Page 84 of A Home for Harmony
“Kids,” Harmony said. “How many do you want?”
“Not five,” Brooks said. “Not even three. I told Ivy two.”
“We agree,” Ivy said. “Do you want any more kids, Micah?”
“Ivy,” Brooks said. “That’s personal.”
“It’s fine,” he said. “I enjoy being a dad. I’d like another one, but don’t want to wait too long for it either.”
He looked at Harmony and saw her smile. “I’m not in a rush yet, but understand that it’s not always planned well either.”
“No,” he said. “Life isn’t.”
“Don’t I know it,” Brooks said.
The server came over and took their orders. The rest of the night was pretty uneventful and they left to return to her house, where he was going to stay the night since he’d be there tomorrow.
“That was fun tonight,” she said when he parked his SUV in her driveway.
“It was. I’m not sure the last time I was out with another couple.”
“It’s been a while for me,” she said. “Back when I was living in New York. I had a group of friends and we’d all meet out. Some of us had boyfriends, others didn’t. It breaks things up unless the person I was dating had an issue with it.”
“Have you dated a guy that has?”
She shrugged. “I’ve had boyfriends that didn’t like that I wasn’t giving them my full attention. It’s fine to a point, but I don’t need to worry that the person I’m with needs my undivided attention. Nor asks where I’m going if I get up to take a pee.”
“That’s annoying,” he said. Thankfully, he’d never been that way. Trinda would have liked it if he acted that way, but he couldn’t. He didn’t want it done to him. It didn’t mean he didn’t care any less, just that people needed space.
“I’m glad we feel the same way,” she said.
When they were in the house, they had their jackets off and walked into the living room. She sat on the couch and patted the spot next to her.
“Oh boy,” he said. “What did I do wrong?”
She smiled. “Nothing. Not one thing, but I don’t like that you think you did. Or that sometimes you’re unsure of me.”
“I’m not unsure of you.”
“Really?” she asked, her brows lifted. “It doesn’t always come across that way.”
He was going to weigh his words and was honest. “I’m more unsure of me. I’m the one with the failed marriage, not you.”
She patted his leg. “Micah. I’ve had a lot of failed relationships. Probably more than you because, once your marriage ended, I’m guessing you haven’t tried since. Right?”
“Could be,” he said. “I’ve had other priorities too.”
He saw the hurt in her eyes. “Do you still have those other priorities?”
“See,” he said. “I just fucked up again.”
“No,” she said. “You didn’t. I know Scarlet is first in your priorities and always will be. I have no problem with it and mean that. She’s still a kid and should be there. As long as I’m up there in the top two or three, I’m good.”
She was smiling when she said it, but he saw the uncertainty behind her eyes. “You are,” he said. “Number two.”
“I’ll take it,” she said. “Because you’re my number one. Maybe you don’t want to hear this, I don’t know. But I encourage people to be themselves and I have to be me. I have to tell youhow I feel. If it’s too much and you’re not ready, I’ll be able to handle that too, but I can’t keep it in any longer.”
She ran her hand over the side of his face. He hadn’t shaved this morning for her since she loved it so much.
