Page 100 of The First Chord

“I’ll come back first thing and spring you then.”

Amber giggled. “It’s not prison, Ronnie.”

“May as well be.” I glanced over at the door, something which I’d done a lot of throughout the day.

“He’s not coming back. Dr Klinsmann said everyone knows not to let him in. I think he thought it was a bit weird, though, seeing as Jimmy is my husband.”

I shook my head. “These doctors see all sorts of things and he must see hundreds of domestic abuse cases.”

“This wasn’t, I fell down some stairs.”

“Hmm,” I grunted. “I’m still not convinced, but if that woman reckons she saw him come from a different direction, then he must have.”

“I wish I could remember more.” She sighed and looked past me with a concentrated frown.

“You will one day. Don’t worry. Anyway, we have other things to discuss.”

“Like what?” She winced as she shifted in the bed.

“You okay?”

I rose from the chair ready to help but she shook her head. “I’m fine. Honestly, Ronnie. Now what did you want to talk about?”

“The baby. We need to talk about the baby.”

We’d said we were happy about it and that everything would be okay, but we hadn’t made any plans. I was a man who liked a plan. I wanted to know that we were both on the same path for the same destination.

Laughing softly, Amber ran her fingers through my hair, brushing it from my eyes. “It’s really, really tiny at the moment. Anything could happen.”

“Nope, it’s not going to. It’s going to be fine. I know it.” When her hand moved to my cheek, I put mine on top and laced our fingers. “Can we at least talk about what happens when we get home?”

“The cottage will be ready,” she replied, frowning. “When we get back.”

That felt like I’d been punched in the stomach. It wasn’t what I’d thought would happen. Not what I wanted to happen. Not the same destination that I was aiming for at all.

“You’re going to move into the cottage?”

“That was the plan.”

Nope, I didn’t like that plan.

I moved our joined hands to the bed next to her and cleared my throat. “I don’t want you to move into the cottage. I want you to move into the house with me. You should move into the house.” When she didn’t say anything, I decided to keep on going. “We are going to be a family, we love each other, because we admitted that earlier and, don’t forget, we high fived on my massive penis and supersonic sperm.”

She actually smiled at that and only gave a little eye roll.

“Do you know how adorable you are when you roll your eyes?” I asked.

“I am not.” She rolled them again and then giggled.

“Well? Are you going to move into the house? Actually, just not move out.”

Contemplating my question she chewed on her bottom lip, and I couldn’t wait until I could kiss it again. Until I could kiss her again and hold her. It had only been two nights, but I’d missed lying in bed with her. Waking up with her.

“What happens if we—”

“Nope. Not talking about it. Don’t want to even think about it. All I want is for you and me to live in my house and get ready for our baby. Then it will beourhome.” I leaned closer, looking her directly in the eye. “I know that people will say it’s too soon and that we are going to get the biggest pile of shit because people will assume Jimmy’s is the one wronged in this scenario, but I don’t fucking care. We can make a statement, or we won’t make a statement. It’s up to you. All I know is I love you. You love me, and we’re having a baby. The rest of the world can piss off.”

I waited with a fearful anticipation. If she said no, I wouldn’t accept it. I’d wear her down even if it took the full nine months. Then she opened her mouth and surprised me.

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