Page 52 of Your Soul to Keep

Turning to me, blue eyes dark with intent, he brushed the backs of his fingers over my cheek and touched his forehead to mine.

He swung the front door open and stepped over the threshold.

“Just saying,” he murmured, turning to look at me over his shoulder, mouth quirking up at one side.

His eyes shone with vulnerability.

“I never stopped.”

13

Comfort

Toomanyhoursworkingat Ayana’s during the week apart turned me into a grumpy girl. Apparently, Rudy agreed because when I approached him about taking Sundays off as well as my usual Mondays, he practically threw a party.

Sunday morning was decadent. I woke up late, soaked in the tub with a smutty book that made me impatient for the next step with Gabe, threw in a load of laundry, hopped into my car, and headed to Sage Ridge to have brunch with my girls.

And while I wasn’t quite ready to meet Dylan, Gabe promised he’d try to get away to take me out for a bit.

Between my heart and mind lay a great divide.

The curiosity was killing me. Did she have his mannerisms? His eyes?

Was she quiet? Bouncy?

Sweet?

Would she be a welcome weight in my empty arms?

Or would it hurt to hold what I missed?

I was still wondering about it when I walked into Susie Q’s to find Noelle, Harley, Wren, and Bridge already waiting.

“I’m just saying,” Noelle explained giving me a small wave, “I’ve already had a baby shower. I don’t need another one.”

My heart sank as I slid onto the bench seat beside Bridge.

“And I’m just saying,” Harley interjected, “I don’t need one.”

Wren cast her eyes to the ceiling as if praying for divine intervention.

I felt the same way for an entirely different reason.

“Welcome to the Hormone Games,” Bridge murmured, “where no one gets out alive.”

I forced out a weak chuckle. “What’s going on?”

Both Harley and Noelle turned at once their mouths open and ready to defend their positions.

But it was Wren who explained. “I’d like to throw a baby shower for Nadine. I thought it would be fun to include Harley and Noelle as well. Noelle said she doesn’t need a second one, and Harley doesn’t want one at all.” She looked at me earnestly. “Don’t you think every child should be welcomed with a party?”

I swallowed the bitterness of not having had these problems.

Wren had her own traumas, properly welcoming a baby into the fold was of paramount importance to her. But a compromise was in order.

“It’s not that hard. We’ll have one for Nadine on her own. It’s her first baby. An unexpected baby,” I stressed. “We need to take care with the guest list.”

I then nodded toward Harley. “We can do something fun with Harley, again with an abbreviated guest list.”

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