me again.” I tell her.
She kisses me. “Listen up, my love.” I bust out a large smile. “We can no longer disappear for a day or a week. Phone always on from now on, no excuses. We have to matter more, the bean and me. At some point, I think there’s carpool or some shit.”
“You’ve always mattered more. You two are healthy?”
“Yes. I was coming to tell you after the election, but plans change.”
“For all of our planning, it led to the most spontaneous and amazing thing. Perhaps we take it day by day for a while.”
“I don’t know how to do that. I have to leave here and head off to three other signings.”
I don’t hesitate, “I’ll come with you.”
“I’m sorry. What?” She looks stunned. I guess I deserve her skepticism. But I’ll spend the rest of our lives making her never doubt me again.
I take her hands. “What are you not getting? I’m in this. With you.”
“The election is insanely close.”
I pull out my phone and shoot off a text. It’s answered in an instant. I slide my phone to Tess.
ALEX: Need a week off. Tess is traveling. I’m going with her.
