Page 68 of Twenty Years Later

"Mama!" she yelled again before I could get there.

"Shh, sweetie," I said as I unlocked the bottom gate and rushed up the stairs. "We don't want to disturb Gabby."

But it was too late. A cry came from down the hall. Dang. I should have cranked up the white noise even more I supposed.

Neither kid would go back to bed, and I had no clue what to do. If it were just Audrey, I'd let her go to sleep in my room and read on my phone until I conked out.

Whenever she had nightmares, she had an awful time going back to sleep and usually ended up in my bed. And I totally understood. I had been the same way as a kid. I still remembered some of the awful nightmares I'd had, most involving clowns.

But it was also the excitement of this visit that was keeping them awake. So we ended up back on the couch, all four of us, covered up with blankets and snuggled together, watching Tangled again.

Sitting right next to me, Alex glanced at me. "Hand me the remote?" he asked, grinning.

"You want the remote, huh?" I returned his grin. "I'm not sure I can do that."

He whispered in my ear, "I'm willing to pay a price for it."

At that, my pulse picked up. "What kind of payment are we talking about?"

"You'll have to wait to find out. But I promise I'll make it worth it." He paused for a second then went in for the kill. "And you'll be thankingmeafter I make you moan my name."

I slapped the remote in his outstretched hand as he chuckled. And I sat there smiling through my misery again, wondering exactly how long I'd have to wait.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Jayda

Sometime in the night, we had all fallen asleep... except for Alex. At least there was one responsible adult watching out for us all.

I awoke to him gently picking up Gabby in one arm and taking her up the stairs. And a few minutes later, he returned and gathered up a sound asleep Audrey. I watched, a lump growing in my throat, as he carried her so effortlessly.

That got to me—totally and completely—seeing Alex acting paternal to Audrey, filling a hole I thought I'd never, ever see filled.

Soon, he was in front of me again. "Want me to carry you too?" he asked, that smile of his making my breathing ragged.

I wouldn't mind being carried. But that might be a bit much with the gates and stairs. Before I knew what was happening, though, Alex reached down and lifted me in his arms like it was nothing, giving me a sweet, lingering kiss that made me melt.

I sighed as he carried me to the gate, setting me carefully on my feet. "I like watching you go up the stairs," he said, swatting my ass.

All I could do was shake my head as I went up the steps in front of him, fully aware of his eyes on me in the dim light. And then, it was a repeat of last night—Alex joining me in my bed, holding me up against him, his soft t-shirt on again, which was smart. I didn't think I could handle it otherwise.

"Maybe I need a new doctor," I mumbled. "One that gets back to me in a timely manner."

"We can look into that," Alex said.

I loved how he said "we." With that thought in my mind, that Alex would be a partner in this pregnancy, I let myself drift off, Alex's chest rising and falling beneath my hand.

***

In the morning, Alex's phone alarm woke us up. He was nestled up against my back, his arm around me.

"Good morning," he said, his lips moving on my shoulder.

"Hey," I said, trying not to let my heart break at the thought of him leaving so soon. He had said he'd be here for me, and I was going to trust him.

Audrey came running in and jumped on the bed, kick-starting the whole morning. I sighed as Alex and I both rose up from the warm covers when Gabby made noises down the hall.

The thought of this house without Alex left me a mess. He had been here for a little over two days, and already, he'd filled the emptiness completely. I didn't know how I'd bear it when he left.

---