“I’ll do it later,” she mumbles, her hair fanning across the pillow. “I’m going to sleep for two seconds.” I get up. “I’m sorry for everything, Theo.” She smiles sadly. “I’m so sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry for. You both”—I motion to her stomach—“are the best things to ever happen to me, until my last breath.” I give her a soft kiss and go into the bathroom, closing the door quietly behind me.
My legs are about to give out when I dial the number I’ve been dying to call all day long.
“Hey, son,” he answers after one ring. His voice is soft as if he just gave me a hug.
“Dad.” My voice breaks, my hands trembling. “Do you think you and Mom can come down tomorrow? I need you.”
He doesn’t falter, doesn’t skip a beat. “We’re coming,” he says, and he disconnects.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
COLLINS
Soft bells chime, and my eyes slowly peel open. I feel Theo move to the side to shut off the alarm. My face is on his chest, my arm draped around his middle, my leg tangled with his. His arm is around me, holding me to him as he turns us both on our sides and then wraps both arms around me.
“I’m sorry, baby,” he mumbles as I close my eyes and take a deep breath in. “I wanted to wake before the alarm to not disturb you.” I kiss his chest at the same time he kisses the top of my head.
“I have to get up,” I tell him, “so it’s fine.”
“Why do you have to get up?” He lets me go a bit so he can look down at me. “You called in sick last night.”
“I have to go and get my car from Brock’s. Then I’m coming home and doing nothing.”
“Well, it’s a good thing I brought your car home last night, so now you don’t have to go anywhere.”
I push away from him. “Um, I’m sorry, what?”
“I picked up your car on my way home last night. And it’s a good thing, since I want you off your feet. You’re to relax all day long, maybe even tomorrow.”
“I didn’t even talk to him about the price of the tires.” My hand goes to his chest, suddenly embarrassed that I have to tell him that I made a payment plan with Brock. “I have to call him to discuss how much it was.”
“You can,” his hand goes to my hip, “but it would be for nothing since I paid for it.”
I try to move away from him, but his hand on my hip holds me in place. “Theo, let go of me.”
“No, I like you here close to me. I want you even closer when you get mad so I can kiss you.” He bends to kiss my neck. “Don’t make a big deal over it, please. It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Not that big of a deal? How much did it cost?”
He bites his lower lip, and certain parts of me get tingly in spite of my irritation. “He gave you the friends and family discount, and he didn’t charge you labor. So that’s on him.” He tries to hide his smirk.
“How much was it?” I ask him, my voice low.
“What difference does it make?” His gray eyes stare into mine.
“It makes a huge difference because now I’m going to have to pay you back. And I just can’t do it in one shot.” I’m going to have to make a payment plan with Theo. How awkward is this going to be? I already hated my parents, but I especially loathe them for putting me in this position.
“Pay me back?” he questions in disbelief.
“Yes, pay you back.” I move away from him and get off the bed, standing beside it, though I really want to go hide in the bathroom until he leaves. “Theo?—”
“Baby,” he says softly, “you aren’t paying me back. Not now, not in a year, not even ten fucking years from now.” He flips the covers over, gets up in his black boxers, and puts his hands on his hips. “This is what happens in relationships, Collins, it’s a give-and-take.” I think about his words as he walks around the bed. His hands come up to hold my face. “This is nothing,” he declares, and I pfft at him. “You are giving me a child. A whole human child. Do you know what that means?” My eyes roll to the side of my head. “No, seriously, think about it. Our child. There is nothing I can give you that can measure up to you carrying our child.”
“Theo,” I say his name in almost a whisper.
“Give me this.” He puts his forehead on mine. “Let me give you this.”
