Page 56 of Stay With Me

“She can hold her own. She’s a tough cookie and she won’t let him see her feeling down,” Young Jae assures me.

After I finish eating, he sets the bowl aside and pulls me into his arms kissing me deeply. “You know what I love most about the second trimester?”

His hands run under the hem of my shirt and I lean into him. “The fact that I have my libido back?”

He lifts me, holding me close as I wrap my legs around his waist. “Exactly.”

Epilogue

April

Elise

YoungJaeguidesme,gravel crunching beneath my feet. The blindfold covering my eyes is disconcerting, but I know that he will not let me fall. Baby girl is due in two weeks and he has been planning this special afternoon for days.

He’s been attentive my entire pregnancy, but as we get closer, he’s been even more loving and I’ve never felt more cherished.

We stop and he adjusts me until he’s happy before removing the cover from my eyes.

In front of us is the gazebo, looking a lot like that one surprise picnic less than a year ago. Tears fill my eyes, courtesy of pregnancy emotions, and I turn into him, wrapping my arms around his waist.

“This is incredible.” My voice trembles with the emotions of how different my life looks from this time last year.

Happiness is a daily emotion and I never dread going home.

We go into the gazebo and he helps me sit on the cushions spread out.

He grimaces a little. “I didn’t think this part through. Are you okay?”

Adjusting until I’m comfortable, I stroke my belly. “Perfect, but I will need help up.”

His lips twitch. “Of course.”

The food before me is simple, my appetite waning the bigger I get. I feel heavy and full all the time. Young Jae dishes up some fruit for me before opening a container of soup. It’s a lighter version of kimchi jjigae, something I have been craving constantly.

He sets up a little tray so I don’t have to hold everything and sets it before me.

The food is delicious. I barely utter two words until everything he set before me is gone. Glancing up as I set my spoon down, I cover my mouth to stifle a giggle when he looks at me with his brows raised.

“Did you breathe?”

“Of course. It’s your fault for making such delicious food available to me.” Sighing in contentment, I groan a little as my stomach pangs.

“Do you want more?” He looks concerned as I adjust again, but I wave him off. Every day is uncomfortable.

“No. That was perfect.”

He packs all the food away, clearing space before coming to settle in next to me. He’s shifting, adjusting pillows around me with an oddly intense look on his face.

“Everything is perfect.” I take his hands into mine, giving him a soft smile.

He nods but still looks uncomfortable.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were the one who has to push a baby out in two weeks.” Rubbing my belly, I feel around to see if I can find baby girl. She stretches, my stomach moving with her.

Young Jae smiles, his hand joining mine as we feel her move.

He licks his lips, looking a little nervous.

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