Page 86 of Let Me

“Since what happened?”

He glances down at the covers.My eyes follow his toward the tented covers at his midsection.

“Um, what’s that?”

He grins and says, “What do you think it is?”

“But—but how?”

“I woke up like this.I don’t know how it happened.”

I lift the covers to take a good look at it and hurry up and put the covers back down when the enormity of the situation hits me.He’s—I’m—

I’m speechless.

I’m breathless.

I’m…curious.

“How did that happen?”I ask.

“I don’t know, baby.”

“It’s never happened before?”

“It never happened after my diagnosis.Before, I was fine.”

I lift the covers again and take another gander.My eyes expand, capturing the magnitude of it.I lower the covers again.

Laughing, he asks, “What are you doing?”

“I’m looking at it.I’ve never seen it likethatbefore.”

He moves the covers and says, “There.Is that better?”

I stare down at it and say, “Yeah.That’s a lot better.So, um…you can actually…you know—?”

“It appears that way.”

I never thought something like this could happen, so I never daydreamed about it.Never considered it a possibility because the man I signed up to love wasn’t capable of this.But this morning, somehow, he is.

I look at him and ask, “Do…you…want…to?”

“It’s been a long time, but I’m willing to try.It may be my only chance to ever be that close to you, butonlyif you want to, Autumn.”

My body seizes at the thought of us connecting in this way.It’s foreign to think that this might actually happen.When he moves and hovers over me, it becomes even more real.Yes, it’s happening.

“Hi,” he says when he settles on top of me.

“Hi,” I say, adjusting to his weight bearing down on top of me.

His eyes are desirous and seeking.He licks his lips, kisses my lips lightly, and whispers, “I’m nervous.”

“Okay, then we’re on the same page.”

He smiles.

I smile, too, hiding my uneasiness a tad because I don’t want him to be uncomfortable in any way.That’s why when I feel him poking me from below, I bite my lip and close my eyes, bracing myself with grace and anticipation.

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