Page 93 of Five Alarm Love
“Is it?”She looked over her shoulder at him.“I mean, I love Gordy, but I want to be sure I don’t have a child with Gordy’s health challenges.It would break my heart to know that every day might be a struggle for a child to survive.They would have to exist in a world that isn’t designed for them.In a world that, on some level, doesn’t see them as a complete person.To realize that my child could be gone”—she snapped her fingers—“in the blink of an eye, due to the severe health problems associated with Bledsoe Syndrome.”Her voice cracked.“Those are the thoughts that go through my head when I consider a future like his.”
“That’s a lot of weight to carry, Lou.”He kissed her temple.“I would like to take some of that burden off of you.”
“That’s amazing for you to say.”
“I would love any family we had.Or didn’t have.We don’t have to have kids.At the end of the day, Lou, it is entirely your choice.At the end of the day, I am ride-or-die with you.”
“Tuli…” The word came out choked.
He swallowed against a hard lump.“I’ve got you,” he murmured.
“Thank you…” She paused.“For being the person you are.I’m lucky that you’re in my life.”
He chuckled.“Just another day of being awesome, really.”
She laughed in return and sighed.Then she yawned and pillowed her head on his arm in a movement so natural, it was like they’d been here, in bed, together, thousands of times.
Wrapping his arms around her, he murmured, “So does that mean you’ll be my date to Calvin and Deirdre’s wedding?”
“Mm-hmm.”Her breaths evened out as she drifted off to sleep.
*
Tuli got upearly the next morning to grab a quick shower.He needed to start his shift soon, but first he wanted to check his social media accounts.After five minutes of standing in last night’s clothes in the chilly kitchen, posting and responding to online comments, he walked in bare feet back to the bedroom.
Paused.
The morning light slanted over Lou’s sleeping face.A pang of longing twisted in his chest at her tiny smile and peaceful expression.Her neck and the top of her exposed shoulders begged him to stroke her soft skin.
He would be a happy man if he had the privilege of seeing this face every day of his life.This one perfect image.
The thought drove the air from his lungs.
Holding up his phone, he snapped a picture of her beautiful face.
As if he could ever forget this moment.
“Lou,” he whispered, hating to wake her, but determined not to walk out without saying goodbye.
“Mm-hmm?”She cracked one eyelid.As she homed in on him, a crimson blush bloomed from her neck up to her cheeks.
He had done that.
They had done that.
Leaning over to kiss her forehead, he said, “Shift’s starting for me, and I think for you too.”
“Got it.”Her voice, roughened by her moans during sex and by sleep, sent jolts of heat deep into his core.
“I’ll text you today.”
“Sounds good.”
“Hey, Lou.”He perched on the edge of the bed and gave into temptation, trailing a finger along her shoulder.When she slid her hand out from under the covers, he lifted it and kissed her wrist.“This is something special.Something good.”
She nodded and cupped his cheek, the sensation of her fingertips against his rough whiskers sending shivers down his back.
“I’ll be thinking about you at work,” he murmured, dropping one last kiss on her forehead.
