Page 79 of The Summer Plans

“Summer Sampson, are you reading a dirty book?”

My face feels hot. I don’t know why this is so embarrassing, so I opt for deflection. “What are you reading?”

“I asked you first. Wait, is that why you got so upset that first night when you thought I had your Kindle? Is yours full of naughty books?” He slides his glasses on as he looks over at me.

“They’re not naughty, they’re romantic.” I pause. “Okay, maybe they’re a bit of both, but they’re my book babies.”

“Book babies?”

“Yeah. When I really love a book, I get the e-book and paperback, but I’m running out of storage for books since my kindle is nearly full and I don’t have decent shelves at my place to properly display my physical book babies at home. So they live in boxes. One day.” I sigh as I sink down under the covers. “And you never told me what you’re reading, Mr. Slutty Little Glasses.”

He drags the glasses down his nose and peers at me over the rim. “Slutty, huh?” Then he pushes them up his nose with his pointer finger.

I nod. “You know exactly what you’re doing with those.”

“Yeah, I’m trying to read my book.” He tries to peek at my Kindle, but I’m still gripping it tightly to my chest. “You gonna tell me what you’re reading?”

I shake my head. “Maybe one day.”

Leaning in close, his lips ghost along my ear. “Just know that when you do tell me, I’ll act out every dirty little detail and make it come true.” He captures my earlobe between his teeth, giving it a gentle tug that I can feel in every inch of my body. When he leans back, just out of reach, I find myself leaning in, wanting to taste him when his words stop me.

“Seriously. Come stay with me. At least till your kids get home. We could do this every night.” He bends down, placing a kiss on my stomach as he peers up at me. “And I can trace all two hundred and thirty-seven of your freckles every morning.”

“And then what?”

“Then I woo your kids with technology and ski trips, and they’ll never want to leave. And then you marry me. And we live happily ever after.”

“You make it sound so easy. But you’re forgetting one little thing.”

“We’ll talk to her. When we’re ready. But for now, we keep living in this little cocoon. Just the two of us.”

“And Sophie.”

He smiles. “When she’s around. Hell, she’ll probably want to spend more time with you than her dorky dad.” He lies back, tugging me against him as he picks up his Kindle and begins reading again.

I snuggle into him, inhaling citrus, spice, and a hint of bergamot, clinging to him while he reads. Eventually curiosity gets the better of me. “Whatcha reading? You never said.”

“It’s a suspense novel, kind of a psychological thriller about this married couple that has trouble conceiving after multiple miscarriages, but they finally get pregnant, and then everything is not as it seems…”

My pulse quickens, and I hold my breath. This sounds eerily familiar. “Oh?”

I try to relax my body as he continues talking but my head is swimming, drowning. Multiple positive tests. Getting my hopes up, only to be devastated when I lost another one. Todd taking everything in stride while I died inside. Crying in Raven’s arms each time I miscarried. She was the only one there for me through it all. And this is how I repay her?

“What’s wrong?”

My eyes pinch shut as I try to figure out how honest to be with him and keep my emotions at bay. A heavy breath escapes me as his hands soothe along my spine.

“That happened to me.” My voice is a whisper, as if saying the words softly would make them any easier to admit.

The rise and fall of his chest soothes me as I wait for him to speak, unsure if he heard me. When I finally look up at him, all I see is love and understanding. Does he know? Did Raven tell him?

“What happened to you?”

“The miscarriages. I always wanted a lot of kids. So did Todd. And when I couldn’t give him that, I felt broken. Each time I miscarried, he got more distant. After the third loss, the doctor ran some tests, and I found out that I have a bicornuate uterus. It’s shaped like a heart. I was born with it, and it can cause miscarriages and preterm labor. It explained why my body couldn’t hold a pregnancy. But it didn’t make it any easier knowing that my body couldn’t provide the one thing I wanted. All my life, everyone’s told me what a big heart I have, how great a mom I’d be one day. Who knew there was a heart-shaped organ preventing me from sharing that love with my future children?”

He cups my cheek, tilting my head so he can kiss my forehead. His lips linger against my skin as he speaks. “There are no words to express how much your pain guts me. So I’m just going to hold you. I’m listening even if I don’t know how to respond.”

Tears spill down my cheeks and splash onto his chest as I give him a slight nod. No man has ever done this for me, listened and supported me without trying to fix me. Todd would tell me all the things I needed to do. Change my diet. Exercise more. Take vitamins. His suggestions felt like control, not love. But RJ is listening intently, holding me, and it emboldens me to be honest.