Page 156 of Our Chaotic Love Affair

“People are going to notice we’re gone.”

“Let them notice.”

“Cash, this is a baby shower.”

“Fine. But later, when we’re home all alone and you’re naked, I need to practice planting my seed.”

She laughed. “That’s a very odd way to think of knocking me up. Besides, later I’m going to be exhausted and probably asleep on the couch.”

“I’ll take it.”

We made one more trip downstairs to grab the last of the gifts. The party was winding down, with people saying their goodbyes, kids being wrangled into car seats, the house slowly returning to a manageable level of chaos.

Melody caught Cleo’s hand as we passed. “Thank you. For all of this. For everything.”

“Always,” Cleo said.

“I mean it. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“Yes, you could have. But I’m glad you didn’t have to.”

Austin appeared beside his wife. “We’re going to lie down for a bit. Can you two handle cleanup?”

“Go,” I said. “We’ve got it.”

They disappeared upstairs. I looked around at the disaster zone that was their living room. Wrapping paper everywhere. Empty plates. Cups scattered on every surface.

“This is going to take hours,” Cleo said.

“Then we better get started.”

We worked together like we always did these days. Cleo gathered wrapping paper while I collected dishes. We moved around each other easily, a dance we’d perfected over the summer.

We were building a life together. It was everything I’d never known I wanted.

“Cash?” Cleo said from across the room.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being here. For helping. For being you.”

I walked over and pulled her into my arms. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

“Not even destroying cars in a junkyard?”

“Not even then.”

She laughed and kissed me. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

We finished cleaning as the sun started to set. By the time we were done, the house looked almost normal again. We found Melody and Austin asleep in their bed, him curled protectively around her, his hand on her belly.

“They’re going to be good parents,” Cleo whispered.