After showering, I snuggle under the covers and reach for my computer. No sooner than I have it open, Trevor sets a snack tray down on the nightstand and kicks off his jeans with a smile. “What are you doing?” I ask.
“We’re on bedrest, remember?”
I shake my head. “No,I’mon bedrest. You have things to do…”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about…” He slides his oatmeal quarter zip sweater over his head, leaving him in a white undershirt, and steps toward the bed.
“Tre—”
“The only thing I have to do right now is hold my girl until she doesn’t feel like the world is ending.”
The tips of my ears burn, and I melt down to my toes. “Your girl? Is this middle school?”
“Yep. We go together. Now move over and let me snuggle you.”
I set my computer aside, and as soon as he’s in the bed, he pulls me to his chest. “You got a passport?” he asks.
“I’m pretty sure mail theft is a federal offense.”
He laughs. “I didn’t open it. It was right on top. I’d recognize that envelope anywhere.” I look up at him with raised brows, and he explains, “I like to travel. Passport paperwork is hard to hide.”
“Yeah, well, it can stay right in that envelope for all I care. I can’t use it anytime soon.”
“Where were you going?”
My shoulder raises with my deep sigh. “I was saving for a trip to Europe before all of this happened.”
“Europe’s pretty nice.”
“You’ve been?”
“Yeah, all over. My family took a trip to Italy when I graduated high school. I went to Oktoberfest with some Coast Guard buddies when we had port calls in the Netherlands. Then France a few years ago, but I didn’t explore much there.” He clears his throat. “Where in Europe were you planning on going?”
“All over. I’ve always had this dream of taking a few months and photographing everything I could—architecture, landscape, the rich art history, food—all of it. I wanted to hit every country I could and just get lost. I was so close too.” My eyes burn, and I close them to stave off another downpour.
“Why are you talking in past tense, Gem?”
“Because I can’t juggle snapping my way through Europe while holding a newborn on my boob.”
“The baby won’t be a newborn forever, and you wouldn’t have to juggle anything.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “I’ll be behind you, holding the baby while you take all the pictures you want.”
I scoff, but the intensity in his eyes holds me captive.
“Sweetheart, you’re not giving up your dream just because we’ll have a kid.”
“Yeah, that’s nice to think about. But babies change things.”
His head shakes. “Not this. You deserve to follow your dreams. Your happiness is important to me. I’m not letting you give this up.” He strokes my cheek, eyes boring into mine like he’s engraving his promise into stone. “This is just the beginning, Willa. The best is yet to come.” His lips grace mine, his kiss unlocking every secret combination to my heart, mind, and soul. He pours into me the hope I’m failing to keep a hold of, and I clutch to him for more.
CHAPTER FORTY
TREVOR
“Trevor Jones, you said?” The brunette receptionist at the front desk clacks away on her keyboard, flashing a pleasant smile. EdTechU’s main office is all windows, the foyer open and airy with the sun shining through. Glass elevators flank each side of the building, leading up to several different floors. A large navy and yellow logo glows on the wall behind the desk.
“Yes. I’m transferring from San Francisco.”
She bobs her head. “Just waiting for my screen to load… Can you believe it’s already January?”
