Page 31 of Climb Me Maybe
"Mm?"I rinse and spit, then turn to face her.
"The future.Our future."
My stomach clenches."What about it?"
"We've never really talked about what we want long-term.Besides the obvious staying together forever part."
I dry my hands slowly."What do you want to talk about?"
"Kids."
"Kids," I repeat, blinking.
She swallows."I know you're older, and maybe you think you've missed that window, but?—"
"I want kids," I interrupt, the words rushing out before I can second-guess them."With you.I wanteverything."
Her face lights up like the sunrise."Really?"
"Really.I've been thinking about it too.What it would be like to have a little girl with your feisty attitude or a little boy with your stubborn streak."
"Me?"She swats my arm."You’re the stubborn one."
"Babe, you once spent three hours trying to work a knot out of my shoulder because you refused to admit it might need a different approach."
"That's persistence, not stubbornness."
"Same thing."I grin.
She laughs and launches herself into my arms.I catch her easily, spinning her around our small bathroom.
"So we're doing this?"she asks when I set her down."The whole domestic bliss, babies, mini-van thing?"
I shake my head."I draw the line at mini-vans."
"Fine.But I want the rest of it.With you."
"Even when I'm fifty and you're thirty-four?"
"Especially then.You'll be even sexier and so distinguished, and I'll be in my prime.Perfect combo."
I kiss her hard, pouring all my love into it."I love you," I murmur against her lips.
"I love you too."
Later that afternoon, I run into Teagan at the main office while she's juggling Jamie and what looks like three different phone calls.
"Brady!"She hangs up and shifts Jamie to her other hip."Perfect timing.I need someone to tell me I'm not insane.”
"What's going on?"
"My sister Opal is flying to Vegas this weekend for some architecture conference, right?And Rourke's there too for his friend's bachelor party."
I nod, waiting for the punch line.
"Same weekend.Same city.And..."She gestures vaguely."You know how they are."
I think about party-loving, chaos-creating Rourke and quirky, up-for-anything Opal."Yeah, I can see how that might be interesting."
