computer on the nightstand and lies down, hand going to my stomach as he spoons his body around mine. “The contractor sent over photos from today. Things are progressing fast, though it is going to take longer than anticipated to get the front staircase back to its original glory.”
“We can use the other staircase,” I say and then giggle. “I can’t believe we’re going to live in a house with two staircases. I feel so fancy.”
“The arborist was there today as well.”
“Please tell me he didn’t find chopped-up body parts inside the trees.”
“I would have woken you up if that were the case. It was a combination of insects and fungus. The diseased trees will be cleared out this week.”
“Poor trees. Can we keep them for firewood? I breathe, and I don’t want to be breathing in burned fungus.”
“I didn’t ask that, and it’s not something I thought about.”
“I’ll give you a pass. You haven’t breathed in quite a while.” I push myself up. “How many trees need to be taken out?”
“Not as many as we first thought.”
“Good. Want to go to the house with me once the sun sets? And then maybe get dinner? We can go to Suzy’s Cafe again now that I’m good with the coven.”
“I was already planning on taking you out so you have another reason to dress up.” He slides his hand down between my thighs.
“Are you saying I look better when I put effort into my appearance?” I laugh.
“I prefer you naked. You look good in anything.”
“Because you can take it off, right?”
“I do imagine you naked half the time we’re talking,” he chuckles.
“Same. And I like dressing up every once in a while. I haven’t worn some of the clothes I bought in California yet, and that purple crop top isn’t going to look good on me for much longer.”
“Why?”
“You knocked me up, remember? I’m going to have a big belly.”
“If you want to wear the crop top while you’re pregnant then wear the fucking crop top.”
Lucas is very much a rules-don’t-apply-to-me sort of person. He doesn’t worry about anyone’s opinion of him—other than mine, of course—and I never realized how much I do things not to raise eyebrows without even thinking about it.
I’ve always walked to the beat of my own drum, and once I was thriving at Grim Gate Academy, I made a promise to myself never to do anything to appease assholes like the Martins ever again.
“Every part of you is beautiful,” Lucas says, deep voice rattling right through me. “And it will continue to be beautiful when our child grows.”
“I am so lucky,” I whisper, cupping his face in my hands. The rough stubble on his jaw feels good against my palm. Lucas puts his mouth to mine, tongue pushing past my lips. He moves on top of me, kissing me with fervor.
An alert sounds on his phone, and we break apart.
“Something triggered the camera in the back.”
“Probably a bunny,” I quip, still a little annoyed Lucas installed a high-tech security system. Nothing can beat my warding.
“It’s a raccoon.”
“See? Not a demon. I’m all for the cameras on the porch, but maybe we should turn that one off. It’s going to go off in the middle of the night and freak us out. If anything tried to walk through the warding, I’d know.”
“I can turn down the sensitivity of the alerts.”
“Thank you.” I give him one more kiss and then get up, needing to pee. I put on makeup, magically curl my hair, and then get dressed, wearing black jeans, the purple crop top I was talking about, and one of my favorite sweaters. It’s a thick black cable knit that hangs just past my butt and has deep pockets. I pretty much lived in this thing last winter.
“Should we invite Eliza?” I ask quietly. “It’ll be our first family dinner together at a restaurant.”
“Speaking of family, Abby called while you were sleeping.”
My blood runs cold. “What did she want?”
“Checking on you. I told her you’d call back.”
“Oh, okay.” Guilt creeps up on me fast and I swallow hard, pushing a lump down my tightening throat. “This will never be fully behind us, will it? Unless I tell her.”
“If telling her makes you feel better, then do it,” Lucas says. “Know that not telling someone in order to protect them isn’t the same as lying.”
“Isn't it, though?”
“She has no memory of it. She’s been healed. I don’t see the point in telling her.”