another one. I sniffle and wipe at my eyes before more escape. Her words mean everything, filling me with a mixture of longing and gratitude.
“I know. But I want you to have fun. Ryan will take good care of me.” It’s a tiny white lie, but one that’s necessary right now.
Once I’ve got everything figured out, and I know the baby is okay, I’ll tell Ryan and my parents. I’ll come clean with all of them. No more lies. “Maybe I’ll fly out to see Dad again soon.”
“Do that. I’m sure he’d love to see you again. And Mrs. Zimmerman can look after Bacon. Tell her I’ll bring her something nice from my trip to keep her happy.” She knows the elderly lady threw a bit of a fit the last time, even though we all know she loves Bacon.
“I will.”
There are voices in the background and my mom says something but it sounds muffled. Then she sighs into the phone. “I’m sorry, sweetie, but I have to go. We have to leave or we’ll miss the boat.”
“No worries, I need to get going too.”
“I’ll call you as soon as we’re back on land, okay?”
“Sounds good. I love you.”
“I love you too, sweetheart. Take good care of yourself.”
“I will. Bye, Mom.”
“Bye.”
Bacon waltzes into the bathroom and meows around my legs, winding his body around one leg before doing the same to the other.
“Yes, I’m going to give you your food in a moment.” I reach down to pet him so he’s satisfied long enough for me to get ready.
The phone call with my mom has taken longer than I thought, and I rush through the rest of my routine to make it to my appointment.
Ten minutes later, I grab my coat and purse and rush out the door. Thankfully, the imaging office is only a few blocks away and it’s a sunny day, so I put on my gloves and hat and walk the short distance.
The closer I get to my destination, the stronger the fluttery feeling in my stomach gets. I pull out my phone and text Ryan. I think I’m going to puke. Is this normal? I can’t remember the last time I was this nervous. Well, maybe when I met you, but back then I had alcohol to help me with my nerves.
He should be in the middle of his morning training session at this time, but messaging him always calms me.
Deep breath. I’ll deal with whatever happens. I can handle this, right? They’ll only take a small amount of blood from my finger and do an ultrasound, that’s all. Easy-peasy.
My fingers still hover over the keyboard, and after an encouraging inhale, my fingers begin to move. How do you feel about getting together? Maybe I could fly out again next week after my other appointment? Let me know what you think. I know you’re crazy busy with your training, and I don’t want to mess with that. Another deep breath before I type the rest. But just to be clear, I want to see you. I miss you. It’s been too long.
Send. There. Done.
Hopefully it was the right thing to say.
“It definitely has been too long.” That voice. It’s deep and male and sounds like Ryan.
What on earth? I’ve officially lost my mind. Now I’m hallucinating because I miss him so much.
I pocket my phone and walk up the few steps to the building, slowly looking up.
Until I see someone standing right next to the door, and my mouth falls open.
Leaning against the wall is Ryan. Freaking Ryan.
He looks at me and smirks. “Hey.”
“How?” That’s all I get out, still staring at him like he’s grown a third eye.
“I wanted to be here for the appointment. And I wanted to see you.”
“Why?” Apparently, I’ve lost my ability to speak more than one word at a time.
“Because I’ve missed you too.”
That does it. I get over the shock and fling myself at him. He catches me and hauls me against his chest, one of his hands going to my lower back, the other one into my hair, gripping my neck possessively. I love it.
I breathe him in, feeling his heartbeat against my ear, and I can’t remember the last time I was this content. When I pull back to get a better look at him, he doesn’t waste a second. His lips are on me, and all I can do is hold on, fisting his coat like I might float away without that hold.
The kiss takes my