Page 47 of Interception

“Please don’t make me horny before I’ve brushed my teeth.”

He’s amused by the fact that I’m a pukey mess. “Not those lips I’m thinking about kissing, beautiful.” Even in my current state, he sends a thrill coursing through me.

“What have I told you about referring to vagina lips? Not cool, buddy. If we’re going to be roommates, you really have to stop with that.”

“You love it. And I’m going to be the best damn roommate you’ve ever had.” Cradling me in his arms, he heads for the front door.

“Faith is the only person I’ve lived with other than my family. She set the bar pretty high.”

“Can she go down on you until your screaming in ecstasy? Hold on. Don’t answer that. I’m having a major spank bank fantasy right now.” Only Coop could take me puking up the contents of my stomach and the most nerve-wracking moment of my life and turn it around to make me laugh.

“You wish, champ. No more spank bank for you. If you want to get off, it better be with me.”

“What? Is it considered cheating if I’m getting up close and personal with palm and her five sisters?”

“I don’t know the rules right now. I’m hormonal, and I am moving in with a boy for the first time as we speak. And I’m all fat and smell like vomit.”

Coop sets me down on the couch. “There’s one rule in this house, and unless you agree to abide by it, I won’t let you move in.” My pulse quickens at the sight of his serious expression. Oh God, he’s changed his mind about me moving in. Maybe I should’ve asked first instead of springing this on him. I thought it would be romantic—that didn’t quite work out for me.

“You’ve changed your mind. I shouldn’t have come.” I’m about to scramble off the couch, but I’m not exactly the most agile human being right now.

“No, crazy lady, I’m going to chalk that ridiculous comment up to hormones. My one and only rule is… don’t diss my girlfriend.” Relief washes over me. “You don’t get to use the word fat when talking about yourself unless you’re using P.H. phat. As for the vomit, well, I can’t really spin that right now, but I can go and get your suitcase out of the driveway and find your toothbrush for you. Sound good?”

“Yeah. Then can I get a do-over? A non-vomit moment.”

“No do-overs, I’m afraid. You said you want forever with me, so I don’t care if you blow chunks directly on me. This is still in my top three best days ever.”

“What are the other two?”

“In third place is the day I got drafted to the NFL. Second place is you telling me you’re pregnant, and top spot is this moment right here.”

“You really think being forced to live with me and have kids with me is better than the NFL? You’ve worked your whole life for your career.”

“Hands down, you’re the best damn thing that has ever happened to me, Zoey Porter. Now just relax while I grab your bags. I really need you to brush your teeth so I can kiss the ever-loving crap out of you.”

“Deal.”

Coop disappears down the hallway, and the gravity of my decision hits me. I did it. I made a commitment. He’s right. I told him I want forever, and yet I still haven’t said those three little words.

The babies are awake, their little arms and legs shoving at my organs as they vie for space. I rub my hand over my stomach in an attempt to soothe them. “Hey, little guys… or girls. This is our new home. Not new to Daddy, but for me, it is. When you’re ready to come out, this is where you’re going to be living. I think you’re going to love it. I know your dad is really happy that we’ll all be together. I’m happy about it, too. He’s going to be the best daddy in the world. I can just tell. Nothing like your grandfather, that’s for sure. You’ll love him. I know that, too, because I love him. I just haven’t told him that. I will. Hopefully. I promise I’m going to try not to be such a mess by the time you’re born.”

They kick and shove at the sound of my voice. I seem to have the opposite effect on them than Coop. His low, raspy tone is like a lullaby to them and me. As I look around this familiar space, it feels different. I already have so many happy memories here with Coop, along with Faith and Hunter. It warms my heart to think of how many new and exciting memories we’ll make here as a family.

When Coop appears with my suitcase, he’s sporting the same goofy grin he’s had since I got here.

“What are you so happy about?”

“That’s a rhetorical question, right? My girl and my babies just moved in. I feel like the king of the world right now, except I’m not on a doomed ship about to drown.”

“You’ve seen Titanic? I didn’t peg you as a sappy movie guy.”

“I may or may not have had what can only be described as an obsession with the Titanic when I was a kid. Did school projects on it, watched every documentary that’s ever been made about it. Promise not to laugh.”

“Okay.”

“The last time I went to Vegas with the team, I told them I was going to meet up with a stripper we met the first night we got there, except I wasn’t doing that at all. I went to the Titanic museum in the Luxor Hotel. I didn’t give a shit about them knowing, I just didn’t want any of them to tag along and ruin it for me. It was fucking epic. I read every plaque and looked at every artifact. I bought souvenirs and everything. Thought I was going to cry like a bitch baby when I saw the section of the hull they recovered from the wreckage.”

I sit, stunned for a moment. I’m pretty sure he’s the cutest guy who ever lived. Just when I think I’ve got his number, he surprises me.

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