Page 60 of Knotty, Nice, & Holiday Lights
Vaughn’s head tilts as he regards me. “I could use some coffee. Maybe a pastry.” He looks thoughtful. “Actually, I should probably bring some sweets home for Vi. Would you care to join me at Cuppa?”
He’s giving me an opportunity. A chance.
And with every inkling of love for Will in my body, I pounce to accept.
Chapter Forty-One
The only warning I get that I’m about to be pounced on is the opening and closing of the coat closet, followed by the padding of feet. Then, I’m wrapped in the warm embrace and comforting scent of Izzy.
I nuzzle into her neck, breathe her in, and sigh with contentment.
“I love you,” she says earnestly. “I love you so much that I’m scared, Will.”
I straighten at that, push her into my view with concern. “What do you mean?”
Her hands, fingertips chilled, cup both sides of my face, those gray eyes boring into me, trying to convey some kind of message I’m not receiving.
“I don’t want you to regret being with me if I can’t give you what you want.”
Can’t give me…?“What are you talking about?You’reall that I want.”
Her head shakes. “I want us to be honest with one another. And I want you to think it over when I’m not right in front of you.”
“Think what—?”
“About children,” she whispers.
And my heart stutters.
“I don’t want to have kids, Will. But the absolute last thing I want is for you to be with me and regret it. For you not to have what you want in life. Because, Will, you deserve to have absolutely everything you want.”
Izzy’s eyes fill with tears, and I’m frozen in place, this ten-ton weight slamming into my chest and staying there.
I’ve made her sad. Did I make her feel unwanted? Unimportant?
I blink, and I’m alone. When did she leave the kitchen?
My body moves on its own to one of the chairs at the table, where I drop down onto it in a daze.
I don’t know how long I sit there before Asher’s face swings down sideways in front of mine from above, dark eyes worried. “What’s wrong?”
“I…” What do I say? How do I start?
“That bad, eh?” he pulls out the chair beside mine and sits, facing me. “Tell Asher all about it.”
I frown at him. “This is serious.”
His expression warms, his dark eyes blink at me. “I’m aware of that. But sometimes, even the most serious situations need a bit of levity.”
I take a deep breath. “Izzy is worried I’ll regret being in a pack with her because I’m not sure about having kids.”
“Ah,” he says. “And what do you think? Do you believe you’d ever regret being with Izzy for any reason? With all of us?”
“Never.” I say it instantly, without having to think, and the word is forceful. “I love Izzy. I love you all. Nothing will change that.”
Asher gives me his signature Hollywood smile. “Look, mate. I don’t know what will happen in the future. None of us do. But I do know that we’re meant to be together. Maybe we’ll never have children. Maybe we’ll change our minds. I mean, we are still young.” He pauses, huffs out a laugh. “Well, some of us are. Apparently, I’m the elder here.”
I laugh without meaning to, and he puts his hand on my shoulder.
