Wally took another bite of his food, chewing slowly. “I’m happy for you two. Really.”
“Thank you, Wally. That means a lot to me. To us.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to be an older brother in couple of months. That’ll be weird.”
“Well, think of it this way: you don’t have to share any of your toys.”
“That’s true. I’m probably going to spoil them, either way.”
“Oh, Molly’s way ahead of you on that one. She’s for some reason taken it upon herself to be the one the kids run off to when they’ve got problems.”
Wally laughed softly. “Maybe I’ll be the one they run off to when they get sick of your cooking.”
“Who says they’ll get sick of my cooking?”
He held up his hands in mock surrender. “I’m sure your cooking’s fine.” He pulled a face. “You’re not going to make me call you my stepmom, are you?”
I nearly spat out my water. “Oh,Godno. That’d be so weird.”
“Oh, good. Yeah. Very weird.”
“But I doubt that’s something you’ll have to worry about any time soon.”
“Oh? You mean he hasn’t popped the question yet?”
I shook my head, heat filling in my cheeks. “No.”
“Do you want him to pop the question?”
I peeked over my shoulder to make sure Jesse was still in the hallway taking his call. I leaned forward and whispered, “Yes and no.”
“Could you be any more confusing?”
“Yes, I’d like him to ask, but not right now.”
“Really? Even with the twins on the way?”
I shrugged. “I like the way things are right now. And I know Jesse will be there for me and the kids no matter what. With or without a ring, I love him and I know he loves me. For now, that’s all I need. Besides, it’s the twenty-first century. Just because I’m expecting doesn’t mean we have to tie the knot.”
“That’s very true. Although…”
“What?”
“I don’t know,” Wally mumbled. “Dad’s always been such a traditional kind of guy. You’ve really changed him.”
“Nah,” I said lightly. “I think he did that all by himself.”
Jesse returned some minutes later, shaking his head as he shoved his phone into his back pocket. I arched an eyebrow at him, to which he responded, “One of the bodyguards couldn’t remember where they put his duffle bag.”
“Ah, so not a work emergency, then?”
“I mean, itdidhave his gun in it. I can’t have work-issued firearms floating around for anyone to find.” Jesse kissed my cheek apologetically. “Sorry. No more work calls after hours, I promise.”
“You really have changed,” Wally muttered as he took another bite of his deliciously prepared meal.
Chapter 38
Jesse