Page 112 of Accidentally in Love

“Did you really think if you lost her, I would have left you? I was scared too.”

She squeezed her eyes shut, and I wiped the tears from her face. She reached up a hand and covered mine with hers. “I’ve been horrible to you. I’m sorry.”

“We were going through a hard time. It happens. But I don’t want it to keep on happening, okay?”

She nodded.

“How about we talk about it in the morning?”

She shook her head. “I want you to know that I love you, and I’m sorry. I saw what I wanted to see. My dad says I always run at the first sign of trouble.”

“Did you see Gem?”

“Yeah… I realized something.”

“What’s that?” I asked through a yawn.

“I pick up my sister’s pieces, but she has never done that in return. The person who always puts me back together is you.”

I gave her a small kiss. “Avery, you’re the light in the dark world for me. I should have told you how I felt a long time ago.”

“Really?” she blubbered.

“Yes, really. I’m never getting married again. You’re it for me. Can we go to bed now?”

She laughed and wiped her face. “Sorry.”

“You have work tomorrow.”

She peered at me and gave me a naughty grin. “Maybe I’ll call out sick.”

I eyed her suspiciously.

“I need to spend time with my husband, who I have been very mean to lately.”

I groaned into her neck. “You’re killing me right now. I’m so tired.”

“Really?” she laughed.

“Yes, really. Can we please go to sleep?”

She pushed me onto my back and kissed me goodnight. “Okay, we’ll talk more in the morning.”

I let Avery sleep in because, honestly, she needed the rest. The past week had been stressful for me, so it must have been worse for her. She didn’t need the extra stress; it wasn’t good for the baby.

I had a quick breakfast and eyed the Christmas tree still up in the living room. While things had been tense between us, I hadn’t wanted to nag Avery about it being time to take down the decorations. We should probably take care of that today, but I’d talk to her about that when she woke up.

Instead, I went into the nursery. I finished painting it earlier this week and had been working on putting together the furniture. I hadn’t asked Avery if she wanted to help because we hadn’t been on speaking terms.

I wiped the sweat from my brow as I finished putting the crib together. I looked over my shoulder when I heard footsteps in the hallway. Avery stood in the doorway, biting her lip nervously while she held her pregnant belly.

“Did you call out of work?” I asked.

She nodded. “Yeah, I just called out. I need a mental health day. The kids will live without me.” She walked into the room and surveyed the work I had done. “Oh wow, Nol. You did all this?”

“You weren’t talking to me. I needed something to fill my time.”

She frowned. “I’m sorry.”