Page 144 of Accidentally Ours

My thumb plays with her bottom lip before I lean in and kiss her.

“I want to give you everything you need, but we’ll need to talk to the doctor about what is safe.”

“Okay.” She rolls onto her side and nuzzles in next to me. “I’m starving.”

“What sounds good?” I ask.

“Do you still have that truffle popcorn? Oh, and those deli pickle spears from Zucker’s? And a black cherry Polar Seltzer?” Her eyes roll to the back of her head, and she moans. “That all sounds so good.”

“You bet.”

She moves to get off the bed.

“Don’t get up, I’ll get it.”

“I have to get up for work anyway.” She slides off the bed and reaches for the robe I got for her to keep here.

“What?” I ask her retreating back.

“My shift at The Penrose,” Sophie calls from the hallway as she moves toward the kitchen.

I pull on my briefs and join her in the kitchen.

By the time I get there, she’s already elbow deep in the bag of popcorn as she opens the refrigerator to grab out the pickles.

“I don’t mean to sound patronizing, but now that you’re pregnant, do you think you should be working a second job?”

Her brows lift. “It’s even more reason to have a second job. Babies are expensive.”

“Again, I don’t want to come off the wrong way, but you know that as far as money goes, we’re good, right?”

She pulls a jar of pickles from the refrigerator shelf. There are five more exactly like it behind that one. The entire sub-zero refrigerator looks like the neatly stacked shelves of the grocery store refrigerated section. The pantry is identical. I’ve had my housekeeper stock it full of Sophie’s favorite foods, everything she’s been craving.

“I get it. You’re a billionaire, but I’m not. I need to be able to contribute.”

“You are contributing.” I point to her belly. “You’re growing a whole person. That’s a lot of work.”

She’s struggling with the pickle jar lid, so I take it and open it for her. She pulls one out and takes a bite, fixing me with a glare.

“Clearly, you have no problem with accepting help in certain situations.” I indicate the open jar in her hands.

She thinks about this for a moment, then wrinkles her nose in defiance.

“We talked about this. One of my goals after graduating college and moving here was to become more self-reliant. To not be leaning on Griffin like I have my whole life.”

“I understand that you’re trying to establish a new dynamic with your brother, but we’re in a relationship and we’re having a baby together. Taking care of you is my top priority now.”

I wrap my arms around her back and pull her to me. That’s when I hear it.

I wasn’t sure if the sound was what I thought it was until Sophie jumps out of my arms, and I see the horrified look on her face. I can tell she’s trying to not make it a big deal, but she’s also embarrassed.

“Was that a—"

Sophie’s eyes go wide. “Don’t say it. Don’t you even say it.”

I press my lips together.Do not laugh. Do not laugh.

It’s kind of funny, but Sophie looks like she’s going to murder me. Leave no witnesses.

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