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"Yup, you were sound asleep. Looked like you really needed it, though."
"You wanna come in?" She asked.
“Sure.” I nodded as I followed her lead.
"You can sit on the couch while I get you a drink. What do you want? Sorry, I don't have any alcohol. Doctor’s orders." She giggled.
"Water is fine, darling," I replied. Looking around Ariane's small apartment, I felt sorry for her. There was nothing wrong with the place, but it was too small. Even so, she kept the place clean. The wood floor creaked a bit as we walked, but I didn't see any cracks in the walls or floors. She had decorated the place as her own.
"I know the place is small, but I really like it," she said.
"It is a little small, but you keep it nice and neat," I responded.
"Well, thank you," she said as she sat beside me, placing her left hand on my lap.
I grabbed it and kissed her knuckles. I gazed at her, held her face with the other hand, and started kissing her again. I wanted to be inside her so bad, but I wasn’t sure if Ariane was ready. So, I picked her up and laid her on the bed. She was so beautiful. I tucked her in under the blanket and massaged her feet. I left shortly after she fell asleep. I knew my happiness would be complete the moment that Ariane told me she loved me too.
Chapter Twenty-three
Ariane
AssoonasLoganleft that night, sleep overtook me, and I slept until morning. There was nothing weighing me down anymore. My guilt, my fears about Lucas looking for me, they were all gone now. My heart melted when Logan confessed his love. Never in my wildest dreams had I thought that I would be so happy.
In the days that followed, Logan and I kept in contact more after our talk. He asked me if I had decided to take him up on his offer to move in with him, but I declined—respectfully—because I didn’t want the added stress during the last few months of my pregnancy. Casey still lived with him, and I didn’t really want to deal with her.
Trinity was my caretaker anyway. She came over bright and early every morning before work, just to make sure I was okay and didn’t need help getting ready for the day. I appreciated her so much for that, because some mornings my feet were so swollen, I couldn’t even put on my own shoes.
“Why are you all dressed up this morning? Usually, you’ll throw on some sweats and a hoodie and be out the door. What's up?”
She knew I was up to something, and I couldn’t do anything but laugh. It amazed me how much Trinity knew me. Sometimes, I felt like she knew me better than I knew myself.
“Don’t make me laugh.” I lay back on the couch trying to ease the pain from my laughing. “This baby is killing me.”
“Uh huh.” She playfully side-eyed me. “What you got going on?”
“Logan is meeting me at the checkup today.”
“So, are you two…what are you doing? Co-parenting? Dating? Taking things slow?”
“We’re just going to a doctor's appointment!” I laughed. “Co-parenting, yes, of course. He wanted me to move in with him.”
“Shut up! So, you two are getting back together? I think it’s a good idea. Since Lucas is not a problem anymore, I don’t see why you shouldn’t be with Logan.”
“I don’t know. I mean, I would love to, but I’m not sure I’m ready. I just want to take things slow for now.” I didn’t tell her yet that Logan had confessed his love for me the last time we were together.
When I got to the doctor’s office, Logan was already waiting at the front door for me. Like always, he had flowers, and he even had something for the baby too. That made me tear up. To see him already so prepared and willing to step up, no matter what, really made me feel as though I’d made the best decision.
“There she is.” He smiled as I waddled up to the door. “How are you this morning?”
“I’m okay. Had a little trouble putting my shoes on this morning, but Trinity helped me out with that before she left for work.”
“I could have helped you.” The flowers dropped to his side in disappointment. “Ariane, whatever you need help with, even if it’s just to talk, I can be there for that. I know things are still a little weird between us, but they don’t have to be.”
“I know. I just didn’t want to bother you. That's all.”
I walked into the office to end that conversation before it turned into something a lot more heartfelt. Logan had a way of sweeping me off my feet without me realizing it, until I was already wrapped in his web. And I didn’t want my judgement clouded while I was already a hormonal wreck, so I kept my guard up.
Logan was so excited to finally see the ultrasound of our baby, he actually had tears in his eyes. I was excited too. Logan would spoil her rotten, it was written all over his face while he stared at the ultrasound pictures.
