“You are all of those things, Ashlyn. Those things and more. And I want to do life with you. Not just for Bentley’s sake, but for mine too. I’ve never met anyone like you, and I know I never will again. The world is funny that way, you know? I mean, youliterally fell into my life. And I almost lost you. But if you’ll have me…if you’ll have us–”
Bentley interrupts Zane’s speech with a whine, and we both laugh.
“I think he wants you to get to the point,” I say, and Zane steps even closer, wrapping his arms around both of us.
“My point is, I love you. You are my person. And I want you back.”
I laugh tearfully, smiling up at him. “You never lost me. You couldn’t. Because I love you too,” I say. And with Bentley squished between us, our lips find each other. The same way our hearts seem to keep finding each other. Over and over again.
Chapter 45
Ashlyn
“Isthis what it’s going to be like forever?” Zane asks as we sit down at our reserved table at Blue Fin Sushi and Steakhouse.
“What? You and me going to fancy restaurants on date night while my ex-husband’s soon to be ex-wife watches our son because, strangely enough, she and I have enough in common to be friends and I trust her deeply with Bentley?” I ask. Whoa. That was a mouthful. I hope he got it all. I unfold my napkin and drape it over my bare legs. I am wearing a dress tonight. I never wear dresses anymore. Between working at the daycare and taking care of Bentley, I am pretty much doomed to be a leggings girl for life. But I love it.
“No. You and me running into a restaurant to make sure we don’t miss our reservation because you take thirty minutes to shower, another hour to do your hair and figure out what you want to wear and another twenty minutes to say goodbye to Bentley even though you’re going to see him again in less than three hours after our calm and relaxing date,” he says and I roll my eyes. “Your tits look great, by the way. Are you wearing a push-up bra?”
I look down at myself. “What? No. And listen…it’s a process,” I tell him.
“A long one,” he laughs. I shoot him a dirty look and he winks. But despite the saltiness between us, we are good. So good. We have fallen back into our routine of taking care of Bentley, who is finally sleeping through the night. He’s been loving daycare, which is such a blessing because it means I get to be around him at work too.
“You do know that you don’t have to work at the daycare, right?” Zane asks.
“What do you mean?” I ask, sipping on miso soup. I love sushi. I love seafood. But I’m still feeling a bit off even though when Zane told me he’d made a reservation here, I was ecstatic.
“I’m not sure if you’re aware,” he whispers as he leans in across the table. “But I’m kind of rich,”
“Only kind of?” I whisper back. “And here I thought you were super rich. I might have to rethink things.”
Zane gives me a look and shakes his head, but I just laugh.
I love that we are back to our normal banter.
“I love working at the daycare,” I say.
“I know. But all I’m saying is if you wanted to stay home and just take care of our son and not a room of crazy, screaming children who think I’m a bad man who drives a fast car, it would be fine and no one would judge you,” he says as the waiter sets a boat of sushi down in front of us.
“Like I said. I love…my…job…” I trail off at the end as I look down at the sushi. Suddenly, the sight of raw meat has meturning green. The smell is even worse. “I’ll be right back,” I say, b-lining for the bathroom. I get there just in time to get sick and find myself puking until there is nothing left in me.
After a long moment and three flushes, I wipe my mouth and wobble out to the sink to fix my hair and dress. A woman comes up next to me, and I grimace.
“Sorry. Food poisoning or something,” I tell her as I wash my hands.
“Mints help,” the woman smiles.
“I’m sorry?” I ask, and she reaches in her purse, pulling out a box of Tic Tacs. “The smaller the better. I never go anywhere without them,” she says, popping the top and holding it out to me. I open my hand, and she dispenses three mints.
“Thanks,” I say.
“No problem. First time?” she asks, and I am lost. It isn’t until I really look at her and notice her very pregnant belly that I realize she isn’t just giving me mints for my bad breath. And she also doesn’t think I have food poisoning.
“Oh. Oh, I’m not…” I shake my head.
“You sure?” she asks. When I don’t respond, she just smiles again. “If I’m right…congratulations. And stock up on mints. Morning sickness is a beast.”
With that she walks out, and I am left gaping in the mirror, unsure what to say or think.
