Page 82 of Louder Than Words

“What is it? Are you okay?” he asks frantically, searching around the bed like something set me off.

I nod, slipping one hand free to wipe my eyes. “That’s just… really sweet,” I whisper through a shaky breath.

God. I’m already ridiculous.

“Well, don’t cry until you see the toast,” he says gently. “You never know, I might burn it.”

I laugh, wiping away what I hope are the last of my tears. “I actually like burnt toast.”

His face scrunches, and I laugh again. He’s definitely trying not to smile—and I’m just going to tell myself it’s because he likes burnt toast too.

But I know he doesn’t.

I’ve seen him scraping off the burnt bits. I’ve just never had the heart to tell him I actually like it that way. Not with all the effort he puts into making one single piece of toast just right—forme.

But now?

Now I really want burnt toast.

He leans in and presses a quick kiss to my cheek, muttering, “Crazy woman,” in my ear before slipping away.

I smile to myself as he disappears through the door, then finally sink back into the pillows the second I hear pans clattering.

I close my eyes for a few more minutes, smiling to myself, because honestly? If he burns my toast on purpose, I think I’ll fall in love with him all over again.

I’m not sure how much time passes. All I know is that my eyes peel open the moment I hear glasses clinking on the nightstand and catch Jax wincing as he bumps into the small lamp.

He peeks at me from the corner of his eye, lips twitching. “Sorry,” he murmurs. “I was gonna try and let you sleep a little longer.”

I sit up, yawning. “And miss eggs and toast? No chance.”

He smiles and gestures to the coffee mug on the tray. “I, uh… wasn’t sure if caffeine was safe,” he says, a little bashfully. And it’s so damn cute I could cry again.

I laugh softly. “If you want to live to see this baby born, you willnotwithhold my coffee.”

He holds up his hands in surrender. “Duly noted,” he says, then carefully hands it over.

I bring the cup to my nose, breathing in the beautiful smell of coffee beans mixed with a hint of vanilla from the cream. And I am inHeaven.

But then I glance at the food and honestly the eggs make my stomach turn a little. But I hold it back as best I can.

Closing my eyes, I take a full sip. The first real sip of coffee I’ve been able to enjoy since Thanksgiving. And it isglorious.

I open my eyes again, the mug still warm beneath my nose, and find Jax staring at me. Not like he’s worried I’m about to get sick or anything. More like I just did something amazing instead of, you know, drinking coffee.

I lower the mug and narrow my eyes at him. “What?”

He shakes his head slowly, eyes steady on mine. “I don’t think you realize how truly beautiful you are.”

I don’t need a mirror to know my cheeks just turned fifty shades of red. I can feel it in the way my heart picks up just a little, and in the way my gaze immediately drops to the coffee like there’s some sort of script hiding in there to tell me what to say to that.

Tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, I shrug. “If you think I’m attractive now, you should see me after I’ve had coffeeandbrushed my teeth,” I say with a nervous chuckle.

He shakes his head again, slower this time. “Always,” he says. “When you crinkle your nose every time I make tea. When you pretend you’re not looking away during the scary parts of a film.And especially when I get the privilege of watching you be a mother to your girls—and now, toourbaby.”

My throat tightens. I swipe a thumb under my eye to catch a tear before it can fully fall. “Careful,” I murmur. “You’re starting to sound like you love me or something.”

“Idolove you, Allie.”