Page 5 of Fall Love

She scowls, grumbling, “I can open my own doors.”

“I don’t doubt it, but allow me just this once anyway.”

“Only once?” She arches a brow, reminding me of our night.

Let me make you come, I begged.

Just once? she teased.

Multiple times, I promised.

Who was that guy? I was so not myself that night. Something about her just made me carefree. Made me say things I typically didn’t say. And do things I’d rarely do.

Like give a beautiful woman all the orgasms she asked for before she gave me a few also.

She sweeps by me as I hold open the metal-framed glass door, and she takes a seat on a high stool behind a small counter. The waiting area is cleaner than the garage. Still worn but more welcoming with a few plants near the window and a black industrial mat that looks recently vacuumed. Three orange chairs rest near a coffee cart with a small coffeemaker, actual mugs, and condiments.

“You should put your feet up,” I tell her, noticing how her shorter legs hardly reach the low rung on the stool.

“Here.” I grab a plastic chair and set it near her, taking the liberty to lift her lower legs and set her feet on the seat.

“Whoa,” she says, holding up her hands. “What are you? The pregnancy police?”

I chuckle, fingers twitching to comb through my hair again. I did want to be a doctor once. Instead, I went to business school.

Now, instead of delivering babies, I deliver dull documents and complicated contracts.

“Can I get you something? Water? Gatorade?” She needs to keep her electrolytes up.

Neve chuckles. The choppy sound is closer to laughter than her previous sarcasm. “I’m good. Little Wrench says it’s time for a break.” Her voice lowers, almost a coo, as she glances down at her belly, resting like a large pumpkin in her lap.

Neve instantly appears softer. Sweeter. Even with the mask on her head looking like the broken horn of a unicorn, she’s so pretty, especially when she smiles.

I watch her hands smooth over her stomach in soothing circles.

“Little Wrench?” I chuff.

“Yeah, ever hear the saying ‘she threw a wrench in my plans’? Well.” She waves around her abdomen like it’s a crystal ball.

My throat thickens, and I blink rapidly, willing away a sudden cloud in my eyes. “You’re having a girl?” I instantly picture her. A miniature Neve with raven hair, eyes like the summer sky, and sunshine on her cheeks.

“That’s what they tell me.” She chuckles, good-naturedly this time.

“Got a name picked out?”

She tilts her head as I stand behind the plastic chair, leaning forward, hands braced on the back like my stomach is suddenly contracting.

“You don’t like Little Wrench?” Her eyes dance, the turquoise color light and playful.

“I mean, it’s cute, but I might be partial to Rosie.”

I don’t know why I say it, but our eyes lock for a second. Her breath hitches. My pulse hammers. We shouldn’t go back to that night. To what we did, how we did it. Multiple times.

We don’t need to go back.

I mean, look at her. She’s pregnant with some lucky bloke’s baby, and he’s an idiot because he isn’t here.

It’s only me, she said.