I reach over and place a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you.”
“Not just for showing up like that. I’m sorry for so much more. You used to be my best friend, and I stopped noticing or appreciating you. Even if I did see how you were growing, I didn’t acknowledge it. It wasn’t fair to expect you to still be the same girl I met ten years ago, when the woman you’ve become is everything you used to dream about. I’m sorry for holding you back.”
I ignore the tears running down my face. “I wouldn’t be who I am today without you, Paul. I made some mistakes when calling it off too and I’m sorry I hurt you. Our ending was a disaster, but I don’t regret the journey we took to get here.”
“You ready to come in now?”Noah asks, stealing my attention from the view of the sunset across the farm.
“I guess so.” I sigh, bracing my hands on the arms of the chair to help me stand.
After he apologized, Paul didn’t stick around much longer. Not that I expected him too.
However, once he was gone, I was more than content to sit outside and enjoy the late summer breeze and soak up some vitamin D. Noah’s house overlooked the farm, so I was happy to sit back and people watch.
Noah sat with me for a while, but when he saw one of the farm hands heading to the animal barn, he followed them. When he came back ten minutes later, I burst into tears.
Rosie followed behind him, her own stomach round. She immediately came to me, sticking her head over the railing and huffing at me. I almost gave Noah a heart attack when I tried scrambling from my seat to see her.
We spent the rest of the afternoon snacking, even tossing out some food to Rosie, and talking about everything we had to get for the baby. In actuality, it was mostly just me talking out loud and creating a list while Noah listened. By the time I put my phone down, I was overwhelmed with everything left to do. Especially considering that I’m already halfway through the third trimester.
But it’s hard to shop when you’re not supposed to leave the bed.
“If you’re up for it, I have something I wanna show you before we get you back in bed.” Noah says, bending down to wrap an arm around my waist and helping me stand.
“Oh you mean you’re actually gonna let me leave the house?” I tease as we head inside.
“When you say it like that, you make it sound like I’m holding you against your will.” Noah laughs and lets go of me to shut the door.
“Help!” I call out teasingly. “The insanely hot farmer is holding me completely against my will!”
Noah shakes his head, grinning at me over his shoulder and locking the dead bolt.
“You can scream and shout all you want, Sugar. No one’s taking you from me.”
“With you as my captor, I would give into Stockholm Syndrome so fast.” I sigh in defeat and shrug.
He smirks, stalking forward and wrapping me in his arms.
“Good, because if I recall correctly, I did promise to never let you get away.”
Shaking my head, I smile at him. “You wanted to show me something?”
Noah nods, taking my hand and tucking me into his side.
“It’s upstairs. Think you have it in you to go up there now?”
“Yes, actually, if anything, I think I’m kinda excited to get back into bed. The afternoon outside was exactly what I needed.”
“Good,” he says, kissing my forehead before helping me up the stairs. By the time we’re in the hallway, even with his help, I am breathless and cursing.
“I swear, this damn baby is ruining my lung capacity.”
He swats my ass. “The way you screamed my name last week as you came so beautifully on my tongue says otherwise.”
“Noah!” I yell with a giggle, my cheeks flush at the memory. Shaking my head, I hold my stomach and follow him down the hallway past his bedroom. “He can hear you, ya know.”
Noah pauses in front of the door beside his room and winks at me.
“Well, then he definitely knows just how well your lungs still work.”