Page 156 of Torin

Alexandria lifts her glass. “To Hannah.”

Gunnar and Orson join her, and I lift mine.

“To Hannah.”

I take a sip of champagne.

“That was quite a toast.”

“I meant every word.”

I lean over and kiss him.

It’s supposed to be quick, but his hand comes up to the back of my neck and keeps me there for another moment.

When I sit back, Orson is already rifling through the menu.

“Are we gonna eat now?”

Gunnar looks at him. “What did we say about manners?”

He frowns. “To be considerate of other people.”

“Right.”

Orson clears his throat. “Can I please order now?”

Gunnar sighs and I laugh.

The first plates arrive soon after, followed by several more until we have to start rearranging glasses to make room. Alexandria insists I try something she ordered, and by the time the main courses arrive, I’m feeling very relaxed.

We talk about the university and the people I met afterward. Alexandria tells me she’d forgotten how uncomfortable restaurant chairs become when you have a belly the size of hers. Orson eats an astonishing amount of food. Gunnar orders another bottle of wine.

At some point, Alexandria goes quiet in the middle of a sentence and puts her hand against her stomach.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah. He’s been kicking all evening.”

“He?”

She smiles. “Apparently.”

I look at Gunnar. “You found out?”

“Just today!”

Alexandria takes my hand and puts it against the side of her belly.

For several seconds, there’s nothing.

Then I feel it—a small hard movement beneath the fabric of her dress. An absurd rush of delight goes through me.

“Wow.”

“He does that whenever I’m trying to sleep.”

Gunnar reaches over and lays his hand beside mine.