“Okay.” I can’t stop myself from circling his neck and pulling him into a tight hug. Michael’s arms wrap around me, and a contented sigh leaves our lungs almost at the same time, his minty scent offering a familiar comfort as his nose buries in its favorite spot in my neck, inhaling deeply.
“I missed you, Lore,” he whispers against my skin, and a shudder runs through my body.
“I missed you, too.” Our arms tighten, and tears sting at my eyes. “I was going to tell you we shouldn’t live together, but now I don’t know anymore.”
“You don’t have to decide yet.” He lifts his head and smiles at me. “I’ll make you a deal. I need to find a new place anyway. My bachelor’s pad isn’t exactly fit for a kid, even if you don’t move in. I’ll get an apartment with a guest bedroom. When you land, you can stay with me instead of in a hotel, get a feel for being roommates again while working on S.A.S.S. and checking out a place for yourself.”
“Okay, that makes sense,” I agree, palms resting on his cheeks to wipe away the tear stains. That tawny gaze locks with mine, and small jolts of awareness prickle through my body. “The girls should be back soon.”
“Okay,” Michael replies in a soft voice, his large hand smoothing over my back, and I close my eyes, a shuddery exhale leaving my body.
“This is why we shouldn’t live together.” I meet his gaze again, and his hand stops its upward journey to my nape. “This is a lot to process, Mikey, especially for you. We can’t add another layer of confusion to our relationship right now.”
“You’re right.” He slides away from me on the couch and stands, rubbing his hands over his jeans. “Thank you for the talk. I needed it.”
“Anytime, Cupcake.” I flash Michael a grin, and he laughs, shaking his head.
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Lore.” He kisses my cheek, his full soft lips lingering a second longer than necessary.
“Bye, Mikey.” I wave him out and shut the door with a heavy sigh, looking down at my stomach. “I could have really used a drink right about now, just so you know.”
And with an affectionate rub of my belly, I go make myself some tea, starting to fortify those walls that keep me from falling in love with Michael Edwards.
Chapter Twenty-One
Michael
Just do it already,you coward.
I knock and cringe, forcing myself to seem as normal as possible when I hear the chain bolt rattling and the lock turning.
“Hey, Tris.” I wrap my sister in both arms when she opens the door, squeezing tight. “I missed you! We haven’t had a chance to talk just the two of us since you got back.”
She disentangles and looks me over with suspicion. “Riiiiight.” And the way she draws out the i? I’m screwed. She knows something’s up and that it isn’t good. “Come in.”
“Where’s B?” I scan their apartment. I was hoping for a shield when I break the news.
“Shower,” she throws over her shoulder in a somewhat snippy voice that doesn’t bode well as she leads me to the kitchen.
“Oh, good.” I just need to stall until he comes out, then break the news gently and hope he’s strong enough to hold Trista back when she tries to tear my head off with her bare hands.
“What’s up?” Trista asks, munching on a cucumber circle as she scrolls through her phone.
“Not much. So, how was China?” I grab a slice and throw it into my mouth. “You guys didn’t really go into specifics the couple of times I saw you.”
Trista looks up with a raised eyebrow. “We weren’t there long, cut to the Philippines, then came back for Phoebe’s birthday.”
“Philippines?” My eyes go wide.
“Yeah, I went to see my brothers.” Brian walks in, his dark brown hair still damp from the shower, and I breathe a sigh of relief, smiling when Trista gives his neatly trimmed beard an affectionate rub, his palm smoothing over her honey-blonde braid. “By the way, thanks for the hotel upgrade. That suite was sweet.”
I chuckle, Trista rolls her eyes with fondness, and for a second, I forget I’m about to step into the danger zone. “Yeah, no problem, you guys deserved it.”
“So, now that your bodyguard is here, we can cut the crap.” Trista’s tone is dry as she looks me over again.Well, that was short-lived. “What are you so scared of telling me that you needed witnesses?”
“I, Uh…”Don’t joke, don’t joke, don’t joke.“Congratulations! You’re going to be an aunt! Again.”
I trail off when I see the tick in the corner of her right eye. Her grip on her phone is so tight I’m afraid it may shatter in her hand.