Page 42 of Can We Try?

I take the few minutes he’s gone to internally freak out. It’s not as if we’ve never shared a bed before. So it was one night, but we’re having a baby together, and we can do this, right? I just really don’t want to be alone tonight, and the thought of him here with me, well, maybe I’ll be able to get a good night's sleep instead of lying awake thinking about how things seem to be changing between us.

He steps back into the room, and I scoot over to the other side of the bed. I watch as he strips out of his jeans and kicks them to the side before pulling off his socks. He’s in nothing but his boxer briefs as he turns out the light and climbs into bed.

We both lie still in the darkness of the room until he finally speaks.

“Maggie?” His voice is gruff.

“Yeah?” Mine doesn’t sound much better.

“If I’m staying here, then you’re going to need to be in my arms. I can’t sleep next to you and not hold you. If you’d rather I leave, or go to the couch, I can do that too.”

“No,” I rush to say, and move to the center of the bed. He meets me halfway. I turn my back to his chest, and he pulls me so that our bodies are flush. He places a kiss on my cheek, and then rests his large palm under his shirt on my bare belly.

“Better,” he murmurs, and within minutes, we’re both drifting off to sleep.

Chapter

Ten

Lachlan

* * *

My eyes slowly blink open, and I smile when I see Maggie curled up next to me. Her arm rests over my chest, and her leg is tossed over mine. I could definitely get used to waking up like this. I was shocked when she asked for me to stay last night, and even more so when she agreed to let me hold her. It would have been pure torture to sleep next to her and not be able to feel her warmth in my arms.

She starts to stir, and I can feel the moment she’s fully awake. Her body stiffens slightly, and I trace my hand gently up her spine until she relaxes her body back into mine.

“Morning, Momma.” I smile, because I could really get used to waking up like this.

“Good morning. Thank you for staying,” she rasps, her voice still laced with sleep.

“No place I’d rather be.” She starts to move, and I wrap my arm around her, holding her close. “Where are you going?” I keep my tone light.

“I’m crowding you.”

“You’re not crowding me. I’m holding you, Maggie. There’s a difference.”

She lifts her head to smile at me. “I need to pee too,” she says.

“Fine,” I grumble. “I’ll do the same and meet you back here in five.” She furrows her brow. “We’re snuggling, Mags. Five minutes.” I bop my fingers against her nose, and she starts to laugh, when panic crosses her face.

“Don’t make me laugh.” She scrambles from the bed, her baby bump pressing against my T-shirt. I don’t take my eyes off her until she disappears behind the bathroom door. Only then do I climb out of bed and go to the bathroom down the hall. I detour to the kitchen and start a pot of coffee. I know she still likes her one small cup a day.

I grab a new bottle of water for both of us, go back to her room, and perch on the side of the bed, downing my water in one go. “What do you want to eat for breakfast?” I ask her when she steps out of the bathroom.

“Um, I don’t know. I might just make some eggs and toast or something.”

I think about it, but then I have a better idea. “Get dressed. We’re going to my parents' for breakfast.”

“We are? Was this planned and I forgot?” She wrinkles her nose as if she’s trying to remember and can’t.

“No. It wasn’t planned, but it’s about to be.”

Leaning over, I grab my cell phone from the nightstand, unplug it from the charger, and call my mom. She answers on the first ring. “Hey, Mom,” I greet.

“Lachlan, what’s wrong?” she asks immediately, making me laugh.

“Nothing is wrong, but I’m craving some of your homemade buttermilk pancakes and some bacon.”

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