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“But-but–” I glance around the room helplessly. I can’t believe they’re all ganging up on me.
“It’s done, Charlie,” Mom asserts, patting my hand. Jamie walks back into the room at this point, wheeling in the IV cart. Mom takes a step away from me, giving Jamie space to reinsert the line into the catheter in my vein.
“What about clothes? I don’t have a change of clothes here,” I say, continuing to plead my case. I mean I’m not even wearing underwear! I had to take them off earlier because they got stained. “This hospital gown isn’t all that comfortable, either.” Mom gives me a skeptical look like she thinks I’m reaching for excuses.
“I’ll run home to pick up some clothes and a few books you can read,” Ella offers, getting up from the comfy armchair she is seated on. “I’ll be right back.”
“That reminds me.” Mom snaps her fingers and says, “Let’s go together, Ella. I need to make your sister some dinner. You haven’t eaten since lunch, have you?” she asks, and my stomach grumbles as if on cue. I place the hand free of the catheter on my stomach, tossing a self-conscious glance at Ezra.
“Yeah,” I mutter.
“We’ll be back soon.” Mom runs her hands through my hair, then leaves the ward with Ella, leaving Ezra and me alone. I clear my throat, not sure what to say. Ezra walks to the chair Ella was sitting on and carries it closer, shuffling toward me. He sets it down next to my bed and sinks into it.
“Hi,” he says in a low voice, staring at me with a warm smile. My heart does a little pitter patter, then starts racing wildly.
“Hi,” I whisper shyly.
“I know you’d like to be at home, but I’ll feel better if you stayed here for at least one more night, please?”
It’s already a foregone conclusion that I’m staying tomorrow night too, but I like that he’s asking me. My heart expands in my chest as I smile. “Okay.”
His hand slides up the bed to hold my fingertips, so he doesn’t interfere with the line. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get here earlier. Now that I’m moving to the city, I’ll always be here when you need me.”
“Don’t, Ezra. Don’t move.”
“One of us has to,bébé.I don’t mind being the one to do it.” His gaze searches mine. “I really don’t care. As long as I get to be with you.” He runs his hand up and down my arm.
“Ella and I have been talking about getting a new place. We won’t have enough room in the penthouse once the babies arrive. So I’ve been thinking, there’s this handsome guy whohappens to be the babies’ daddy and has a house with a room already dedicated for his kids. Why not just move there?”
His hand goes still on my arm, his lips parting. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“I’ll move.”
His hand tightens on my arm, “Just move? Do you know what it means if you move into my house? Move to my town? It means you’re givingusa chance, Charlie. It means we’re together. Dating,” he enunciates, staring at me carefully.
I chuckle a little to hide the furious thumping of my heart. “Yes. I know.”
“Are you sure?”
I raise a brow. “Isn’t this what you’ve been trying to convince me to do? Don’t tell me you’re getting cold feet,” I tease.
“What? Of course not.” He gets up from the chair and bends his head toward me. My eyes slide close in anticipation, but his lips just brush my temple tenderly.
“Thank you,” he murmurs huskily, and I open my eyes. He’s staring at me softly; it messes with my already unsteady heart, butterflies gurgling about in my stomach as I wonder what that look means.
CHAPTER 29
EZRA
“I’m fine, Ezra. I can do this on my own. Stop hovering,” Charlie scolds me, but her eyes are smiling. I wrap my arms around her stomach, which is steadily getting bigger, dragging her back flush with my chest to drop a kiss on the soft tendon of her neck.
“I know you can, but I want to,” I murmur against her soft skin, her delicious scent drugging me. I drag my tongue up her neck, and she shivers in my arms.
“Oh, my God, guys! Save it till you get to your place,” Ella complains, coming into the room, carrying a large box. Charlie stiffens and pushes against me. I release her reluctantly. It’s been almost a week after the false alarm that put her in the hospital, and I’ve not gone back home.
Charlie decided she’d move back to Brattleboro with me this weekend, so I stayed to help her pack. I bought some clothes since I didn’t bring a change from home. Right now, we’re in her room, packing her clothes and a few of the things she’ll need for now.
“It’s bad enough that you’re taking her away from me; now you’re going to rub my single-ness in my face?” Ella continues grumpily.
