Page 47 of Luke

Paisley nodded and wrapped her arms around him in a big hug. Luke held her back without complaint. She needed this connection to him. For someone to tell her it was all going to be okay and they would be there for her.

“Thank you,” she whispered against his neck.

“For what? Without me, you wouldn’t even be involved in this shit.”

“For making me feel better. But technically, it wasn’t you that got me involved. It was Cade,” she teased.

Luke pulled back to look her in the eyes. “Are you saying you wanted to date Cade?”

“Definitely not. But if he hadn’t wanted to date me, then I wouldn’t have met you, so maybe it’s not such a terrible thing?” So far, everything had worked out.

“No. Not giving him any credit. We would have found a way together regardless,” Luke swore to her. “You and I were meant to be together one way or another. We just had a few pushes to get us here quicker.”

She smiled and went on her tiptoes to kiss him. “I believe you.”

Garrett’s cry from his bedroom had them stepping away from each other. “I’ll get him,” Luke said and turned to go up the stairs.

He’d been more loving today. It was weird. Not that he wasn’t normally, but it seemed like extra somehow. Loving wasn’t a word she’d normally use, maybe just that he was attentive to her on typically, but today she felt his eyes on her constantly.

Luke was there when she needed him to be and while that wasn’t new, it was different today. She couldn’t put her finger on what had changed.

“He’s all clean.” Luke handed Garrett to her when he came down. “I need a minute to call Ashley back. She called while I was changing this guy.” He kissed her forehead and stepped away.

“Okay. Tell her I can’t wait to meet her,” Paisley called out to him.

She hadn’t even spoken to Ashley, which was strange only because she knew that Luke was closest with her. His other siblings didn’t even know until recently and yet Catherine was by almost every day. Ashley hadn’t attempted to come out at all yet.

“I think it will be okay,” she told Garrett. “You ready to practice sitting up?”

Garrett was getting better every day at being able to do things more independently and she celebrated every milestone, but it was bittersweet to not be needed as much anymore. Not that she was complaining that she got a second to herself. It was just crazy how much he was growing.

“Ashley said she will be out here soon to visit. Classes are about to be over.” Luke joined her. “Look at him!” He smiled at Garrett.

“He’s getting so big,” she told him.

Garrett was in his chair that was made to help him sit up and already she could move her hands away from him and not need to worry about him falling.

“I know I missed a lot considering how young he is, but this is crazy.” Luke sat on the floor next to her.

The next hour was spent playing with Garrett and discussing his new routines and what he should be eating. There was a lot of debate on when to start, but it was agreed that it was time for Garrett to start foods and not just bottles.

“The doctor said he’s ready,” she reminded Luke.

“I know. I know.” He stretched as he stood up. “It’s just I don’t know if I am,” he continued.

“In the mom groups I’m a part of, it seems that most people feel this way, so at least we aren’t alone.” She was glad he felt that way too.

“Are we just waiting for the next thing to happen?” she wondered out loud.

“Yeah.” Luke shrugged. “Unfortunately, that’s all we can do.”

Paisley was nervous about seeing Mary. It had been a while and they’d not been on good terms the last time they saw each other. If things didn’t go well, she didn’t know what she’d do.

Luke pulled her to a stand and hugged her again. “I will keep us all safe. I promise you that.”

Tears threatened at his words. That was exactly what she needed to hear from him, and it was so relieving that she nearly collapsed.

“I know you will,” she told him. “I will do the same for you as much as I can.”

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