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“Take all the time you need,” I ordered, winking. “Use my shower.”
“Bossy,” she said, waving us out.
When Emilia came downstairs later, Rhett and I were just finishing up our cereal and were discussing motorcycles. Well, he was throwing in a random word here and there and I was trying to educate him on the sweet-ass Dyna I’d just finished reconstructing.
“Thank you,” she said to me, kissing my neck as she passed me. “I don’t remember the last time I took a shower that long.”
“I thought you were thanking me forbeforethe shower,” I teased.
“Please,” she scoffed. “You should be thanking me for that.” She grinned at me over her shoulder.
“You’re not wrong.”
“Your mom called me,” she said, grabbing a cup of coffee from the counter. “She talked to your dad and wanted to come over, but I said we could stop by their house today instead. That okay? I wanted to check on Otto while we were there.”
“Fine with me.”
I helped Rhett get down from the table and watched as he toddled over to Emilia and wrapped his arms around her thigh. Without fanfare or thought, her hand fell to the top of his head and her fingers started sifting through his hair. I could tell it was a dance they’d done a million times before, easy and unconscious, and for some reason, it hit me really hard. I swayed for a second in my chair before straightening.
I’d almost lost them.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked quietly, her eyes meeting mine.
“Feelin’ lucky, I guess,” I replied hoarsely.
“Funny.” She smiled behind her coffee cup. “I was just feeling the same way.”
“I want more kids,” I blurted, making her eyes widen in surprise as she choked on her coffee.
“So do I,” she gasped, nodding. “But maybe not for a minute?” She glanced down at Rhett. “I’ve got my hands full.”
“We,” I corrected. “We’ve got our hands full.”
“Right.” The smile she shot me lit up the entire fucking room.
Chapter 13
Emilia
I’d gotten upearly, was wearing one of the new outfits Charlie had given me, actually put on makeup and done my hair, and was generally feeling pretty damn good about my first day of barista training with Michael’s cousin. Honestly, I was feeling like hot shit. I couldn’t help it. I’d spent half the night exploring Michael’s body and the other half enjoying as he explored mine. I was exhausted, but it was absolutely worth it.
Things felt solid with Michael. I was starting a new job, and the day before Rhett had pooped on the toilet for the first time ever. There was a spring in my step as I headed out to my car, leaving Michael and Rhett asleep upstairs.
And then my car wouldn’t freaking start.
“Michael,” I called, jogging up the stairs. I jerked to a stop when he stepped out of the guest bedroom.
“Was watchin’ you leave, but you didn’t go anywhere,” he said sleepily, scratching at his beard. “What’s wrong?”
“I think my battery’s dead,” I replied, tossing him my keys. “Could you jump it?”
“Sure, baby.” He kissed my head as he moved past me and jogged down the stairs.
Anxious and frustrated, I went to sit in with Rhett. We still hadn’t put up the stupid baby gate, so one of us had to stay with him upstairs. I must’ve checked the time every thirty seconds, and each time I did, I got more frustrated. All I’d needed was for Michael to jump start the battery in my car. What the hell was taking him so long? I was going to be late.
Panic had begun to set in by the time Michael came back up the stairs.
“Is it running?” I asked, reaching for the keys.
