A moment later, she’s tucked into her crib, her mini cow at her side and her favorite ladybug blanket clenched tightly in her fist. And then it’s time to turn to her daddy. “Logan,” I whisper and hold my hands out.
He eyes them suspiciously, like I’m going to strike at any moment.
It takes him a moment before he takes my hands in his and lets me pull him to his feet. “Your hands are cold, Olive.”
“Cold hands, warm heart,” I joke as we walk into his bedroom, and Logan drops down onto the bed, pulling me between his legs, less than impressed by my answer. “My hands are always cold. It’s the anemia.”
“Lie with me.” It’s not a question, and I’m not sure I’d have the strength to say no even if I wanted to.
“Let me shut off the light and close the door,” I whisper. A minute later, I crawl into bed next to my husband and don’t fight him when he pulls my back against his chest. His strong arm wraps around my waist, and my head rests on his bicep. “Won’t your arm fall asleep?”
“No, wife. It won’t.” He buries his face in my hair and slides his hand under the edge of my tank top. Not exploring or testing boundaries, just looking for skin-on-skin. And at least for tonight, I let him.
I relax into him and close my eyes.
We don’t talk.
We don’t fight.
We lie in the dark, our breathing in sync.
Two people scared of what the future will bring.
One of us scared to lose what he loves most and the other scared to let down her family.
Her old one and her new one.
OLIVIA
Me sending a voice note in the text thread because it’s faster.
Seven minutes and thirty-two seconds later, thank you for coming to myTed Talk.
—Olivia’s Secret Thoughts
Serena
I did it.
Olivia
You’re going to have to be so much more specific than that, babe.
Serena
I asked Rafe if he’d go to the wedding with me.
Holy shit. It’s like we’ve reverted back to middle school.
Seriously.
Olivia
And . . . ?
Serena
He said yes.
