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Lauren’s hand settles on my legs. “You have to eat. Trust me, I learned that an empty stomach is dry heave hell. How about soup from the place you love down the road? Or ice cream. Remember? That worked for me.”
“I don’t know what works for me. I don’t want to eat.”
“Soup and ice cream it is.” She stands up again and helps me to my feet. “Where are you going to work?”
“In here. I’m going to change clothes and just settle on the bed where I can rest if I need to.”
“That’s sound good.” She hugs me. “It’s going to be okay. I promise.” She pulls back to look at me. “I promise.” She releases me and leaves me alone.
I change into sweats and a T-shirt and give my belly an inspection. It’s still flat and I’m glad. I don’t want Reese to know yet. I want Debbie to be dealt with by his birthday and I’ll make telling him special. A few minutes later, I walk into the bedroom to write my column, when Reese is suddenly walking into the room. Clearly having ignored my order to take care of business first, and the minute I see him, in all his tall, dark, perfection, tears prickle my eyes.
“Cat,” he breathes out, and then I’m in his arms and we’re holding onto each other like we’re both afraid we’re going to lose each other.
Chapter fifty-four
Cat
Reese cups my face and stares down at me. “I would never cheat on you, Cat. You’re my life, my wife, my best friend.”
My hands go to his wrist. “I know. I told you on the phone. I don’t doubt you.”
“There is no one that can hear a claim like that and not have it cut and create doubt. You’re human, Cat.”
“I didn’t doubt you. I really didn’t. I don’t.”
His head rests against mine. “The only person I’m ever going to touch again in this lifetime is you. The only person who will ever be the mother of my children is you.”
I swallow hard, feeling like I should tell him now. Yes, now, but no. No. I can’t tell him like this. This is about her. I don’t want it to be about her. “Reese—”
He kisses me, a soft brush of lips against lips, his mouth lingering against mine, and there is so much in this kiss; love, fear, passion, friendship, more fear. I pull back. “We’re good,” I promise him. “She didn’t break us.”
“I didn’t break us, Cat.”
“I know. Reese, I know. I’d know if you did. I’d feel it, but we need to talk about what to do about her.”
He inhales and releases me, turning away to run a hand through his hair. “Right,” he says, as I did about three times in the car before he walks to the bedroom window in front of the couch and stares out of the glass.
I cross to join him, stepping to his side. “I know that Royce will have an opinion and it will matter, but what about Cole? He’s your partner and this affects him, too. It’s going to affect a lot of things.”
He turns to face me. “The only thing that it can affect that matters, is us.”
“We won’t let it.”
He steps to me again, his forehead finding mine. “We won’t let it,” he agrees, kissing my temple and then guiding me to the couch, where I happily, queasily sit down. Did I really wish for morning sickness that is apparently all-day sickness?
“You’re right though,” he says. “I have to talk to Cole. I called him. He and Lori are on their way over here. You need to call your family.”
My family that I barely get along with. “I guess so. I could—I guess ask Gabe to come over. He’s the one I’m closest too. Actually, Reid’s the real bastard. We might need him. Should I just ask them to come over?”
“Yes. Ask.” He pulls his phone from his pocket and hands it to me.
I breathe out. “I hate calling them.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t say that. Just—just don’t.” I dial Reid and he answers on the first ring.
“Cat?” he asks, sounding surprised.
