There was currently only one bed in the house, and it was mine.
I nodded, still feeling the awkward aftereffects of whatever came over us.
He frowned. “Yes, you want me to stay? Or yes, you’ll be okay?”
“Oh, I meant stay. I’ll grab you the spare key.” Rolling out of bed again, I then pulled on the best oversized, chunky knit cardigan known to man.
Jace’s chuckling followed me into the kitchen. “That thing is six times your size.”
“That makes it even more snuggly. Get used to seeing it because it’s my favourite piece of comfort clothing.”
He stopped short, and I felt his eyes on my body as I slipped the spare key off the ring. I held my breath and handed it to him. The zing that pulsed up my fingertips when I brushed his palm made my chest clamp. Jace licked his lower lip and caught my fingers within his. Chemistry crackled in the air around us so intensely that it was almost deafening. We paused, poised in a beat where arousal heightened my senses and pulled desires to the surface.
“I uh… should get going,” he murmured despite not letting my hand go.
“Yeah,” I breathed back.
“I’ll see you tonight. I’ll stop by Mum and Dad’s and grab some stuff first.”
“Okay,” I agreed, barely taking notice of his words since his lips held all my attention.
Those lips came closer and touched down on my cheek. “Have a good day, sweetheart.”
With a final squeeze to my hand, Jace released his grip and looked back once before disappearing down the hallway.
A goofy smile too powerful to hold back stayed on my mouth long after I slid back into bed and indulged in another cracker.
EIGHTEEN
JACE
Packing the remainder of my belongings—i.e. throwing them into a suitcase—took exactly twenty minutes, and most of the delay was caused by Mum standing in my doorway asking a barrage of questions.
“You’re moving already?” “It’s early.” “Can I help with anything?” “Are you sharing a room?” “Is Jax okay?” “Is the baby okay?” “Are you two together now?” “Have you both thought this through properly?” “It’s not too soon?” “You’re not pressuring her, are you?”
My responses were exactly as follows:“Yep.” “Yeah, it is.” “I’m good, thanks.” “Nope, spare room.” “She’s fine.” “Babies are fine.” “It’s complicated.” “Probably not.” “Probably.” “No, Mum, I’m not bloody pressuring her!”
Goddamn!
My mum was an amazing woman and a complete mother hen—which up until the age of about six, was awesome. Now that I was twenty-eight… not so awesome. I had no doubt that our babies would have the most doting grandparents ever, but right now Mum needed to back off a notch. And I couldn’t believe she was so focused on her next question that she totally missed the part where I had mentionedbabies, plural.
Jax and I decided to hold off telling our families about the twins until Jax reached the second trimester, especially after the scare last week.
“We’re going to Steve and Miri’s for lunch tomorrow. Do you kids want to come along too?”
“Sorry, Mumzie, no can do. Darren and I are going to a footy game, and Jax already has girly plans with Loz.”
I glanced up just in time to see disappointment flicker across her face, so I stopped trying to cram a jacket into my bag and sat on the bed.
“I know it’s chaotic right now. Shall we all look at doing something in a couple of weeks? Maybe by then Jax will have more energy and not be feeling as sick.”
Mum nodded in understanding. On Thursday night, she and Dad saw first-hand just how sick Jax was. J, bless her, hadn’t even managed two tiny nibbles of her tiny portion of beef casserole before she sprinted for the bathroom. She emerged five minutes later, pale-faced, glassy-eyed, and apologising profusely for causing a scene.
Mum pursed her lips and looked saddened as she sat on the bed beside me. “The poor thing. It’s really upsetting seeing her anything other than her usual peppy self. I haven’t ever seen her this run down. Just breaks my heart. Do make sure she keeps up her fluids, Jason. If she gets dehydrated, she could end up in hospital on IV fluids.”
Well, if that wasn’t the mother of all guilt trips, then I don’t know what was. I knew I’d fucked up and thus far, Jax seemed to be the only one shouldering the consequences. I was trying to ease her burden in any way I could, though that in itself was a bloody mission because I had zero clue on how to go about it.
“That’s a big part of why I’m moving in with her, Mum. I wasn’t so worried before Loz moved out. Besides, I’m looking for somewhere to live and she’s got a spare room, so it makes sense for both of us.”