Duncan stood up the moment Kym’s partner emerged from the back of the emergency room still donning his hair cover. They’d briefly seen each other as the nurses had rolled Kym to the back. From the way the man was smiling and practically skipping toward Duncan, he knew it was good news.
Regardless, he asked, “How’s everything?”
“It’s a boy,” the new father said loudly.
A few people in the waiting room whooped and clapped.
“And he’s good?” Duncan asked. “Kym?
“They’re both doing well,” he said, barely containing his giddiness. “Thank you so much for getting them here.”
He then moved in for a hug that Duncan accepted.
“There’s no need to thank me. I’m glad I was there at the right time.”
When they separated the man said, “I should let you go and enjoy the rest of your evening.”
Duncan briefly looked past the father’s shoulder. “Oh, I thought I’d wait for Retta and drop her off.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll drive her home.”
Nodding, Duncan ignored the burning in his chest and said, “Congratulations and all the best.”
When he strode out of the hospital, he found the sun setting but the air still warm. This was for the best. He’d head back to the gym and make sure closing went smoothly, and he’d spend the rest of the evening figuring out what he’d say to Retta. A few paces from his car, someone called his name from behind. Turning around, he found Retta running toward him, her black dress billowing around her.
“You okay?” he asked, jogging to meet her halfway.
“I’m fine,” she said, breathing heavily and smoothing down her hair. “I’m a godmother.” Her beautiful smile lit up her entire face.
His hands ached to touch her. “You’re going to be amazing.”
They stood there for a moment, listening to the traffic and ambulance sirens around them. Maybe this was the chance he was supposed to take. Forget grand gestures and possible rejection. He had to make his feelings known even if they weren’t clearly mapped out in his head.
“We didn’t finish our conversation back at the bakery.”
“I need to tell you something.”
They spoke simultaneously.
Her eyebrows came together as she pushed her glasses up her face. “What?”
Rubbing the back of his neck, he said, “When we made our agreement, parking spots were all I wanted. But somewhere along the way, maybe between a carnival ride and an engagement party, that changed.”
Retta’s mouth fell open on a small gasp.
His heart raced, but he stepped closer. “I’ve been terrified to see what that change means, but I don’t want to pull my punches anymore. And I know you have feelings for Christopher but—”
She shook her head so furiously that he stopped talking.
Before he could interpret her response differently, she grabbed his face and said, “I don’t have feelings for Chris.”
Duncan could now feel his heartbeat in his throat as he let her words register. “No?”
She shook her head again and opened her mouth to say something, but he descended on her lips before she had the chance to. The tension in his body was replaced with the heat of their kiss and the gentleness of her hands that still held his face. She tasted of sugar and ginger, and he poured every ounce of longing from the past weeks into his caresses. He broke their kiss to look into her eyes.
“What does this mean?” she whispered.
He gently brushed some hair from her face and said, “It means I want to do this relationship thing with you. For real this time. I love you too fucking much to not give us a shot.”
