Page 60 of Storm

Tatum laughs and nods. “I know because I tracked this fucker and was afraid he’d be in here. I wanted to make sure you didn’t panic if he was.”

“A simple call and heads up would have been good enough,” she mutters. Then looks around at all the stuff piled on the bare mattress. Eyeing me curiously, she says, “Thank you, Ezra. This was really thoughtful. Let’s discuss next time, though. Okay?”

Taking a step toward her, I ask, “Does that mean I can call you?”

“Calling is better than finding you in my closet.”

I’m grinning from ear to ear and I hurry to her and press a kiss to her cheek, subtly inhaling her scent before I step back. “Got it. I’ll call when I’m on my way.”

Opening her mouth to argue, Tatum grabs my shoulder and shoves me toward the door. “We’ll get out of your hair, Miri. Let’s do lunch, yes?”

“No,” she responds automatically.

Not being deterred, he waves to her. “Perfect. I’ll text you to set something up. Let’s go, Ez.”

He’s rushing me to the door before my petal shouts, “Wait!” Then, rushing straight at me, she wraps her arms around my neck and hugs me tightly.

Pressing her lips to my ear, she whispers, “This was really thoughtful, and it’s appreciated. Stop breaking into my apartment, you stalker.”

Twisting my head to the side, my nose just barely brushing against hers, I whisper back. “I’m not a stalker. I’m a hunter.”

Tatum yanks me away before I can swoop in for a kiss and I stare at her as the door closes until she’s removed from my line of sight.

CHAPTER 28

MIRIAM

My phone begins to ring not even ten minutes after the guys leave my apartment. I’m still standing in the spare room, staring at eleven boxes labeled as peepee teepees.What the hell are those?

I answer the call without checking to see who it is. “Hello?”

“Miri, it’s Tate. I just wanted to double check that you’re actually okay with what just happened. I know Ez can be a lot, but?—”

Cutting him off, I offer reassurance. “I’m fine. Promise. It was weird, and he’s seriously got to stop violating my space or we’re going to have some issues, but this was actually pretty sweet.”

He sighs, relieved by my reaction. “Thank you. It’s his way of showing you he’s sorry.”

Picking up another item Ezra stacked on the spare bed, I smile to myself. “Did you know he bought pacifier clips, but no pacifiers? And they’re all camo colored.”

With a laugh, I hear his worry seep out of his words. “I’m not surprised. When you were with us that weekend, did you get an opportunity to talk with him alone?”

“A bit. He told me you two grew up together and joined the army together. Rangers, right?” Tossing the clips down, I continue to look at everything and wonder how the hell I’ll ever use it all.

“Yeah. We were neighbors from when we were single digits in age. I didn’t want to play with him at first because he was older and bigger, but the guy never stopped showing up. He, uhh… well, his home life wasn’t the best.”

I pause, suspecting that Ezra’s childhood may not have been what some would consider normal, but I’m not sure if I should ask. Instead, I choose to the decision to learn his story in his hands. “I’m not sure I can imagine. I’d be willing to hear him if he wants to share at some point in the future. What about you, Tate? What’s your story?”

“Mine?”

“Yes.Yours. Or did you call just to talk about Ezra?” I push some of the baby items to the side so I can lie on my back on the bed. Running my eyes over the ceiling, I wait for him to respond. He seems surprised and starts out awkwardly.

“I was an army ranger, then used my training there to get certified as an EMT. Been doing that ever since.”

“I knew all that. What else? You seem pretty easygoing most of the time, like you’re just enjoying life and rolling with the flow of things.”

He huffs out a laugh. “Hardly. I’m enjoying life now because it’s simple. It hasn’t always been.”

I know his words weren’t meant to affect me, but they do. Looking down at my stomach, it dawns on me that this is going to change Tatum’s life drastically, especially if he’s the father. “Maybe not so simple now, huh?”

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