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His head shakes. “Bad day all around. Mel left this morning. We all stayed at the same hotel last night since both our houses had been packed up. We got Bug and Mel their own room. I’m sure they were up all night. It was torture pulling them apart this morning and then watching the Harrell’s car pull away.”
“I’m sorry. I know how upsetting that must have been.”
“There doesn’t seem to be anything I can do or say to make her feel better. I guess she just needs time.” He nods to the house. “She’ll probably go to bed and sleep until tomorrow.”
The cabbie clears his throat behind Asher, presumably wanting help unloading suitcases from the trunk.
I eye the four large bags. “I’m surprised these even fit back here.”
“They almost didn’t,” the irritated cabbie says, tugging one until it breaks free of the lip of the frame.
Asher shrugs, moving the suitcases aside as they’re pulled out, then he gets out his wallet and gives the guy a sizable tip.
As the cab pulls away, I grab the handle of one of the suitcases, but Asher immediately takes it from me. “Let me. They’re all heavy.”
“They do roll, Asher.”
“Allie, just let me do this. Please?”
I want to be offended—him treating me like I can’t do it just because I’m pregnant—but I kind of like this protective side of him. Still, I tease, “Are you going to treat me with kid gloves for the next nineteen weeks?”
“Baby, I’m going to treat you with kid gloves for the rest of our lives. Not because you’re pregnant, but because you’re mine.”
My swoony sigh is audible. “You’re such a romantic.”
His lips pass over mine. “Only with you, sweetheart. Now let me get these inside.” He pats my backside, urging me along.
“Fine. I’ll get dinner started. It’s just us tonight. My parents get back from their Napa Valley trip tomorrow.”
He follows me inside with two of the four suitcases then goes back for the others. But he only brings one of them into the kitchen and sets it near the stairs to my apartment.
I laugh. “Are you telling me this is your only suitcase?”
“She’s thirteen. Apparently she couldn’t live without her entire wardrobe for the next two weeks. The only clothes she allowed me to pack for the movers were her hoodies.”
I set the salad bowls down. “I can’t believe we’re moving in together in two weeks.”
He walks up next to me. “Al, we’re moving in togethertoday.”
“I know. It’s kind of spectacular, isn’t it?”
His arms come around me. “Damn straight.” He sucks in a breath as our bodies press together and he’s reminded once again of what’s between us. He looks down. “It’s hard to believe we’re almost at the halfway point.”
“Speaking of that.” I crack a smile. “I felt a kick today.”
His eyebrows arch. “Which one was it?”
I giggle. “I have no idea.”
He drops to his knees and puts both hands on my belly.
“I doubt you’ll be able to feel it. It was super light, like little bubbles or butterfly wings. Maybe in a few weeks.”
“I can’t wait. I never got to feel Bug move in the womb.”
He stands and picks up a knife to cut some vegetables.
“Will you tell me about Bug’s mom? Wasn’t she your girlfriend? How come you never got to feel the baby move?”