Page 70 of Riley
“How?”
I laughed. “Oh, my god, Ethan! Come on. You know that I love you. You know that I would do anything for you. I’m having your damn kid, for God’s sake!”
“Whoa, are you saying you’re only having it for me?”
“No! That’s not what I meant. Look, Ethan, I’m tired, and I’m cranky, and I want to go to bed. We can rehash this when you get home, okay. Let’s just talk about all of this then, alright?”
“Fine, night, Riley.” He hung up before I could even say good night.
“Men!” I shouted to the room as I got up and turned off the lights before I headed upstairs.
I hated that he kept pushing this, and I knew that we were going to butt heads when he came home. But at least we could do that face-to-face, and I could entice him to my bed to sate my wild hormones when we were finished.
By the end of the week, I was whipped, and Ethan sent me a message saying his flight was going to be late. I told him that I’d see him on Saturday because I needed sleep. It also gave me one more night of peace before I knew he would be turning the screws on me.
Saturday morning, I was in the kitchen making a cup of coffee—sadly decaf, but at least it was coffee—when my doorbell rang. I glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost eight. I did not doubt that it was Ethan, and I actually grinned as I rushed to the door.
The thought that he was on the other side of the door, and he wouldn’t be flying a thousand miles away again, made me happy. I pulled open the door, found him standing there with a pastry bag in his hands, and launched myself into his arms.
I shocked him as he stepped back to steady us and chuckled. “Nice to see you too,” he said as he hugged me tightly. I leaned back, staring into his face, and found myself drifting my eyes over his features as if I was searching for changes in him.
He didn’t say anything, just let me stare at him, and I cupped his face and went up on my tiptoes. Our lips were only half an inch apart as we stared at one another. He was letting me take control of this situation, and I did. I pressed my lips to his, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck. His arms banded around my back, and he tipped his head further to the side to deepen the kiss.
I missed his kisses. God, did I miss his kisses. We were breathless when we pulled away from one another.
“Welcome back,” I said as I grinned at him.
“It’s nice to be home.” He held up the bag. “I bought you your favorite sandwich.”
At the mention of food, I snagged the bag as he chuckled and followed me into the house. I was in the kitchen, taking the food out as Ethan stood off to the side. I glanced at him and found him staring at my belly. Instantly, my hand went to it and cupped the front bulge.
His eyes came to mine, and he smiled. “Let me see it.”
If anyone else had asked, I would have laughed at them, but this little one in my belly was his. I lifted my shirt, and Ethan stepped forward and went to his knees, putting his hands on my growing sides. “Hey, little one. It’s your father. Now you are going to get used to me talking so that you recognize me. I’m home, and I’m not leaving you alone again.”
He leaned forward and kissed my belly, and I jerked. Ethan looked up at me. “What? Did I hurt you?”
“No! The baby kicked. Just as you kissed my belly, he kicked.”
“He?”
“Or she?” I laughed. “That’s not the point. Ethan, that was only the second time I’d felt the baby move.”
“Really?”
“Yes. The first time, I wasn’t sure if I had felt it, but there was no doubt that I just felt it now.”
Ethan laughed and began talking to my belly again. “You’re letting Mommy know that you can hear me, right? You keep doing that, little one.”
There was another flutter in my belly, and I brushed the hair back on his forehead as he leaned forward and hugged me, putting his cheek to my stomach and holding me tightly.
He leaned back, laughing. “Sounds like both you and baby are hungry.”
“We are. Thanks for breakfast.” I gathered two plates and put our sandwiches on them while he made a cup of coffee, and I retrieved a bowl of cut fruit from the fridge.
It wasn’t lost on me that we moved around the kitchen together well, and even though we hadn’t seen each other in weeks, it wasn’t uncomfortable. As we ate, Ethan told me about the last day of his class and graduation and then his flight home.
When he finished, he leaned on the table and stared at me. “How are you doing? I mean, really? Is there anything that I can do to help? Anything you need me to do? Just name it. I haven’t been here, but I am now, and I’m willing to help.”
