“Nothing means more to me than you. Right now, nothing matters to me but you. You. I’ll be your rock for as long as you need me.”
Calliope’s pale eyes misted as she spoke. “I’ll need you forever.”
“Then forever it is.” Tox nodded once decisively, quickly retrieved her bags, and made his way around to the driver’s seat. He was going to be a father. His wife had a child growing inside of her. With another squeeze to Calliope’s hand and a booming “hooyah” that had Cam and Steady glancing over, Tox started the car and gently pressed on the gas.
“Let’s get you home, and then I want to check on Twitch,” he said.
“Miller, pregnancy’s not debilitating. We’re both going to Twitch’s.”
“Don’t you need to take a nap or something?” Tox asked.
“Yes. With you. Later,” she teased.
Tox gave a slow nod and returned his attention to the road.
Ten minutes later, Cam’s black 4Runner pulled up beside Tox on the highway.
Steady lowered the passenger window, a look of concern on his face. “Everything okay over there?” he shouted.
Tox placed a protective arm across Calliope’s chest. “Yeah, we’re good. What’s up?”
“Dude, you’re driving,” Steady glanced over at the dashboard, “twenty-six miles per hour. We thought you were having car trouble.”
Calliope covered her mouth with her hand to hide her laugh as Tox made up an excuse. “Oh shit, yeah, uh, the oil light came on. I’m just taking it easy,” Tox yelled back.
“Want us to follow you?”
“Nah, we’ll make it. See you at Twitch’s.” Tox waved them on, and Cam sped off down the road.
Calliope squeezed her husband’s shoulder. “Baby, I think it’s okay to go the speed limit.”
“Nope. Precious cargo.” Tox gave his wife’s knee a reassuring pat, then returned his hands to the wheel, checked his mirrors, and continued on at a snail’s pace.