Page 49 of The Road Back to Us

“Oh,” Chloe replied with a shrug before she ran off to play by herself.

“I’m so sorry,” Kara said, eyes wide with horror. “I didn’t mean to make you sad or remind you of—”

Lyric rushed over and pulled Kara into her arms as she held her. I could hear both of them crying, but we all gave them space while they comforted each other. Lyric pulled away slightly so she could see Kara’s face before she spoke.

“Please don’t be,” Lyric replied gently. “This was such a sweet and thoughtful gesture. I love it so much.”

“I don’t want to make you sad or remind you of what you’ve lost.”

Lyric shook her head and I noticed the serenity on her face when she spoke.

“I got a tattoo that I see every single day when I get ready. Trust me, sweetheart, I don’t mind the reminders of my babies. I think about them often, whether I want to or not. If anything, this just gives me another way to honor and remember them.”

“Okay,” Kara said with a bit of reluctance. “If you’re sure.”

“I’m very sure. Thank you for thinking of me and for doing something so special.” Lyric kept her arm around Kara’s shoulder as she turned to Ben. “Both of you have shown me so much love with what you’ve done for me. Thank you so much for all of this. It’s amazing, and I can’t believe I have such an incredible space to work in.”

Lyric held out her other arm, inviting Ben in for a hug, which he quickly accepted.

It was beautiful to see them come together to support one another, especially since Lyric had been so worried she wouldn’t know how to raise them. In just a few months, she had practically mastered it better than I could have.

Forty-Three

Lyric

By the time we got back to the house, I was exhausted. It had been a long day, but one of the best ones I’d had in a while. It was amazing to see what they had done for me, creating a studio I loved. I still couldn’t get over the thought and effort that went into every detail of the design process.

I changed clothes, noticing that my favorite tank top, which I loved to sleep in, was getting uncomfortably tight around my growing belly. I pulled it off and tossed it aside as I walked into the walk-in closet, looking for something else.

Cole walked in and stopped after shutting the door behind him. I put my arm over my chest to hide my breasts, then laughed when he rolled his eyes and beelined straight for me.

“You act like I haven’t seen your tits a million times,” he said, standing behind me and cupping them in his hands. “In fact, I’m about to play with them in a few minutes, so finding a shirt would be pointless right now.”

I turned in his arms, linking my hands behind his head as he stared at my breasts that were already starting to swell.

“Fuck do I love these tits,” he murmured, dipping his head to try to lick one before I closed the gap between us and stopped him.

“Playtime can wait,” I teased, even as the heat spread between my thighs when I felt his erection growing against my thigh.

“I don’t think it can.”

It was my turn to roll my eyes.

“Thank you for everything you did for me with the studio,” I said, wanting to make sure I told him how grateful I was before we got sidetracked and I forgot.

“It was our pleasure. I’m glad you like it.”

“Like it? I love it.” I smiled up at him, meeting his gaze as long as I could, even though I knew he was struggling to look at my face and not my breasts. “I think I might move in and live there.”

That was enough to get his attention as his eyes snapped up to mine again.

“I don’t think so,” he said gruffly. “You’ll live here, in this house—in this room, to be specific. Right here in this bed where I can fuck you senseless and hold you through the night. This is where you’re meant to be.”

I felt my heart flutter at his words, but I didn’t try to stop it this time. I’d long given up the fight of trying not to fall for my husband again.

“Okay. I guess you have a point,” I teased, letting out a dramatic sigh. “But just so we’re clear, I’m only staying for the fucking me senseless part.”

“Well, then, I guess I should make good on that before you change your mind.”