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Chapter Twenty-Seven

Cat

Streams of sunlight softly cascade through the hotel window, waking me. I draw in a slow, deep breath and stretch before registering the warmth radiating from the man lying beside me. His chest rises and falls, the soft t-shirt rubbing against my cheek gently, followed by a light whistle.

David snores.

My mouth tugs at the corner, and I burrow closer. Still sleeping, he tightens his arms around me, pulling me snugly against him, his head turning toward me. My heart soars.

Inhaling the woodsy scent that’s purely David, I let it, and the contented exhaustion I feel, wash over me. A quiet warmth and calmness settle in my soul. I can’t remember ever feeling so seen, accepted, and loved.

The last two nights, we were like a pair of teenagers at a sleepover with endless streams of conversation. We talked until we couldn’t keep our eyes open another minute, and sleep claimed us, wrapped in each other’s arms.

It’s been perfect, except for the small doubt tugging at the back of my mind.

David never told me about Fiona after the first night I asked, and I didn’t bring it up again. It’s not that the opportunity didn’t present itself; it did, multiple times.

But fear held me back. One I can’t explain, and don’t want to analyze.

Inhaling deeply, David’s chest swells under my head like a gentle wave, and just like I did for the last thirty-six hours, I push the worry aside.

Certain he’ll talk about her when he’s ready.

“Good morning.” His voice is gruff with sleep and vibrates down his body, sending a tingle down my spine. His hand cradles my cheek just as I feel his lips on my forehead. The action is so tender, my heart aches. “How did you sleep?”

“Good,” I whisper, nuzzling closer. “How about you?”

I feel his mouth curl up against my forehead, and my lips follow. “I usually need more than three hours of sleep, but the three hours I got were heavenly.”

“I’m sorry,” I mutter, but he laughs, stretching and pulling me tightly against him.

“Don’t you dare apologize,” he says, rolling me over so I’m flat on my back, staring down at me.

His eyes soften as he looks at me, their hue like warm mulled cider, and my heart stutters.

His gaze roams over my face, and simultaneously, a hand gently pushes my hair away from my face.

“The last two nights were the most fun I’ve had in a very long time. ”

The words ‘I love you’ hover on the tip of my tongue, catching me off guard. I push them down and swallow.

“Thank you for coming with me this weekend,” he whispers, his lips inches from mine. The moment is pregnant with unspoken words, and the air is charged.

“David?” I push out hesitantly, my thumb running over his chin, coarse with stubble. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything,” he says without hesitation, and kisses me. “For you, I’m an open book. Ask me whatever you want to know.”

“Will you tell me about—”

There’s a heavy pounding on the door, startling both of us. “Room Service.” A man calls, his voice echoing through the room.

David’s quizzical expression pulls a laugh from me. “I knew we had an early start, and even though I deprived you of sleep, I didn’t want to deprive you of food too.”

He doesn’t say anything, but the soft expression as he gazes down at me and how he frames my face with both hands makes my stomach flip.

“Thank you.” He presses his lips softly against mine before bounding off the bed to the door. His smile is so wide and excited, I can’t stifle the laugh that bubbles up. “I’m starving.”

Disappointed at the timing of room service, I promise myself that I will ask about Fiona. When the time is right.

And maybe not right before a game.

David’s phone rings just as we sit in our seats on the Smokies chartered flight home. My finger traces the raised stitching of the number on David’s jersey. “Hey, peanut. We’re just getting on the plane now.”

He turns the phone to me so I can see Duncan’s name lighting up the screen. It’s Scarlett using Duncan’s phone. I nod, my cheeks pulling up, and his brow raises quizzically.

“Like you call anyone else peanut,” I mouth. He rolls his eyes, and my smile widens.

He keeps his eyes locked on mine while he answers his daughter’s questions. “Probably won’t make it home till after your bedtime…Uh-huh…Yes… Aunt Ava or Uncle Duncan will stay with you until we get home…We’ll talk about that tomorrow.”

“Scarlett is my favorite,” Logan chuckles behind us. David looks through the seat, scowling.

I cover my mouth, stifling a laugh. He turns his scowl on me, but his hazel eyes dance with humor.

Scarlett’s voice carries through the phone, and I chuckle at David’s sterner tone.

“I said we’ll talk about it tomorrow…after school.” I hear a huff from the other end before David says, “Sure.”

Relief floods his eyes as he passes me the phone. “She’d like to talk to you.”

“Hey, Scarlett. Did you and Emmy have fun at Aunt Ava’s and Uncle Duncan’s?”

“Daddy won’t tell me, so I’m asking you.” She immediately jumps in, my brows shooting up. David chuckles, knowing exactly what he sent my way, and I glower.

“What did you get me into?” I mouth, and he shrugs. His expression is pure innocence.

“That kid,” Logan teases, and huffs out a laugh.

“Ask away,” I respond, trying to sound confident. But if I’m honest, my stomach is churning, and I wipe sweaty hands down my jeans.

“When can I call you Mom?”

My mouth falls to the floor, and I turn back to David. “See!” He mouths, eyes wide. I shake my head, squeezing the bridge of my nose.

“I’m sorry, honey, but your dad’s right.” Scarlett grumbles, and I close my eyes, blowing out a slow breath.

“I don’t—”

“Scarrrlett.” A mom tone slips out, David’s surprised expression mirroring my own. “We’ll talk more tomorrow, okay?”

“Caaat,” she whines, the dramatics dripping. I can imagine her rolling her eyes, and it’s difficult to keep a smile from tugging at my lips.

What is a teenage Scarlett going to be like? Will I get to see a teenage Scarlett? A heaviness presses against my sternum. My palm lifts to rub out the tightness.

From the corner of my eye, I see David beaming at me with two thumbs up, and I manage a weak smile.

“Fine,” she mumbles. “Can you put Daddy back on?”

“Of course,” I start to hand David his phone when Scarlett yells my name. “Yes?”

“I love you.”

Her words turn my insides to goo. Every last part of me mush, and I’m grateful I’m sitting down. “I love you, too, little girl. See you tomorrow morning.”

I hand the phone back to David, but don’t look at him. I’m not sure how to talk about the emotions running through me. I don’t even know how to unpack them.

I grab my phone, scrolling through messages to distract myself, when I see a message from Dr. Carlson’s office. It’s a reminder for my lab work and follow-up. How has it been eight weeks since my last appointment already?

“Everything okay?” David rests his hand on my arm, sending tiny sparks through me.

Will his touch ever stop affecting me this way?

I nod and flick my gaze to his. “Just a reminder for my upcoming doctor appointment this week.”

“I want to come with you.” My head whips toward him, and my mouth parts. He repeats, firmer, “I want to come.”

“David, I’m fine. There’s no need—”

“No need?” He snorts, whispering. “You’re my wife, and I’m worried about you.”

His wife.

“David,” I narrow my eyes, my heart pounding so loud it’s hard to focus.

“Cat,” he counters, attempting to stare me down.

When I drag in a deep breath and slowly exhale, I see his lips press together. He nods. I shake my head and turn my face away from him.

He is not coming with me.

A thumb gently pulls my face to look at him, and a smirk lines his handsome face. My gaze falls to his lips, and his grin spreads.

“I’m coming,” he says, softly, leaning in to press his lips against mine, and I nearly turn into a puddle. “I want to be there for you. Please let me.”

My brows pull together, his eyes pleading with me to say yes.

He wants to take care of me?

My pulse races, and butterflies swarm my stomach. When he leans in and presses his lips against mine again, he whispers, “Please…”

How do I say no to him?

I’ve waited my entire life for someone who wants to be there for me. Am I really going to push him away now? Can my heart take it if I say yes, only to have our relationship end later?

He pins me with his gaze, and my heart stutters.

“Okay,” I say softly, leaning my head on his shoulder. When I feel his lips on my forehead, a small smile tugs at my mouth.

If this is what being in a loving relationship is like, sign me up for life, please.