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I picked up the phone, crossed the room, and locked the door. Then, settling down into the very bed we’d shared together, I dialed her number…

… and hoped she’d have the courage to pick up.

Thirty-One

JULIANA

“Mmmpph… Gage?”

It was well past midnight, and yet somehow I’d just closed my eyes. I wasn’t necessarily asleep yet. But I wasn’t entirely awake, either.

The name that appeared on my phone’s screen however...

“Yeah, hi. It’s me.”

I sat upright, positioning the pillow behind me. Pinning my hair back over both ears, I pressed the speakerphone button.

“Sorry for calling so late,” he apologized. “I know you’re a couple hours ahead of us, but—”

“No, no,” I cut him off. “It’s all good.”

“Youwereasleep though?” he ventured.

“Not sure you could really call it that,” I sighed, “but okay.”

There was a moment of silence, as the two of us waited for the other to speak. If he was calling me this late he probably had something important to tell me.

Then again it was Gage we were talking about here.

“So how’s our kid?”

“Ourkid?”

“Yes.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “And what makes you so sure it’s yours?”

“Because I know I went farther than the others,” he said proudly. “I shot deeper, too.”

“Really?” I challenged. “And how do you know that?”

“Because I just do.”

I chuckled. “You sound pretty sure of yourself.”

“Wouldn’t you be, if you were me?”

I could envision his smile, at the other end of the phone. Bright. Mirthful. Damn, I missed that smile.

“So how are you feeling?” he asked.

“Pretty good,” I replied. “I think I’m past the morning sickness. No more nausea, at least.”

“Sounds promising.”

“Yeah.”

“You’ve still got lots more to look forward to though,” he added cheerfully. “Heartburn, fatigue, swollen feet. Going to the bathroom all the time.”