Page 63 of Afterglow

I can relate—on too many levels.

“Can I propose something?” I ask, pulling my hand back so it’s not touching her. I don’t want our physical attraction to influence her answer.

“So long as it’s not marriage…” She rolls her eyes, and I can’t ignore the pang beneath my sternum at how flippantly she says it, like it would be the worst thing, absolutely asinine.

“It’s not, but…” I pause, squeezing and releasing my fingers as I build the courage. “What if, for your maternity leave, you moved in here. I have the space and my work is here, meaning I can be close by when you need me. And my calendar doesn’t get busy until June, so I’ll have a few months where I can be really present for you both.”

“Bryce, I…” She bites her lip.

“I know it’s a big ask. I know you’ve got your own space and are used to that, but I don’t want to only see you and the baby once a week or even a couple times a week. I don’t want you to have to do nights alone or feel like you don’t have a partner. If you don’t want to come here, I could… Maybe I could move in there and commute back to the ranch.”

“Bryce…” she tries again, but now that I’m finally asking, that this idea is finally out there, I can’t stop.

“I’m sorry, I know I can’t invite myself to move into your house. I just—”

“Bryce, stop,” she says, and her hand finds my arm, pulling me out of my rambling. I finally look at her and her lips are quivering, the tip of her nose red.

Fuck. I made her cry.

“I’m sorry. Dammit. Leanne, don’t cry. I’m sorry,” I blunder on, trying to fix this.

And that’s when she surges forward and wraps her arms around my neck. Then for the briefest second, she presses her lips to mine. It’s nothing that should set my blood boiling under my skin, but this small touch of our mouths is enough to shut me up and make me want so much more.

She pulls back and sits with her shoulders squared against her arm of the couch and I sit stunned against mine.

“Thank you,” she says on a whisper.

I mouth thank you, eyes glazed over like I’m testing the words, unsure what she means by them.

“Yes, thank you. For wanting…” She grabs my hand and pulls it to rest on her stomach. “For wanting this the way you do.”

I splay my fingers wide, letting them cover most of her small bump. If I could function with one hand, I’d leave this one here forever.

Her fingertips trace my tattoo as she continues. “I need to think about your proposal. I want you to be as present as you want to be, I just don’t know how to go about it. I don’t want to impede your entire life, but I-I also don’t want to do this alone.”

Her voice breaks on the last word, and this time it’s me who moves. I don’t kiss her, even if I want to more than anything, but I do pull her into my arms. “You won’t. You’ll never be alone in this. Never.”

She nods against my shoulder and I run my hand down her spine. “Is it okay if I think about it?” she asks.

Would I have loved an immediate yes? Of course. But I knew it wouldn’t be that easy. Not with Leanne, not with the trust issues fucking Craig brought about. But I’ll keep showing up until she knows I’m not going anywhere.

“Of course, Leanne.”

“And you’re sure you want us here…”

“I want you here,” I say, and hope she picks up on the fact that it’s not only because of the baby that I want her here. It’s because of her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Leanne

The drive up the hill to Alex and Delia’s house is quiet. My mind is still reeling after our conversation, and I wonder if Bryce’s is too.

He wants us to move in with him? Is that a good idea? A terrible one? What happens after my six months of maternity leave are up?

I don’t want to raise a baby alone and I know he wants to be there, but living together…

My sweaty hands slide against the leather of my steering wheel, each ridge of the stitched outer seam bumping against my palm. A tingling awareness zips through my bloodstream as we pass the path to the glamping tents, and my body heats with the remembrance of the last time we were there. I will never look at a tent the same way.