Page 127 of I Loved You First

He nodded. “We can talk to the midwife.”

“Okay.”

He kissed her. “What do you say we head to bed? I promise I won’t make you hide in the closet when we wake up in the morning.”

She laughed as he grinned. “That sounds like quite a deal.”

“It’s back to real life tomorrow.”

She nodded. “Brady and I have major grocery shopping on the agenda. Then maybe we’ll do some blueberry picking at the farm before we take a swim.”

“Your day sounds better than mine.”

She sighed as the easiness of the evening fell away. As they both thought of Ally. Because Cam had been texting with her over the past couple of hours. “How can I make this better for you?”

He shook his head as he shrugged. “I have no idea.”

“I’m right here with you,” she said as she stood on her tiptoes, nuzzling her nose against his. “Whatever that looks like and whatever that means, we’re in this together.”

He exhaled another breath as he wrapped her up tight. “That means everything.”

She hugged him back. “Let’s go to bed. Maybe I can distract you for a little while and help you relax so you can sleep. Unless you’d rather not.”

He eased away, taking her hand as they walked into the bedroom, locking the door for the night. “I always want you, Fi.”

Holding his gaze, she slid the spaghetti strap off her shoulder. “Here I am.”

thirty-four

Cam spotted the sporty Jeep Wrangler with the Florida plates as he pulled into a parking spot at Maple Ridge Coffee Shop. Gripping the wheel as he steamed out a breath, he killed the engine, not looking forward to the next several minutes.

For most of the morning, he’d managed to keep himself busy, finding a new rhythm with his family of three. When Fi had assured him that she felt fine after a better-than-average start to her day, he’d left her and Brady to check on his crew and help out where he could after being gone for close to a week. Now, it was time to have the conversation he’d been dreading for days.

Getting out of his truck, he walked into the shop, settling his aviators on top of his head as he breathed in the heavenly aroma of good coffee. He spotted Ally, tossing her a wave when she smiled at him.

She was undeniably beautiful in a pair of snug jeans and a black-and-white striped tank top as she stood by the counter. She’d pulled her hair up in a ponytail and wore subtle makeup that accentuated her high cheekbones and blue eyes.

“Hey,” he said as he stopped before her.

“Hi.” She smiled again. “Welcome home.”

“Thanks.”

“Are you thinking about a hot or cold drink?”

“I’ll probably grab an iced tea.”

“Me too.”

“We’ll take two iced teas, please,” he told Dianne, who’d worked behind the counter for as long as he could remember.

Dianne smiled. “Sure thing, honey.”

Moments later, he paid for the drinks Dianne set in front of them. “Thanks.”

Ally picked up her iced tea. “Thank you, Cam.”

“No problem. How about a walk? It’s a gorgeous day.” Plus, he wanted plenty of privacy for what was bound to be a dicey exchange.