Page 106 of Mine to Worship

“Out of all of us, I never thought you’d be the one who would leave this city,” Kendrick muses.

“I gave this town the old me, and it gave me Ellia. Quid pro quo.”

“I am happy for you, man.”

He pats my back and I rip the white gauze from my knuckles.

Our cells ping with Jason’s text, and we end the night drinking a beer on the rooftop.

Chapter 37

Ellia

Something is bothering Kian, but I don’t know what. He’s happy for me, so that can’t be it. Since we returned, all he does is move around, like he can’t stand to stay still.

I wake up and roll to his side of the bed. His body rises and falls with deep breaths. I thread my fingers through his hair, and his lips arch into a smile.

“I love your hands in my hair.”

He pecks me on the tip of my nose.

“I want to visit my parents before the baby comes.”

“This weekend then.”

I pepper his face with kisses. My love for him grows every day and I wonder how much more can my heart expand. Will it burst or will it surpass the normal capacity to stretch?

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I ask, heat brushing my cheeks at the raw adoration gazing back at me.

“I was thinking about how much I love you.” His lips find mine, nibbling on the flesh.

“Say it again.”

He indulges me and my smile can be seen from the moon.

“I may be late today,” he sighs.

“I hope I won’t be asleep. And I want my goodnight kiss.”

“In that case, I’ll have to come back before eight.”

“That’s mean and a complete exaggeration,” I pout and smack him playfully on the chest.

He raises a brow. “Angel, you have become an expert at falling asleep. But again you grow our baby.”

“You’ll miss these times.”

His features turn to steel. “I know what I won’t miss, you throwing up, the lack of sex.”

“And here we are, almost at the finish line. I can’t wait to have her already. It’s strange…”

I fidget with my nightie and his eyes search my body for any traces of discomfort.

“What? Are you uncomfortable? Should I call the doctor?”

“No, and you worry too much, and the baby isn’t even here.”

“But you’ll tell me if there’s something?”

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