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Shethrows her arms around my waist in a tight hug. “Don’tleave me here with them.”
Ichuckle and squeeze her close. “Infour more years, you’ll be out of here too.I’llmake sure of it.”
“It’sgoing to take forever!”
“Goon and get dressed.Ifwe hurry, we can beat them to church, andMomwon’t have a chance to take her irritation out on you.”
Emberhuffs out a breath but lets her arms fall and goes to her room.
Apart of me wishesIcould take her with me whenImove.MomandDad’svoices drift up the staircase.Somethingabout me being a man now, andMomarguing that it doesn’t meanIcan be disrespectful.Sheis really going to get pissed whenIfind outRachel’sabout to have the baby.Idon’t care what time of day or night it is,I’mgoing to be there for them.
* * *
Rachelinsisted on making lunch for us.Thesoup was creamy and warm, and it hit the right spot on a cold day.She’swashing whileIdry the dishes.I’vecaught her staring out the window toward the barn several times, even joining her.Hestays away onSundaysas he did beforeIstarted showing up on a regular basis.Hergaze doesn’t waiver asIpush her hair away from her neck and plant a light kiss behind her ear.
“Imiss him too,”Iwhisper.
Herhands go limp in the dishwater as she stretches her neck out for me. “It’sgetting harder and harder to keep you at arm’s length.”
“Andit’s getting impossible not to be with you.”
Sheturns and clings to me as if she could bury herself in my embrace.IknowLukegave his permission for the two of us to continue what we started between the three of us.Itjust hasn’t felt right without him here.EverytimeIsmell her scent,Iache to smell his skin alongside hers.
“I’mso lonely,” she breathes out.
“Metoo.Theonly timeIdon’t feel it is whenI’mhere with you.”
“SometimesIthinkIcan’t go on without what we had.”
“Wehave no choice.He’staken that away from us,”Iremind her.
Shesteps back, her head down.
“ButI’mhere now.Ipromise to be here as much asIcan,”Ipromise.
Herhands slide from around my neck to my chest. “Untilyou leave.”
Idon’t know what’s worse, that they feelI’mabandoning them, or thatLukehas already abandoned us.Therereally isn’t anythingIcan say to set it right or make us not feel his absence.
“Lunchwas delicious.Thankyou.”
Hergaze finally returns to me as she smiles. “Thankyou for spendingSundayswith me.”
WhenIlook over her body,Ilet out a chuckle. “Howthe hell did you get so wet doing the dishes?”
Shegives me a confused expression. “What?”
“Lookat you.”
Shedoes and pulls her sweater away from her chest where two circles have left a stain.Hernipples are so hard they’re visible under the heavy weave.
“Didyou dip your tits in the dishwater?”Itease.
“Shit!It’snot water.”Herserious expression has me easing back on the teasing. “Andso it begins!”
Shemoves away and pulls her sweater over her head.Herbra is wet as well.
“What’swrong?”Iask as she walks out of the kitchen.
