Page 97 of Zone Protection

I can’t help but tear up. It’s just been a few rough weeks, and I thought we would have some time to work out some of these details, but it doesn’t look like that will happen.

“Okay, we’ll figure it out. Just see what you can do, and we’ll go from there.”

“Darlin’, I’m sorry. I really didn’t want to tell you this tonight, but we will need to figure out what to do. I don’t want to be away from you. Especially with everything going on and you going into your last trimester.”

“I know, but we can’t stop the draft.” I laugh half-heartedly. “Want to meet for breakfast in the morning?”

“Yeah, that sounds perfect. But are you sure you don’t want me to come over tonight?”

“I mean, I do, but I’m also so tired that I’d probably be asleep by the time you got here. Do you want to pick me up or meet?”

“I’ll come get my girl. I’ll be there at eight a.m. Is that good? Or too early?” It sounds like he’s moving around and closing a door or drawer.

“No, that’s fine. What are you doing right now?” I’m nosy and kind of curious about what his room looks like. How he organizes everything. What his bed looks like.

He chuckles. “Sorry, is it too loud? I’m just going through my clothes and stuff and sorting it to pack up. I’m going to have to take my stuff back to Texas soon either way.”

“Right,” I whisper, then hold out my phone and press the FaceTime button.

He answers right away with a smile on his face. “Hey, baby.”

“Hi. I just miss you and wanted to see your face. I also want a little tour of your room. You know … since you’re moving out.”

“Right, right. Well, this is it. Not much to it really.” He turns his phone around and slowly shows me his room.

There really isn’t much in there. Nothing on the walls. I see his bed with a plain blue comforter and a high dresser, and that’s about it. There are a few pictures of his family on his dresser. My heart pinches a little that I’m not on there or the baby isn’t, but then I can’t be sad about it because it’s my fault I’m not on there.

“Archie, I’m sorry I asked you to keep me from your friends. Or the pregnancy at least.”

“Baby, I get it. Do I wish you could have gotten to know them better? Sure. But I’m also glad that we got so much time together to get to know each other too.” He smiles at me softly.

“I love you—you know that?” I touch the screen, wishing I could touch his face.

“I love you too, darlin’. Get some rest, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Okay, bye, babe.”

I blow him a kiss, and he puckers his lips in return.

If he has to leave early, that could change some things for me. But tonight, I’m not going to think about it anymore. Tonight, I’m going to sleep and be grateful that, today, everything is okay.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-THREE

ARCHIE

I’ve beenawake since five a.m. I got my workout in for the day, talked to my mom about getting the shack ready for me since she converted my room into a nursery, and made a few calls to some trainers in the area. I'm not having a lot of luck, so it looks like I’ll have to go to Texas before the draft. But I can manage here for a few more weeks until we can figure out what Emma’s options are. I need to talk to her about it today though.

Pulling into her complex, I can see her already waiting for me outside. She looks beautiful, standing in the early morning sun. Her long blonde hair is down, and she’s wearing some long, baggy pants, but her shirt is formfitting, showing off her belly. Before I can put the truck in park, she’s walking toward me and over to the passenger side. She opens the door and hops in.

“Hi,” she says with a shy smile.

I lean in and kiss her quickly. Then I open my door and walk around the front of the truck. She’s watching me through the front window, shaking her head.

I open her door and scoop her into my arms, bride-style, and kick the door closed with my boot. Then I set her down andwrap her in a hug. When I pull back, I frame her face and kiss her.

“Hi.” Then I bend down a little so my face is near her stomach and set my hand on it. “Hi, nugget.”

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