his eyes, but his face hinted at a smile.
"But", Rachel said, voice firm and eyes as narrowed as she could get and still see out of them. "You need to wrap this up, Spendy Girl. My doctor appointment is in an hour, and I've been standing for so long that it feels like someone is trying to shove a bowling ball down my spine."
"Why didn't you say something?" Tate said and practically shoved her into a ridiculously comfortable armchair.
"Hey," she said, and swatted his hand away from where he was trying to put her feet up on a coffee table that probably cost more than Tate's mortgage payment every month. "Look, you're the one who feels my opinion is necessary in this little endeavor. I'm just trying to get it over with."
Tate rubbed a hand over his chest and gave a mock groan. "Ouch. That ... that stings a little, Rachel."
"Yeah, well, as fun as is spending all your money, Tate, maybe I'll be a bit more excited when I get to pick out the stuff that I'm going to buy. Because I will be." She pointed a finger at him. "Buying stuff, that is."
He lifted his hands in surrender. Internally she rolled her eyes, because it was so bloody obvious that he wasn't taking her seriously.
Casey smiled and then tucked a picture frame into the cart next to the blanket of happiness. "You're about the only woman I know who wouldn't find even this the tiniest bit thrilling."
"He's obviously trying to be placating, but I'm serious; I'll have plenty of time to contribute to the furnishing of this house. I've already given you my budget for my bedroom that you've promised to make fabulous. Plus we still have the nursery to discuss, and I've got ideas."
Casey gave a little squeal of delight over that, then patted Tate on the arm and practically bounded to the cash register to hand over the overflowing cart and monstrous list of items that needed to be delivered.
She'd pored over catalogs and websites the last few nights, when the movements in her belly kept her from sleeping. It was so easy, laying there, rubbing a hand over the gentle rolls and pushes that came from inside, and picturing that teeny little human sleeping in the cribs that she was looking at. She'd always been pretty good with saving money, feeling better when she had a safety net. But since leaving Marc, and the rent-free arrangement with her parents, she had more of a nest egg now than she'd had in her whole life.
It felt good, knowing that despite the unplanned way she was becoming a parent, that providing the things her child needed wouldn't be an unbearable burden for her. Because even though she would be living with Tate, there was no freaking way she was going to let him pay for everything. The roof he was providing for them was a pretty damn nice one, and so the other big things were responsibilities that she couldn't wait to shoulder.
Maybe that sounded weird. Because even though she and Tate hadn't sat down to talk about who was paying for what, she knew he'd have no issue affording whatever the baby needed. But she didn't want him to do everything. It would be a sticking point for her, to be sure. The ability to contribute to this family they'd created.
And right through the wide opening into the next area of the store, she could just see the corner of the set she had her eye on. The one on display was exactly the one she'd found online. Gray, with framed ends and ribbon molding. The lines were all straight, making it classic. Timeless. The display bedding they had it paired with was pink and white, and there would be none of that in her baby's room. Not that she minded. A little gender neutral decor was fine with her if it meant saving that surprise for whenever Nugget came into the world. And like Nugget knew she was thinking of him (she said him, because hey, let's be honest, it was probably a him), he gave a steady somersault, making her grin widely.
"What are you smiling about?" Tate asked, sitting across from her in another display chair.
She motioned for one of his hands, and surprise made his jaw pop open. Then he quickly moved next to her. Rachel took his large, warm hand into hers and laid it right over where she'd felt the gymnastics