Page 100 of Sometimes You Fall

“Grady, I…we don’t need to worry about that yet.”

Irritation builds in my chest, but I keep myself in check while breathing to relieve the pressure. “Scottie, we’re having a baby in four months. There’s a timeline, sweetheart.”

“I know that, and I don’t appreciate you insulting my intelligence.”

My head rears back on my neck. “I’m not insulting you, I just…”

“Well, that’s what it feels like.” She crosses her arms over her chest and stares out the passenger window.

“Scottie…”

“You can’t just make decisions without me, Grady.”

I push my hand through my hair. “I’m not bringing anything up that you’re not also aware of, but you’ve got to meet me halfway here.”

Her head whips back in my direction. “And you need to understand how difficult it was for me to take a step forward with you. I mean, my God, wejustfound out we’re having a daughter,justleft the doctor’s office, and you’re already talking about me moving in. We’ve been sleeping together for a week! We’re not together…”

I shake my head, clenching my teeth and the steering wheel beneath my hands. “Thanks for reminding me of that fact you’ve made abundantly clear, no matter how much I try to get you to see…” I let my words trail off because the things I want to say aren’t going to make this situation better.

“You know what? Let’s just not talk about it anymore, okay?”

I want to push. I want to tell her that shutting down on me isn’t how we’re going to be able to work through shit, but I also know that she’s emotional, hormonal, and scared. And I need to take a minute to pause as well because if I don’t, I might end up saying something that I can’t take back.

As I pull into the parking lot, I turn into the bus circle that leads right to the front office. When I shift the truck into park, I turn in my seat to face Scottie as she gathers her purse from the floorboard, avoiding my gaze.

“Scottie…”

“I need to get back to work, Grady.” She reaches for the door handle, but I grab her other arm before she can, pulling her across the seat to me and smashing my lips to hers.

She refuses to open to me at first, but with the second pass of my tongue over her lips, she moans and lets me fuck her mouth with my own as I bury my hands in her hair, those curls that I can’t get enough of. I claim her for as long as she’ll let me, remind her of our connection, and help her relax all while working us both up for later.

When I pull back, her eyes are still closed. She slowly opens them and when our gazes meet, her bottom lip starts to tremble.

“I’m sorry,” I say before she can speak, cupping her jaw with my hand. “But if you shut down on me, we’re never going to get through this. I need you to be able to talk to me, Scottie. Tell me how you’re feeling instead of ending a conversation before it starts.”

“It’s just a lot. I need some time, Grady. Moving fast is the last thing I want to do because I don’t feel like I’m in control that way.” She pauses then says, “Hell, I don’t feel in control when I’m around you at all.”

I nuzzle my nose against hers. “The feeling is mutual, baby. You make me feel like a piece of my heart exists outside my body, and I want to do anything and everything I can to protect it.” I cup the side of her face. “But if you don’t meet me halfway, this isn’t going to work.”

With a pleading look in her eyes, she asks, “Can we table the discussion about the nursery then, please?”

“Okay. But just know that it’s happening, Scottie. You and our daughter will be living under my roof where I can look after both of you. And Chase will be there too.”

She leans forward and presses a kiss to my lips but doesn’t reply to the declaration I just laid out there. “I’ll see you later.”

“Keep growing our baby girl, Scottie.”

When she turns back to the door, I watch her step down from the truck and walk toward the office, taking my resolve with her.

Baby steps. That’s what I keep reminding myself. But my baby is stepping into this world sooner rather than later, and her mother and I need to get on the same page soon. Otherwise, I’m not sure what world she’s going to be coming into, and I don’t like that feeling at all.

When I get back to the garage, reality shifts on its axis as I consider what’s most important regarding raising a daughter, and the first thing that comes to mind is safety. In a flash, one threat I’ve failed to forget surges through me with urgency, so before I can push it off any longer, I make the phone call I’ve been meaning to since I got back from Kentucky.

“Law Offices of Timothy McDonald. How can I help you?”

“Hi, Mabel. It’s Grady Reynolds. Is Tim available to chat by any chance?”

I hear some muttering in the background. “Actually, he is free. Hold on one moment while I transfer you to his line.”

---