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Shecries softly, butIcan’t keep my eyes open.Nomatter how hardItry to stay awake,Islip under, exhausted and cold, but warmed by the only womanIever want to hold.
* * *
RACHEL
Olivia’scrying has me up and walking across the floor beforeIam even fully awake.It’swhenIbump into the wood column near the bed thatIrealizeI’minLuke’sloft apartment.Olivia’sbassinet is next to his dresser, in the corner that shares a wall with the shower.Ihear water running.Lukemust be up and taking a shower.That’sa good sign.
IscoopOliviainto my arms, and she lowers her cries to a whimper.Crawlingback onto the bed,Istick my feet back under the warm sheets and settle in with a pillow behind my back and one under her.Assoon as she latches onto my breast,Itake a deep breath and allow myself to ease back into reality.Itonly takes a moment to wishIhad stayed asleep as everything that has transpired in the last thirty-six hours comes back to me.
First,Ialways sleep better whenI’min bed with eitherEvan,Luke, or both.Second, why didIsleep inLuke’sbed last night?Imean,Iknow why.Itjust feels likeI’mrunning from one bad decision to another.Itis not thatLukeis a bad decision, but this isn’t what he wants.Theman had a fever forHeaven’ssake.
Ilook down at my little girl and take her tiny hand in my fingers. “Ithink we’re all alone now, baby girl.”
Itis going to take some time for me to process everything becauseI’vebeen in a state of denial sinceIfound outIwas pregnant.Iset myself on autopilot untilEvantook me in his arms and made me feelIbelonged once again.
“ButIruined that,”Iwhisper.
Theshower stops soIattempt to pull myself together.Thebathroom door opens, andLukeglances at me before he opens the refrigerator and pours the rest of the lemonade into a glass.Hetakes a long drink.
He’swearing pajama pants, but that is all.Itlooks as if he hasn’t even fully dried the water from his skin.
“SweartoGodthis stuff has magical powers,” he says with a hoarse voice.Iwould be lying ifIsaid it wasn’t sexy as hell.
Ilaugh to myself. “Itis just lemonade.”
Heturns, spreading his hands out along the edge of the island. “Soyou say.Iwill always believe you put something special in it.”
Tears.Thistime there were tears. “Feelingbetter?”
Heshrugs and shifts so he’s leaning back against the edge of the sink. “Ican tell the fever is gone.Otherwise,Istill want to sleep all day.Ineeded a shower.Shouldprobably change the sheets beforeIcrawl back under them.”
“Ican change them for you.”
“Youdon’t have to do that.”Hefinishes his drink and approaches us on bare feet. “How’smy girl?”Leaningdown he caresses her head and kisses her forehead.
“She’sfine.Hungry.”
“Well, she’s in the right place,” he chuckles before climbing on the bed and stretching out next to me.
Heruns his fingers through his wet curls and barks out a cough.
“Stillhave a sore throat and cough,Isee.”
“Yeah, this sucks.I’msorry you had to come and take care of my sickly ass.”
“It’smy job.SinceIam the professional, you need to rest for the next two to three days.Drink…”
“Lotsof clear fluids,” he interrupts. “Iknow,mom.Youdon’t have to tell me.”
Ishiver at the “mom” comment.
“Sorry,” he whispers. “IpromiseI’lltake care of myself.Trustme, there’s more than one reasonIwant to sleep the days away.”
Heglances up at me, butI’mnot sure how he wants me to respond.Instead,Ifocus on switchingOliviato the other breast.
“Evanwas hereSundaynight,” he says.
“Oh!”Thatwasn’t at all whatIwas expecting.
