Page 82 of The Secrets We Built Together

I laughed, wincing slightly as it irritated my throat. "Sounds riveting."

"She's a great conversationalist," he said, looking down at Amelia with such tenderness it made my heart hurt. "Very insightful for someone who can't actually form words yet."

"She gets that from me," I joked, extending my arms. "Can I hold her?"

He passed her over carefully, and I breathed in her baby smell, a mix of powder and something uniquely her. She stared up at me with those big eyes, her tiny hand reaching up to pat my cheek.

"Hi, strawberry," I whispered. "I missed you."

She babbled back in response, a serious look on her face, and I felt my eyes prickling with tears again. God, being sick made me so emotional.

"So," I said, clearing my throat and looking up at Xander. "How was the Wednesday Lunch Club? Am I permanently blacklisted?"

"Well, I didn't actually attend in your place," he said with a grin. "But I did call Carol to explain. She said, and I quote, 'Tell that poor girl to rest up and not to worry. We're saving all the good gossip for when she's better.'"

Relief washed over me. "Really?"

"Really," he confirmed, sitting down beside me. "And apparently Mrs. Schulster's dog has been inconsolable without his new favorite baby to stare at."

"Titus has good taste," I said, smiling down at Amelia.

"Carol also said something about meeting next week at the diner instead of the café because Daniel got into an argument with Helen about properly storing baked goods, but honestly, I stopped following about halfway through."

I laughed. Small town politics were so ridiculous and yet somehow endearing. "Thank you," I said, looking up at him. "For everything today. Taking care of Amelia, taking care of me. Making those calls."

"You don't have to thank me," he said, his expression serious. "This is where I want to be, Blake. With you and Amelia."

The sincerity in his voice stole my breath. There was no flirtation, no playfulness—just raw honesty that cut straight through all my defenses.

"I heard what you said," I admitted quietly. "To Amelia. About being stuck with you."

A faint blush colored his cheeks, but he didn't look away. "I meant it."

"I know you did," I said, surprising myself with my certainty. "And I'm glad. Because I don't want to do this without you, Xander."

He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering against my skin. "Do what?" he asked, voice low.

"Any of it," I said simply. "All of it."

His smile was slow and beautiful, lighting up his entire face. "Good. Because you were right the other night. I can’t sit her stick in my fear, and let life pass me by. I'm in this for the long haul. With both of you."

He leaned in, and for a moment I thought he was going to kiss me. His eyes dropped to my lips, then back up to meet my gaze. There was a question there, and beneath it, a shadow of uncertainty. Was he wondering if I'd meant what I'd said earlier? If I remembered saying it at all?

Then he stopped, his expression turning sheepish.

"Though maybe no kissing until you're not contagious anymore," he said, regret clear in his voice.

I huffed out a laugh, both relieved and disappointed. "Probably wise. Wouldn't want the whole Farrington household down with the plague."

"Exactly," he agreed. "Very impractical."

But the look in his eyes promised that when I was better, we'd have to address what had passed between us. The words I couldn't take back. The feelings I wasn't sure I wanted to hide anymore.

Amelia let out a sudden squeal, kicking her legs against my stomach as if to remind us she was still there. Xander laughed, reaching out to tickle her foot.

"Sorry, little bug. Didn't mean to ignore you."

She grabbed his finger, holding on with that surprising strength that always amazed me. And just like that, we were back to being a family—an unusual, unexpected one, but a family nonetheless.

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