Page 100 of Love in Training
I cover my face with my hands, emitting an excited screech. “Agh, Drew! It’s just everything I used to imagine being a journalist would be like back in high school and college. It’s like I finally got my dream job.”
He tugs my hands away from my face, eyes crinkling as he draws me closer. “I think I know what that feels like.”
When our lips meet, he tastes like home—warm, and sweet, and safe. His hand starts politely on my knee, but as our kisses grow more heated, he begins exploring the length of my thigh. I sink into him, losing myself in the stroke of his hands and the warmth of his lips until a distinct ringtone cuts through the air.
We pause, staring into each other’s eyes.
Drew quirks an amused brow. “You better go see what’s happening.”
I plant one more big, wet kiss on his lips, then hustle across the room to where I set my phone down by the door.
“Is it time?” I ask before Lydia can say anything.
“No. I wish.” She pouts. “I can’t take much more of this. I feel like the Goodyear blimp.”
“You look gorgeous,” I tell her, and I mean it. She must have her phone propped up in her kitchen. Her belly fills most of the screen, and she’s wearing one of two dresses she claims are the only things that fit anymore, but she radiates health and beauty like she’s some kind of fertility goddess. I guess this is how the human race manages to keep going.
“Thank you,” she says. “But I didn’t call fishing for compliments. I need to hear about your big day!”
Drew hops up to feed the dogs. Blitz and Rufus are circling at his heels, and the other two are close behind. So I settle into the warm spot he left on the couch and tell Lydia everything about beingDenver Editorial’snewest feature writer.
“I’m sohappy for you,” she squeals. “This job sounds like a dream.”
“It basically is. I still miss Randall, and maybe even Jana a little bit. And my commute. But I can’t complain about not having to see Brian’s smug face anymore.”
“Oh yeah, how are the new wheels?”
I shrug.Denver Editorialis too far downtown for me to walk, and since Rufus is now a permanent fixture in my life, I conceded to Theo and Drew’s urges and bought a modest used car. “I’ll admit, it was nice having air conditioning on the way home.”
She laughs. “Well, I hope the rest of the week is just as smooth, and I can’t wait to read your first feature. If Istillhaven’t gone into labor by next weekend, you and Drew should come over for Sunday dinner. I’m going to need people to distract me.”
It surprises me how quickly she’s accepted my boyfriend. Honestly, I’m still getting used to it. But she had been like a sister to Kyle in college, and once she and Drew started talkingdogs, he was pretty much granted an all-access pass to our inner circle.
“You’re not due until tomorrow, right?”
“Today,” she says, moaning at the ceiling.
“Oh...” I clear my throat. “Well, why isn’t anything happening? Maybe you should eat a pineapple or something?”
“That’s an old wives’ tale. And I’ve already tried it. And eggplant parmesan. And Mexican food?—”
“Have you had sex?”
She glares at me through the screen. But the way her face turns an immediate tomato red tells me they’ve checked that box too.
“Well, unless your family expands more than your waistline this week, we would be happy to join you for Sunday dinner.”
Drew settles back in beside me and peeks into the frame, his expression hard to discern. Maybe a little surprised? But then he smiles and gives me a squeeze. “That would be incredible. Thanks, Lydia.”
She beams at us through the camera, then mutters something about a glass of orange juice, and we say goodbye.
Drew nuzzles my ear with a light sigh, his gaze tracking across the room to his framed photo of Kyle and me. Suddenly, I understand what’s on his mind.
“Your parents used to do family dinners.”
He nods, leaning his head against mine. I don’t know all the details of what went down between Drew and his parents, but I guess he said some things on behalf of himself and Kyle, and now he’s blocked their numbers from his cell. It’s clearly been hard for him, but he also seems more at peace.
I place my hand over his.
