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“I love you, Thomas.Is tusa mo chroí. You are my heart. But I’m not sure we’re ready for this next step yet.”
“Yet…” He holds on hopefully to the one word that hasn’t killed this crazy dream of his. He threads his fingers with mine. “How can I prove to you weareready? That I want this more than anything in the whole wide world? More than those Louis Vuitton suede boots I cried over in New York. More than the vintage Dior velvet blazer with diamond buttons we saw at auction!”
I press my lips together to keep from smirking, and look up at the ceiling. Heaven knows, I love this man. No one else can drive me to drink one minute, and have me laughing in the next breath.
“We can weather any storm together, Connor. Tell me what to do and I’ll do it. Ireallywant this. With you. A family of our own.”
I shake my head. TJ won’t stop this new obsession until he wears me down. “Well, first, we will not be naming our kid Bartholomew.”
“What about Bartie?”
“TJ.”
“So Barclay’s out, too?” He bites his lip, pleading with his eyes. I close my eyes and rub a spot right over my eyebrow where I feel a headache coming on. “Fine, we won’t name him Bartie, Bartholomew, Bennie, or Barclay. What else?” He folds his arms over his chest and leans against the countertop.
I look into his grass-green eyes, so earnest and true. TJ has always reminded me a bit of Peter Pan, the boy who never wanted to grow up. In some ways, it endears me to him because it keeps life fresh and fun, but if I’m honest, it’s a lot on me to step up and be the adult a majority of the time.But isn’t that what made me fall in love with him in the first place?His zest for life makes all the colors in my life pop and fizz.
If I’m going down, there’s no one else I’d want by my side, in a blaze of poopy diapers, sticky fingers, and the forever responsibility of another human being.
“Yer goin’ to have to get over yer puke aversion. Kids puke…among other gross things,” I say gruffly.
He nods. “I mean, I may have to go to therapy and maybe some hypnosis sessions, but I’m willing—”
“And if we do this, we’re in it together. Not just me carrying the brunt of it. Ye can’t leave me hangin’ every time there’s a mess to clean up.”
He nods again, solemnly. “In this together, until drop-crotch trousers or fishnet joggers come back in style.” I raise an eyebrow. He shakes his head. “Trust me, they’re never coming back. If they do I hope I’m dead before that happens.”
I crack a smile and lean in, brushing another kiss against his lips. “I’m not sayin’ yes, but I’m not sayin’ no, either. I need some time to wrap my head around this, okay?” TJ looks crestfallen as his gaze falls to the floor. I tip his chin up. “Moi chroi, this is not a no, okay? I can see how badly ye want this.”
“I think Connor is right, Tammy Jean,” Kiki says quietly, tiptoeing into the kitchen with Sarah on her heels.
“Yeah, this isn’t a decision that should be taken lightly.”
I smile gratefully at the women.
“Besides, it’s not like you snap your fingers and everything will fall right into place and you have a baby delivered. It’s going to take time,” Kiki says gently. “As forNashville Next, they have to know this will be a slow process.”
“Kinky, hello? I realize that. You know my motto.”
“Don’t walk a mile in a stranger’s shoes. You might get a foot fungus?” she asks.
“Ew, gross, I never said that. Isaid, don’t walk a mile in someone’s shoesunlessthey’re Louis Vuitton. But no, that’s not it.”
“When life gives you lemons, squirt them into your enemy’s eye and blind them?” Sarah smiles brightly.
“What? Do you two ever listen to me? I said when life gives you lemons, make lemon drop martinis.” TJ rolls his eyes, a grin curving his lips. “You guys, come on, you know my motto.”
“Never trust someone who smiles all the time because they’re probably a serial killer!” Kiki snaps her fingers.
“I did say that, but no—”
“Glitter cures everything!” Sarah shouts, pointing at Kiki like she’s a contestant on a game show.
“Always leave a little sparkle in your pocket!” Kiki shouts back.
“Never eat Brussel sprouts before a pool party.” Sarah jumps up and down, clapping.
“O to the M to the G! It’s when nothing goes right, go left. Seriously, do youeverlisten to me?”
