Say When - Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,95
the covers, wiggling around until I get comfortable which is a moot point when he gets in too and immediately pulls me into the warm embrace of his arms. I sigh happily into his hold, relaxing against him.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers, his lips against my ear.
“Don’t be. I’m not going to apologize for loving you.”
He kisses my cheek. “What would I have done if you weren’t in that restaurant that day?”
I counter with, “And what would I have done if I never saw you again?”
I understand my parents’ apprehension, I do, but I’m not backing down from my love for this man. When you know, you know.
Waking up in Hayden’s arms is a type of heaven I could get used to. I curl my body around his, our legs twined together. I soak up the sensation of his bare skin against mine and the overwhelming feeling of happiness of being with him.
He must feel me stir because he hums low in his throat. “Don’t want to get up yet.” His voice is deep with sleep.
“Me either.” I snuggle closer, pressing my palm to his heart. That steady, solid beating keeps me grounded. “But I really need to go check on Molly.”
“Mmm,” he hums sleepily. “You should.”
Neither of us moves to let the other go. I allow myself five more minutes before I force myself from the bed. I smooth my hair with my fingers and pull it back in a low bun, securing it with the hairband that practically lives on my wrist.
“I’ll see you later,” I murmur, bending to give him a kiss before I slip out of his apartment and into mine. Peeking into Molly’s room, I think she’s still sleeping until she raises her arm and beckons me over. Lifting the covers, she scoots over, letting me slide in beside her. “How are you feeling?”
“Sad,” she whispers. “Hurt.” She sniffles, but no tears fall. “Emmie, what am I going to do with a baby? I’m not even good with kids.”
I play with her hair, taking a small section and braiding it. It’s something we used to do all the time growing up during sleepovers. “Does that mean you’re keeping it?”
“Yes, no, I don’t know.” She covers her eyes with her hands, a deep sigh echoing through her chest. “I mean, adoption isn’t horrible, but I don’t know if I’m strong enough to give up my baby.”
“No matter what you decide, I know it’ll be the best choice for you and the little nugget.”
She moves a hand down to her stomach. “Can you believe there’s a baby in there?”
“No,” I admit. “It’s crazy. You’re growing a human.”
“I’m so mad at Jake.” Her voice cracks. “I thought he was better than this.”
“He might come around. You never know. I’m sure it was a shock to him too.”
“Maybe.” She rolls over and I let her hair go. Gathering her hands beneath her head, we lay facing each other. “But I’m not counting on it. I know if I’m doing this, I have to be prepared to do it all on my own.”
“You know you’ll always have me.”
“Emmie,” she says like I’m dumb, “you know you’re going to follow Hayden to L.A.” Now that Molly knows about our relationship, I’ve filled her in on everything. It’s nice not to have any secrets between us anymore.
“I haven’t decided anything yet,” I defend.
“You love him. You won’t want to be apart from him.”
“But school…”
“You can go to school in L.A.”
“I’m scared to move across the country because of a man.”
“And I’m scared to have a baby … also because of a man.” She giggles. “But just because something is scary doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it?” She touches her belly again, an unconscious gesture.
“You sound like you want me to go.”
“Pssh, I don’t want you to go, but I know you’ll regret it if you don’t.”
“Wow, things have changed drastically since school started.”
She snorts. “Tell me about it.” She studies my face for a moment, probably reading the worry and hesitation there. “It’s your life, Emmie. You have to do what makes you happy.”
“I’m going to think about it, seriously think about what I want to do. I don’t want to make a hasty choice. I want to be sure.”
“Good.” She squeezes my hand. “Can we watch Golden Girls today? I don’t care if Hayden comes over, either. Just tell him to bring food. I’m craving pancakes.”
I laugh. “I think I can get him to do that.”
She pats my hand, a faraway look