Page 52 of Accidentally Falling
“Jude. You’renotin love with me. It hasn’t been that long.”
“Pretty sure people fall in less time.”
Turning the shower on, I stare at her, but she’s not looking at my face. She’s staring at my body, the scars that cover my left leg, and I let her. The memories don’t haunt me as much anymore but there was a time.
“I’m thinkin’ of going back to physical therapy,” I tell her softly, the idea something I’d been thinking about since learning about the baby. I’d done enough to get by just beingmebut I want to be better for Arden and our daughter. I want to be able to chase her around the yard and teach her how to ride a bike. And even though I have no illusions that it’ll be a complete fix, it can’t hurt to try.
“I think that sounds like a great idea.” Her gaze feels like a caress, like she’s using her hands and not just her eyes. She makes me feel powerful and not like an eighty-year-old when I get up in the morning. And if nothing else, I never want there to come a day that I can’t carry her.
She deserves that and so much more.
“They’ll probably make me do yoga or that other stretching thing. Maybe you can do it with me when we move in together,” I say casually as I step under the spray.
She laughs. “Not gonna happen, Country Rhodes.”
We’ll see, baby, we’ll see.
ARDEN
“He wantsto move in together. Can you believe it?” I tell Ellison as we eat at her kitchen table, plates piled high with pancakes.
“So?”
“So?!” I practically choke out before washing my bite down with orange juice I know will give me heartburn but still tastes so good. “What is wrong with you? I can’t just move in with Jude because we’re having a baby.”
“Okay, well, it’s been months and you obviously have feelings for him. He’s definitely in love with you according to the guys from the night of the bonfire, becauseand I quote ‘we can tell.’So why are you making it into this totally outrageous thing? I would literally crawl into Montana’s pocket if I could fit.”
“Yeah, but you have dependency issues,” I tease but she just shrugs.
“I do and he loves that about me. When I first moved back here, I threw rocks at his window because I hated being alone at the rental.”
“You threw rocks?”
“Iwantedto crawl through his window.”
“And did you?”
“No, he was grouchy and made me use the front door. God forbid a woman try and be romantic.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“It’s my superpower,” she says before taking a sip of water and putting her glass back on the table. “So are you going to tell me if I’m getting a niece or nephew?”
“But you’re not finding out what you’re having. How is that fair?”
“Oh, it’s not; I just like to know.”
“But then how do you pick out names or decorate?” Ellison shrugs and even though we truly haven’t known each other long, I can’t remember ever seeing her so relaxed. “Are you the only woman on the planet who mellows out getting pregnant?”
“I mean, I was some kind of sassy in the beginning, but I’ve just really enjoyed being pregnant, and finding out feels like I’m taking away part of the magic.” Pointing her finger at me, she adds, “That’s strictly for me. I need to know what you’re having.”
“It’s a girl.” I laugh when she squeals as she does a little dance in her seat and slaps her palms on the table like a drum roll.
“Are you excited? Is Jude excited?”
“I had this feeling it was a girl, and it feels so good to have that validation. We’re still working on a first name, but her middle name will be Harmony after his mom.”
Ellison’s eyes well up with tears as she snatches up a napkin and wipes at her cheeks. “That is so damn beautiful and I take back all the nice things I said about pregnancy. This crying shit is for the birds.”
