Page 104 of Thick & Thin

I had tried before, deciding it was best to get it over with, but as soon as the words were about to leave my lips, Josh had looked at me as if I had already broken his heart, and I couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to hurt him. He had missed so much already, and I knew the second he found out the truth, he was going to be crushed.

It had to be the right moment, and no matter how many days we spent together, no moment ever felt right. I had so many opportunities, and I hadn’t taken them. I knew Josh. That was going to be the first thing he said to me when he found out. I just hoped that it wouldn’t send us back to a place where we hated each other again. I wasn’t sure I could do that with Josh again, considering all we had been through.

The nights in his arms talking about everything were like having my best friend and the man of dreams back all at the same time. Things were perfect, and I wasn’t ready to let that go yet. Especially not since Caleb was becoming attached to Josh. Without either of them realizing it, they were bonding as father and son. My heart opened even wider for Josh, knowing that even if Caleb wasn’t his, he would treat my child as his own. He loved me that much and obviously loved Caleb, as well.

“I found you!” he called out, pulling the closet door open.

Light filtered into the closet space, and Caleb squealed and took off running toward base, my dad’s recliner. I laughed at his little legs moving so quickly.

Josh reached out for my hand and pulled me up and into his arms.

“I got you,” he teased, running his nose along the side of my cheek.

He placed a soft kiss on the side of my neck that send a wave of chills over my body.

“Yep, you found me.”

He placed another soft kiss on the corner of my lips and pulled away. His eyes held mine, and he smiled. “Now that I’ve found you, do I get to keep you?”

Yes.

All I wanted was to be kept by Josh.

He was mine.

I was his.

Forever.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. “That depends.”

He snickered and licked his lips. “Oh really? On what?”

“Do you have any gummy bears?” I joked.

He chuckled, his dimples showing. “I will buy you all the gummy bears in the world if that’s what it takes.”

“Then I’m all yours.”

At that, he laughed and kissed me harder. We held hands down the hallway and found Caleb sitting on Dad’s recliner with a big smile on his face.

Afterward, when it was my turn to beitand find the boys, I was happy to find them hiding behind Josh’s truck outside, giggling and shushing each other. I loved them together. The way Josh tousled Caleb’s hair and taught him how to tie his shoes. The way Caleb would run to Josh when he needed help with something or his favorite truck broke.

It was all too perfect.

In such a short amount of time, Josh was become more than Caleb’s father. He was like a dad, and my heart swelled with love for him knowing he was taking that position without even knowing it was his blood in Caleb’s veins.

We played hide and seek for another thirty minutes before Caleb started to get tired. He yawned and rubbed at his eyes, and I knew he wasn’t going to last much longer. We’d had an exciting day. One filled with the pet store, where Josh bought Caleb a hamster named George, that Josh was keeping at his place, and two hours at a small water fountain they had added in the center of town.

Josh went back to his place to check on his mom, who was doing well, while I gave Caleb his bath and put him down for bed. Dad was staying with Janice again, and on those nights, Josh would stay longer, but he would never stay the night. I wanted him to, but he said he didn’t feel right about it since it was my dad’s house and my son was in the room next door. It was a respect thing, and I appreciated that about him.

When he came back, he walked me backward down the hallway to my room where he slowly stripped me naked and made love to me until my legs were quaking, and I wasn’t sure I could take anymore. I hadn’t felt so confident in all my life. Not even when my waist was smaller, and my tits were perky. The way Josh worshipped me, kissing and touching every part of my body, made me feel more beautiful than I ever had in my entire life.

Afterward, we lay there holding each other, basking in the after-sex relaxation, but after an hour or so, Josh moved to get his clothes. He was leaving like usual, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to let him go. I wanted to fall asleep in his arms like I had before.

“Stay,” I said, taking his hand and pulling him back to the bed.

He chuckled and dropped his shirt before leaning over and kissing me. “But Caleb,” he said against my lips.

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