Page 177 of Stay With Me
“Pretty doubtful after the knife I found in my tire from her.”
I can’t even pretend to feel sorry for him. Ellie’s gonna give him a run for his money.
“Let’s go home, Sunny.” Tripp pulls me to his side, kissing my forehead. “Noah’s freakin’ out and wants an update.”
I nod becausehomenever sounded more perfect.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Tripp
It’s taken a month for things to feel normal again. Even though the two men threatening Magnolia are out of the picture, it’s been hard letting her go back to work alone and unprotected. She tried to reassure me Grant was just across the street if she needed anything, but it had the opposite effect. Instead, I went into his bookstore and made it very clear to him what would happen if he touched her or said anything inappropriate.
Poor kid was ready to piss his pants by the time I left.
After Emilio made it through surgery, he was arrested and charged with assault and homicide. His gun was analyzed and tested against the bullet they found in Travis’s skull to determine he was the shooter.
I’d never seen a dead body before, but I felt nothing when I saw his. I hate the pain it brought Magnolia, but the asshole got what he deserved, and I’ll never feel sorry for him.
That night, I tucked Magnolia into her bed, and when I got up to leave, she asked me to stay with her. So I did and every night since then, we’re either snuggling in her bed or she comes into mine.
But I promised myself I wouldn’t kiss or touch her intimatelyuntil she gave me the green light, so I continue the forehead kisses and tender hugs until she’s ready for more.
Landen’s even more insufferable now that he’s been labeled the town hero.
As we eat and talk during Sunday night supper, he goes on and on about the interview they just printed about him in the state newspaper. Then he continues to say how he’s collecting so many chicks’ numbers from the bar, he can hardly keep up.
Except the one girl he wants to impress still acts like he doesn’t exist.
Magnolia keeps giving him ideas, but he shoots and misses each time. I think it’s hilarious that he’s getting a taste of his own medicine since he acts like every girl should be tripping over their feet to be with him.
After dessert, I stay for scrapbooking night so I can keep working on the one I’m making for Magnolia. She’s at her parents’ tonight, so it’s the only time I have where she won’t see it before I’m done.
“She’s gonna love that, Tripp,” Noah says, sneaking a look. “I love that you take polaroids of her belly progress each week.”
I tape the most recent one to the page and write “24 Weeks” underneath it.
Magnolia has no idea what I’m doing with these, but when the time is right, I’ll gift them to her. Underneath each photo, I list out any new cravings, milestones, or symptoms she’s experiencing. Every week is different, so it’ll be nice for her to look back on it someday.
There’s a page with all the baby’s ultrasounds from ten weeksand twenty weeks. She’s scheduled to have one more at thirty weeks, and then I’ll add that in.
“I hope so,” I say, admiring how beautiful she looks. She’s glowing in this shot, with one hand on her bump and her head thrown back as she laughs. I made a joke about her giving birth to an alien baby because she’s so active at night that it feels like there are six limbs kicking her stomach. She laughed until her side hurt, but it made for one hell of a perfect photo.
Gramma Grace sits across from me, but she’s not scrapbooking tonight. Instead, she’s been crocheting baby blankets for Noah and Magnolia. Once they’re finished, she plans to add the baby names to them. Then she’ll gift them during their joint baby shower in a few weeks.
I already know the party is going to be over the top with decorations and food, but they’re going to love it. We’ve been talking about it over supper, and everyone’s pitching in to make sure Magnolia has everything she needs for Willow. She hasn’t mentioned moving out now that there’s no threat to her living alone, but I’m hoping she’ll stay anyway.
After an hour of scrapbooking, we start packing up for the night. I’m exhausted and ready to cuddle with Magnolia.
“Night, Ma. Thanks for dinner.” I kiss her cheek.
“So when’re you showin’ her that?” She nods toward my chest.
“When it’s appropriate to.” I shrug because I’ve been hiding it from Magnolia. I don’t want it to sway her decision about us, so when the time is right, I’ll reveal my new tattoo. I purposely wear a shirt around her, even in bed, so she doesn’t see it.
Mom gives me a look that says she disagrees with my decision. She thinks I should be the one to make the first move, especially after everything that happened, but the last thing Magnolia needs is a guy who can’t respect her boundaries. Men have crossed them so many times in the past, and I don’t want to be grouped with them.
“You love her,”she says pointedly.
