Page 24 of Headstrong Like Us

“Do you regret signing on to be filmed?” His concern has veered to me.

It’s cute.

“Not for a second,” I say easily.

His lip starts to lift.

“Moffy?”

Our heads turn.

Jane nears him, and more people start descending the twisting staircase. The episode must’ve ended.

“Can we talk?” Jane fiddles with her fingers. “It shouldn’t take too long.” She seems nervous.

“Is everything okay?” Maximoff asks with concern.

“Yes,yes.” She holds up her hands, then spins to me. “Farrow, I need to talk to you as well.” She smilesnervouslyat me, and that puts Maximoff on edge and lands me on a bigger question mark.

I can’t even crack a guess to what this could be about.

And then she ushers us into a smaller area of Superheroes & Scones for privacy. The daycare. I smile at Maximoff.

He’s eyeing my features.

I lift and lower brows. “Want to have a kid with me, wolf scout?”

He looks like he’s stopped breathing.

I let out a laugh. “Relax,relax.”I hook an arm around his waist. “I’m just fucking with you. We don’t have to talk about babies.”

He’s already admitted to wanting kids, but we haven’t had a deep discussion yet. When it comes to our future together, Maximoff has always been the one with training wheels. I’m ready to blow past every stage just to be all domestic and shit with him.

But I’m lucky he’s comfortable and ready to marry me in three months. I never want to push things too fast. Especially when he likes being in control and is uneasy with monumental change.

“Actually,” Janie says. “That’s what I wanted to speak with you both about. Babies.”

4

MAXIMOFF HALE

Babies.

I scan the room, hanging onto a billion other thoughts than what Jane just said. Bright colors splash all four walls, comic book paneled curtains concealing windows. Pint-sized tables sit on the hardwood, and toy boxes brim with action figures, stuffed Thor hammers, and miniature Captain America shields.

I have a lot of good memories here.

All the days I’d babysit my sisters, brother, and cousins. Janie would read books to our siblings. And I’d sneak out Batman Legos and we’d play for hours.

When my mom expanded this store, she didn’t just add the loft. She added a daycare. So yeah, I’m thinking about that.

My biceps are super-glued to my chest. Arms crossed.

Jane shifts her weight and smooths her blue tulle skirt. “Really, this is more than just about the general topic of babies.” She rambles. “It’s children—specifically,yourfuture children. Between the two of you.”

My joints need oiled because honest to God, my neckcreakswhen I turn my head to Farrow.

He has a hand over his mouth. I can’t tell if he’s smiling or frowning. He assesses me from head to fucking toe.