25. Willa
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
WILLA
N ow that my embarrassment from grinding all over Trevor in my sleep has mostly worn off, I have a new dilemma. I miss him. He’s only been in San Francisco for three days, a shorter work week than usual, and I keep checking my phone for a message saying he’s landed back here in LA.
It’s Friday, but I’ve had no nightmares this week, or sex dreams, for that matter.
Snuggling up to the pillow that still smells like Trevor is great and all, but it’s a poor substitute for having the real thing.
I like the coziness that settles into me when I’m wrapped in his arms at night, and the gentle caresses he sweeps across my spine.
The brief, incidental touches he leaves on the small of my back while we’re out, and the mindless way his hand strokes my foot when we’re lounging on the couch.
They both take up significant real estate in my mind lately.
Hell, even his music tastes are growing on me.
Never thought I’d come to this conclusion, but I’m pretty sure I have a crush on the father of my child.
A minuscule, hormone-induced crush. Heavy on the hormones.
“So, uh, we need to talk about something…” Trevor sets his empty bowl on the coffee table, fork clanging around the red remnants of the pasta sauce clinging to the sides.
I blow out a breath and sit cross-legged on the couch cushion, wondering what took him so long to bring up the other night. Since it’s my fault, really, it’s probably better if I rip open the wound. “Yeah… I’m sorry I humped your leg, Trev.”
He sputters out a laugh and throws his head back, shaking it like I caught him off guard. “Not that, Gem. Never apologize for that .” Grinning, he reaches over and pulls my feet into his lap. “No, I need to talk to you about work.”
“Is everything okay? I told you not to take so much time off?—”
“I put in a transfer to EdTechU’s LA office.”
“Oh.” An entire fleet of butterflies releases in my body.
“Yeah. I just figured it makes sense, especially the farther along you get. Even though we haven’t talked about what to do after, it’s better for me to make the move now rather than later.”
I’m floating with the lightness that’s burst in my chest. Trevor’s moving down here to be with me . Okay, not me, specifically. He’s moving for the baby, but my body reacts just the same. The thought of seeing him every day has excitement coursing through me like it’s Christmas morning.
“The request takes a few weeks to process, so I’ll still need to head up to San Francisco periodically, but I should be all set by the end of January. Would it be okay with you if I crashed here until I find an apartment?”
“You can just stay here.” I don’t even have a second thought before the words fly out of my mouth.
“Gem, no. You like your space. I’ll find my own place.”
“I like you in my space.” Another thought bypasses my filter, and he stills, eyebrows sky high.
“I mean , I don’t mind you being here. It could be a good trial run before the baby comes so we’re not adjusting to each other in addition to a newborn.
” His head falls into a skeptical tilt, but he says nothing. “…Is that—does that work for you?”
Nodding slowly, the pinched lines on his forehead relax when I give him a smile. “You’re sure?”
“Yeah. I’ve been thinking about it for a few days now. We can go make a key tomorrow.”
He nods again, watching me like I’m going to change my mind and kick him out at any second. When I don’t, he gives me that cute, dimpled smile. “Hey, Willa?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for dinner. Let me clean up.”
The somersault in my belly makes me blush as I watch him gather the dishes and head to the kitchen. If I was crushing before, this is an all-out rapture.