Page 28 of Used

This morning is no different.

“Good morning!” Marshall says when I appear in the kitchen at 6 a.m. on the dot, as is my routine.

“Morning,” I grumble.

“Which sounds better, huevos rancheros or breakfast tacos?” He asks, turning around to heat up the cast iron skillet for our breakfast.

“Tacos. Always tacos.” I reply, smiling softly at his consideration, to wait to start breakfast and ask my preference.

“Good. That’s what I was hoping.” He says, smiling to himself. “Do you think you can stomach chorizo?”

“Ooh. Yes. Gimme all the spicy.” I groan.

In the past few days, I’ve been craving all sorts of spicy foods, but for some reason, it’s hard to admit that to Marshall and just ask for the things I want.

It’s that way with a lot of things with him.

“¿A mi princesa le gustan las cosas picantes? Anotado.” My princess likes things spicy? Noted. He says with joy in his tone.

“You think you’re being so clever speaking Spanish around me. While I might be rusty now, I’ll have you know I aced all of my Spanish courses in college and did a study abroad in Spain for a semester,” I say, my tone growing slightly too defensive.

“I’m not trying to be clever.” He says, turning around to grab an onion from the basket on the island for the tacos. “Lo estoy haciendo para que la bebé también lo sepa.” I’m doing it so the baby knows it, also.

“Oh,” I say sheepishly, glancing down at my stomach where my hands are now resting. “Okay.”

“I’d like all of my kids to speak Spanish. I think it would be nice for them to be able to speak fluently with my family and especially my grandparents, who only speak limited English.” I shrug, going back to preparing our breakfast.

I’d never given much thought to Marshall’s family before.

I know very little about the man who’s now living with me, actually.

Sure, he barged his way into my life purely because of the new life in my belly, but that doesn’t mean I should treat him like a stranger, right?

We have slept together, after all.

“Right. Sorry.” I mutter.

“No need to apologize. There’s a lot we still have to learn about each other.” He says simply.

He’s right, though.

While part of me wants to maintain a distance from him, another craves to know more about him and his life, including his family.

Family, who will soon also belong to our baby.

A thought that has me shuddering.

“So, what’s the plan for today?” He asks when the room grows quiet.

“Mostly just work...”

“It’s Saturday, though.” He says with a raised eyebrow as he chops vegetables.

“I know, but work doesn’t stop just because it’s a weekend.” I sigh, thinking of the to-do list I still have to get through. “Though, I was thinking...”

“What are you thinking?” He asks, switching to whisking the eggs for our tacos in a bowl while the chorizo cooks in the pan.

“You’ve been really... good... this week,” I say carefully.

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