Page 87 of Seven of Hearts

“When I’d come to visit Kristin and Will, I’d see you next door with Gio and Ellie and wonder how one person could be beautiful, and sexy, and kind. I’ve watched you put Band-Aids on skinned knees and coach them until they were brave enough to get back on their bicycles to try again. And now I get to look at you without trying to hide it. I get to watch you grow a life that’s half you and half me. I get to watch your body change. Because yes, it has changed in the most incredible ways.”

My eyes stung with tears, and my heart thrummed as it soaked in everything I needed to hear.

“Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve always wanted you. Maybe it’s some primal instinct that makes me crave you more than all those other things combined. But it’s always been you. A lot’s changing for us, and it scares me too. But one thing has stayed the same. For me, it’s never been anyone but you.”

“Thank you,” I said, feeling just a little bit stupid for making him say all those things. All those sweet, wonderful, compassionate things. A tear streaked down my cheek. I went to wipe it away, but Logan beat me to it.

“And before you start spiraling and blocking me out again, I know I said a lot of things about how beautiful you are, because I want you to see yourself the way that I get to see you. But I know that’s not what you were really upset about.”

I stared down at the toothpaste foam that hadn’t made it down the sink.

“I was trying to take it slow to prove to you that I was a good enough man for you. That I’m here for you as a partner, and not just a hookup. I’m sorry that I did wrong by you in an effort to do it right. I think about fucking you day and night. I relive every time we’ve had sex over and over again.” Logan pressed his body into my backside, making it evident that he was extremely aroused. “All day long, Leah. It’s really fucking hard to get work done because I’m?—”

“Really fucking hard?” I joked through the tears.

“Yeah,” he murmured as he wrapped me up in his arms and rocked from side to side. “And I will take my sweet time proving it to you the first chance I get. But right now, we actually do have to get to work.”

I turned and kissed him. “Thank you.”

Logan kissed my forehead, then my lips, then my neck and breasts and belly until I was laughing. “I’ll pick you up at ten.”

I stole one more kiss. “See you then.”

“Oh my god,that tastes like cherry-flavored lighter fluid,” I groaned as I handed the empty glucose drink bottle back to the nurse and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

She gave me a sympathetic smile. “At least you didn’t pick the orange flavor. That one’s the worst.” She glanced at the clock and then scribbled down a time on my chart. “Hang out in the lobby and we’ll call you back in an hour for your blood draw. Let the receptionist know if you need something or just poke your head back here and someone will help.”

“Thanks,” I said as I eased out of the chair and waddled through the maze of medical hallways. My head was swimming from the sugar.

Logan was waiting for me in the lobby with one foot kicked up on his knee, looking casual and relaxed. “Hey, how’d it go?”

I sighed and plopped down beside him. “That drink has to be corrosive. It’s like they mixed fruit punch and battery acid.”

He chuckled and brushed my hair out of the way so I could rest my head on his shoulder. “How was your morning?”

I yawned. The sugar in that drink had nothing on near-Christmas break exhaustion. “The kids always get really rambunctious right before school gets out for the holidays. Getting them into school today was a more trying task than it usually is. But in just a few weeks, I will have two blissful weeks of peace and quiet and sleeping in.”

“So you’re off between Christmas and New Years?” he asked.

“Yeah. The DeRossis and the Lawsons usually spend Christmas together in New York. I’ve gone with them a few times. It’s pretty chill. I still get paid full-time for only working a few hours a week when they want to go on date nights. The rest of the time I just gallivant around the city.” I smoothed my hand down my belly. “I figured, this year, a break was long overdue.”

“We’ll have to do something. Just the two of us,” he said, then laughed. “Maybe I’ll finally take you out on our first date.”

“That sounds nice,” I said as I reached for his hand and laced our fingers together. “I just need to make it through this stupid blood test.”

“What happens next?”

I sighed. “I have to go see Dracula’s assistant to get stabbed and pray I don’t pass out. And if everything looks good, I’m fine. If the numbers are close, I have to come back for another test to confirm if I have gestational diabetes or not.”

His brows knitted together in concern. “This is just a routine screening, right? That’s what I read.”

“Yeah,” I said as I tried not to think about getting my blood drawn. “It’s just routine. Nothing to worry about.”

25

LOGAN

“What do youmeanI failed the second test?” Leah growled.

---