Page 65 of Over and Above

“True.” I looked down at the most miraculous thing to ever come into my life. “And sometimes good arrives when we least expect it.”

“If—when—life throws a curveball, I want you beside me to catch it.”

“I want that too.” I finally trusted myself to meet his determined gaze. “And it truly is okay if you need more time before going public.”

“I appreciate that, but there’s probably never going to be the perfect moment to tell people.” Eric patted my thigh. “And you had a pretty good list of things you want to do as a couple.”

“That’s the part that scares me. Not the natural disasters or risk of death, but the being a couple. I don’t know the first thing about sustaining a healthy relationship.”

“We can figure it out together.” His tone was far lighter than mine.

“Easy for you to say,” I said without thinking, and he abruptly withdrew his hand. Fuck. I was already screwing this up. “Sorry. That was insensitive. I meant you have the better know-how for making long-term work.”

Eric gave an uncomfortable chuckle. “I can’t compare us to my past relationships.”

“I know.”

“Hey. I don’t mean that as a negative.” He rubbed my tense shoulder. “You’re not Montgomery, and at first, I felt guilty for noticing all the ways in which you are different, but now, I think it’s freeing. We get to be our own thing.”

“Yeah.” My voice came out a weak whisper. “And I do get there’s no replacing Montgomery for any of you. You loved him.”

“And part of me always will. But that doesn’t mean I can’t love again or differently.” It wasn’t quite an admission of love for me, specifically, but his words gave me a surge of hope.

“Thank you.”

“All day, I’ve been thinking about timing. Maren and Diesel. The baby. Us. If we’d met in our twenties, it probably wouldn’t have worked.”

“Agreed.” I had to laugh at how much I’d changed and grown through parenting. My wild, nomadic years wouldn’t have appealed to a young by-the-book paramedic.

“But we’re here now.” He bumped shoulders with me. “And maybe we should take advantage of that rather than curse the awkward timing.”

“Maybe it’s the perfect timing.” I spoke slowly as I reasoned it out in my head. “This can be the right time for us while still being awkward or hard. Perfect doesn’t mean easy.”

“Exactly. And you say you’re worried about how to be a couple. To me, that’s the answer. We simply keep showing up, even when it’s hard.”

“I like that plan.” I leaned in for a soft, sweet kiss. The baby made a snuffling noise, so we sprang apart and then chuckled together. I let my head fall onto his shoulder as I patted the baby back to sleep. A yawn escaped my chest. “The baby’s sleepiness is contagious.”

“I know.” Eric arranged his arm around my shoulders. “I won’t tell if you doze off. The day was a lot. And this conversation as well.”

“But good.” I yawned again. My eyes fluttered, and I might have considered a small nap if not for the precious cargo in my arms. And if not for the sound of Rowan and Wren’s voices in the kitchen. “Kids are back.”

I stiffened, ready to pull away, but Eric kept his arm in place. “Don’t wake the baby.”

“You can’t tell themnow.” I frowned, suddenly way less ready than yesterday. “They’ve had a day too.”

“Point taken.” He removed his arm. “Maybe a family meeting would be best.”

“A family meeting?” Wren wandered into the living room right as I slid over. “About what?”

“I bet I know.” Rowan cackled, catching my gaze. Oops. Maybe we weren’t as good at keeping secrets as I’d thought.

“Shush. We can talk tomorrow before my shift. Don’t wake the baby.” Eric frowned.

Rah. Rah.Too late. The baby made a series of little protests and started rooting around.

“She’s awake?” A very sleepy-looking Diesel strode up behind the couch. “Maren woke up with some sort of sense the baby’s ready to eat and sent me to fetch her for the next feeding.”

“Here.” I carefully slid the baby into my son’s arms. He seemed older overnight, with fewer traces of the boy who had been my whole world as he gazed down at the baby, who was likely alreadyhiswhole world. Destiny’s eyes fluttered open, linking with Diesel’s, same shade of greenish blue, and I wasn’t sure my chest could contain the love bubbling up along with pride.

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