Page 42 of Lillian

Still, I have to ask. “Lincoln…”

“Lillian,” he mocks in the same cautious tone I just used. I laugh.

“Stop, I’m serious.” I give him a gentle punch to the arm. “We’re jumping back into this so fast. A kid is… well, it’s a big deal Lincoln, and we weren’t exactly together for that long the first time around. I just want to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. Because there’s no going back. If Grace gets connected to you, you don’t get to walk away from her. Even if you want to walk away from me.” I’m rambling now, nerves getting the best of me.

“Are you done?” He smirks, and I nod, shutting my mouth.

“I know you guys are a package deal, Lillian. Let me make this clear: I love kids, and I’m thirty-four years old. I’m not still looking to sow my wild oats. I want to settle down. I want a family. And I’ve wanted that with you since I met you. Have you forgotten the ring already?”

“Trying my best,” I mutter under my breath.

“Brat.” He flicks my thigh. “My point is…I’m in this. I understand that may be hard to believe right now, and that’s nobody’s fault but my own. Only time can fix that, and I’m going to be there every day to remind you.”

The movie plays in the background as I stare at Lincoln in a stunned silence. I had expected an obligatory,I understand.The heated declaration took me by surprise.

“Linc, Linc, look at this!” Grace calls, running into the room with her yo-yo she’s become obsessed with recently.

“Let’s see, munchkin,” Lincoln laughs, giving Grace his undivided attention. It’s unbelievable the amount of joy I get from seeing them interact. The animated way she throws the yo-yo down. The way Lincoln claps and praises her when it only comes up halfway. The way she comes to the couch and wiggles in between the two of us and then asks for his phone to play games on, not mine.

Our eyes meet over the top of blonde curls, and he tilts his head as if to say,see?

Fine.

Maybe I’ll let myself believe him. I’ll push aside all thefool me oncethoughts that keep trying to worm their way in and see where this takes me.

A little while later—because Grace was able to sucker another few hours out of him—after we’ve all had dinner, and I put Grace down for bed, I’m standing outside Lincoln’s car, saying goodbye.

“You know,” I mutter sarcastically, “I didn’t get a chance to say anything earlier, but this is ridiculous.”

He laughs, a true, deep belly laugh. “What? You don’t like my car?”

“ALincoln?Could you be any more cliche?”

He looks off in the distance, pretends to think, and answers. “No, I don’t think so. But I’ll try for you.”

“You’re such a dork. Get out of here, Grandpa. It’s past your bedtime.” He throws a hand up to his chest like he’s been wounded and then pulls me into a hug.

“So, you two will come up Friday? Stay the night with me?” he mutters and kisses the top of my head.

“Yeah,” I grin into his chest. We talked about it at dinner when I told Grace she had another playdate with Yasmine on Saturday. Lincoln had asked her if she wanted to do a sleepover the night before, and she got so worked up she spilt her glass of milk on the table.

“Good.” He tilts my chin up with a finger and plants a gentle kiss on my lips. Once. Twice. Three times. “Fuck, this is going to be the longest week of my life.”

As I watch him pull out of my driveway and turn to head back inside, I couldn’t agree more.

Monday

Lincoln

Work sucks. I’d rather spend all day in bed with you.

Me

What? You’re telling me you don’t like being surrounded by stuffy men in suits all day?

Lincoln

Woah. Take it easy. I’m a stuffy man in a suit.

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