Page 81 of Bleeding Hearts

“Take Mollie with you.” There’s something I want to ask Bethany. It’s been on my mind lately and I think it’s time.

Mollie shouts from the living room. “I want Finn to tuck me in bed.”

My daughter loves Finn. He’s stepped-up big time and watched her a few times when we needed him to. She loves Felix too, but Finn and she have this special bond. I think it’s because he’s not afraid to be silly and do all the things she orders him to do.

“It’s fine, Mr. A. I don’t mind. I promised her I’d finish the book we started last week.” Finn scoops Mollie up and sets her on his shoulders. “Come on, munchkin, let’s go see what Peter Rabbit is up to now.”

The three of them scramble out the front door, chatting it up the entire way. When the front door closes, the house becomes quiet for the first time since we walked in. Which is why we hear the shower upstairs between the boys’ room turn on, alerting us Felix is upstairs getting ready for bed himself.

I finish drying the last dish, put it away, and then hang the towel on the rack to dry. When I turn around Bethany is finishing rinsing out the sink and lays the dishcloth over the faucet spout. Before she can do anything else, I step up behind her and nuzzle in.

Humming, she angles her head, granting me access to her neck.

“Don’t freak out on me,” I whisper in her ear.

“Why would I freak out on you?” She groans when I nip her ear. “Do that again.”

I obey and then spin her around so she’s looking at me. “I’ve been thinking.”

“Dangerous thing to do.” She grins as she slips her arms around me. “Do share.”

I crouch, take hold of her ass, and lift her up onto the edge of the sink. Once she’s eye level, so I can look directly at her face, I say, “I think we should move in together.”

Her face remains stoic, void of any expression, as she takes slow breaths and blinks. “Is that so?”

“It is. Everything would be so much easier if we did. The kids wouldn’t have to do the back-and-forth thing. They could just go upstairs and get ready, and you and I wouldn’t have to say goodbye each night.” I tug her body closer to mine. “It’s time.”

“Where do you think we should live?” Her even tone is making me a tad more anxious.

“I don’t care where we live, Bethany.” Leaning in, I press my forehead against hers. “As long as I get to come home to you and our four kids.”

She hesitates for a moment before saying, “Can I think about it?”

“Just don’t take too long. I’m ready when you are.” My lips land on hers, and I do my best to not take it too far, knowing one of her sons could walk in on us at any moment.

Her phone rings on the counter, interrupting us before that can happen. Instead of answering, she allows the call to go to voicemail.

“I should go. I’ve got to work tomorrow.” Lifting her up, I set her feet back down on the floor. “I want to call and check on Cora and see how she’s doing in the new house with little Stormy andhim.”

Bethany slaps me on the chest. “His name is Geoff. And you need to stop. He’s a good man and you know it.”

“He’s okay.” There is no way in hell I’m saying that about the guy who just showed up and wants to play house with my sister and new niece.

“He’s more than okay. But whatever.” Her phone rings again. She picks it up, makes a face, and then silences it.

“Shouldn’t you get that?”

Bethany places her phone face down on the counter. “It’s Chad. He never takes my calls, so he can wait. I’ll call him back later. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

After one last kiss, I head out the door. When I open it, Finn is just walking out of mine and heading back. We nod as we pass and I try not to overthink her response to needing to think about us moving in together. What’s there to think about?

I get ready for bed, trusting that things will work out; we’ve already come so far. She just needs a few days to process, but hopefully by the weekend we’ll be rearranging rooms and moving in together.

My alarm goes off sooner than I’m ready. Groggily, I roll over, snatching my phone from the nightstand, only to seeseveral missed texts from Bethany lighting up the screen. I can’t help but smile, but that soon fades when I open them and start reading.

BETHANY:

I’m leaving. You need to find an alternative sitter for the girls.

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