Chapter Seven
Emily
“I guess they missed the discussion in school about the importance of protection,” Chris said, directing his attention to the four bundles of fur curled up in the living room where Hudson was playing with his action figures.
Cassie’s bark of laughter bounced off the walls.
“Chris, that’s not funny,” I said, fighting my smile as I put the mayo, mustard, turkey, and cheese back in the fridge.
“It’s hilarious,” Cassie said, nudging me with her elbow.
“I thought Celine would get a kick out of it, but this one”—he jerked his thumb at me—“told me she’d kill me if I said anything of the sort.”
“Actually,” I said, “I told you I’d take you in with Luke to get neutered.”
“Ouch,” Cassie said, her loud laughter filling the room again as Chris cupped his manhood. “Why didn’t you take him in already, Chris?”
I rolled my eyes. “Typical guy.”
“You know, it calms most dogs down when you fix them, right?” Cassie asked.
“It’s not just that.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I thought maybe I’d breed him if money got tight. I took a huge pay cut coming down here.”
“Aww,” she crooned, her eyes volleying back and forth between Chris and me.
“I didn’t know that,” I said, feeling the guilty bubbles gurgling in my tummy.
Chris diverted his gaze. “It’s not a huge deal. But, just in case, you know.”
“So, your dog’s your backup plan?” Cassie asked.
He laughed and said, “I guess I better come up with a different one. Luke won’t stop humping everyone.”
“Luke started in on Chris’s leg this morning,” I explained.
Cassie sputtered a laugh and patted Chris’s shoulder when he looked morosely at his dog, who was currently sniffing Moose. “Luke, no!” he said, clapping his hands in the hope that it would discourage him from mounting his brother .
Hearing his name, Luke’s ears perked up. He pranced over to his master, smiling the way dogs do when they’re happy.
“Please stop humping them,” Chris said.
Meeting my eyes, Cassie and I raised our hands and mimed snipping actions.
“Sorry, bud.” Chris looked at Luke and released a defeated sigh. We both knew the argument was moot at this point. “Although,” he started again, suddenly inspired.
“No,” I said, shaking my head, already knowing where he was headed. “Uh-uh.”
“Em, come on,” Chris’s warm brown eyes softened the way they did when he tried to appeal to me.
My body sagged with guilt. I didn’t want to be the kind of partner who dictated things. That wasn’t the kind of relationship I wanted. “Can we discuss it later?” I asked.
“Sure,” he answered, meeting my lips with a tender kiss before sending Luke the kind of look a parent sends their kid when they’re misbehaving. “I’m just glad Celine reacted the way she did.”
“I can’t believe it. I was so scared she’d fire me. But she’s over the moon about Gigi’s pregnancy. She thinks it’s the most wonderful thing ,” I said, attempting to replicate her beautiful accent.
Cassie shook her head, pressing her lips together. “Leave the French to Celine, honey.”
“And to me,” Chris added, waggling his eyes at me.
“Good one,” my best friend said on a laugh before high-fiving my boyfriend.
“ Idiot ,” I said with perfect French precision.
“ Ooh là là ,” Cassie said. “ Très bien .”
“I resent that statement,” Chris said, grabbing my waist and tickling my sides. “I happen to think I’m pretty smart. After all, I fell in love with you.”
Cassie swooned again as Chris and I kissed.
“I’m gonna eat with Hudson. Give you two some time to chat,” he said, picking up two plated lunches.
“Okay,” I said, my eyes following him longingly as he walked away.
“Man, you’ve got it bad,” Cassie said, sidling up beside me. “I’m so happy for you guys.”
I sighed, completely smitten and in love with the boys who officially stole my heart. “I’m so happy that sometimes I’m scared.”
“That’s how you know it’s true love.”
Later that night, I thought about Cassie’s words. She was right—Chris was my true love. So was Hudson. I’d spent my life untethered to anyone because of my childhood trauma. My grandma was the only one capable of unconditional love, and I’d learned that from her. But I never thought I’d find it for myself.
Now that I had, I hoped and prayed my best friend would find it, too.
My fingers raced desperately across the screen.
Me
Come home for lunch. ??
A minute later, my cheeks flushed in anticipation as I read Chris’s incoming text.
Chris
?? + ?? = ??
I couldn’t suppress my laughter as I texted back:
Me
Perv ?? ??
What was it about sex in the afternoon?
Maybe it was Chris.
I’d become addicted to the man I was head over heels in love with.
As I rummaged through my things to find something sexy to wear, my eyes landed on my Catwoman accessories.
“Rrrrr,” I purred to myself as I pulled the mask and ears out. I slipped the tail through my hand and pulled on it. Yep, it was long and strong enough.
I thought back to the time I tied him up using his belt.
“Mmm-hmm,” I hummed.
This was going to be a nooner he’d never forget.
I didn’t have time to catch the flu—not with Thanksgiving upon us.
What made things worse was that I gave it to Hudson.
Over the weekend, Chris doted on us, running baths, bringing medicine, and serving water and ginger ale when we wanted. He made hot peppermint green tea for me and gave Hudson Pedialyte to help us rehydrate. Between us and the dogs, we’d run him ragged.
I had to hand it to him. The man was a trooper through it all.
With Thanksgiving a little over a week away and the mile-long list we needed to finish to prepare for our first holiday together, he didn’t lose his cool. I was too exhausted to be a complete mess, but I hated that this happened at the most inopportune time. Chris’s family was due to arrive from Florida the following week, and I wanted everything to be perfect.
Hudson and I huddled under blankets on the couch while the boys and Gigi curled up on their dog beds nearby. We were both running fevers and aching all over. The past two days had been the worst. Every time we thought we could eat something, we ended up in the bathroom.
Thankfully, the vomiting had subsided when I woke up, but neither Hudson nor I was in the mood to eat breakfast with Chris that morning.
I looked at Hudson, so sweet and snuggly, trying to keep his eyes open while his favorite cartoon, Logan’s Laboratory, played on the television. After a few minutes, he gave in to sleep. I watched his chest rise and fall, and my heart broke because he was sick because of me.
I slid off the couch, careful not to wake him up. Keeping one eye on his, I heated some chicken noodle soup and poured some ginger ale to help our queasy tummies.
Hudson was sleeping so peacefully, so I didn’t have the heart to wake him from his nap. I texted Chris to let him know we were doing okay and followed up with my clients. As much as I hated missing my sessions with the dogs, I was thankful to be here to take care of Hudson so Chris didn’t have to take time off from work.
“Emmy?” Hudson’s voice was hoarse from sleeping and coughing.
“Yes, sweetie.” I rushed to his side with a cool cloth. “How are you feeling?” I asked, pressing it to his forehead. Smiling when he closed his eyes in relief, I couldn’t help but melt. Hudson had never called me Emmy before, but since he’d been sick, he was even sweeter than usual.
He sighed and pulled his blanket under his chin.
“I made some soup. Chicken noodle. Are you hungry?”
He shook his head.
“How about some ginger ale?”
“Okay,” he said, perking up a little.
I padded back to the kitchen and filled a small bowl of soup for him, just in case. “All right,” I said, setting the tray on the coffee table in front of us before helping him get comfortable sitting up. “Here’s your ginger ale, sir,” I said, handing him a cup.
When I clinked my cup to his, he giggled.
“Are you sure you don’t want to try the soup? Or I brought us some crackers, too,” I said, bringing his cup of soup closer. I hoped the aroma would entice him to at least take a few bites.
The corners of his mouth lifted in a half-hearted smile. Knowing he was nervous about getting “sick” again, I assured him, “I think a couple of bites might make us feel better.”
“Emmy?” he asked.
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry I threw up on you.”
“It’s okay, honey. Rufus and Moose have gotten sick before. Trust me, that was way worse.”
His cute cackle of laughter told me I did a good job of offering him the comfort and reassurance he needed.
I placed the tray over his legs and set him up. “Eat as much as you want,” I said before taking a bite of my own.
We laughed when we both “Mmm-ed” in unison.
Relieved that he was feeling good enough to eat something, I settled against the cushions and got comfortable with the little boy who stole my heart just as much as his dad had – albeit in a different way.
Hours later, Chris woke me up with a kiss on my forehead. Opening my eyes, I was surprised to see him in a T-shirt and sweats. Damn, he looked sexy. Even more surprising was the obnoxious rumble of my stomach from the scent of pizza floating in the air.
“Hungry?” he whispered.
I clamped my hand over my tummy, feeling the blush heat my cheeks.
We looked over at Hudson, who was still sound asleep.
Chris offered his hands to lift me off the sofa. Moose, Rufus, Luke, and Gigi pranced over to us, glad there was someone home healthy enough to give them attention.
“Okay, guys,” he whispered, shooing them away so Hudson wouldn’t wake up.
Following him to the kitchen, I realized the worst thing about being this sick—not sleeping together. We hadn’t kissed or made love in days, and now that I was on the mend, I realized how much I missed it—how much I missed him. Knowing my body, I knew I wasn’t well enough for physical activities, but I couldn’t wait to be in his arms again.
“I got plain cheese pizza for you guys. And some minestrone soup.”
I was about to reach for the pizza since Hudson and I had chicken noodle earlier, but when Chris lifted the lid and the tantalizing aroma of basil, rosemary, and bay leaves hit my nose, my mouth watered.
Chris’s warm chuckle of laughter had me blushing all over again. “It’s good to see you’re getting your appetite back.” He filled a bowl, then jerked his head for me to follow him to the table.
He set me up and peeked over at Hudson before retreating to the kitchen to plate his food. Heart melting at his inherent desire to take care of us first, I watched and waited for him to return.
“Thank you for taking such good care of us,” I said.
“I love you, baby. There’s nothing in the world I wouldn’t do for you guys.”
I smiled around my mouthful of minestrone as he sent me a wink. I filled him in on Hudson and my day together.
“His fever finally broke,” I said. “I think we’re over the worst of it.”
“I’m lucky you were here to help him.”
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him. Or you,” I echoed his earlier sentiment.
“Can you help me change the sheets on your bed?” I asked, not caring at all that my voice had a needy, desperate quality to it.
“Are you sure you don’t need another night to?—”
“I don’t think you have to worry about catching anything from me. And I hate that you have to sleep on the couch.”
“It’s not so bad,” Chris said.
“I think the one thing that would make me feel better is having you next to me.”
“That would make me feel better, too,” he said, squeezing my hand.
“Then it’s settled,” I said.
“Emmy?” Hudson called groggily.
“Emmy?” Chris asked. “When’d that start?”
“Today,” I said. “Isn’t it sweet? I’m Emmy.” My chest tightened in the most wonderful way as I touched my hand to my heart.
“Daddy?” Hudson said when his eyes landed on Chris.
“Hey, buddy.” Unfathomable love swelled within as I watched Chris check Hudson over from head to toe. What melted me even more into a puddle of liquid goo was Luke laying his head next to Hudson’s as the other three sat protectively at his feet.
“I’m hungry,” Hudson said, his spirits brighter than hours before.
“I guess Emmy’s been taking good care of you, huh?” Chris said as Hudson scooted up into a seated position.
“We took care of each other,” Hudson said.
“That’s right. The best.” I winked at him. “Dad brought us pizza for dinner if you’re up for it.”
“And soup,” Chris added.
“We had soup for lunch,” Hudson said.
“I heard. Chicken noodle, right?”
“Mm-hmm.” Hudson kicked off his blanket.
“Let’s take it slow,” Chris said as Hudson stood up. “I don’t want you getting sick again.”
“Me either,” Hudson said.
“Enjoy your pizza,” I told Hudson, who appeared very eager to eat something of substance. “I’m going to take a shower,” I added before Chris followed him and the dogs to the kitchen.
“I’ll get some food in him and see how he does,” Chris said. “Enjoy your shower.”
The look in his eyes mirrored the thought I had—we’d both enjoy it better together .
“It’s good to see him feeling better,” I said as we watched Hudson choose which piece of pizza he wanted. The dogs sat eagerly at his feet, hoping he’d drop a morsel for them.
Chris chuckled. “I better get in there before he decides to feed the dogs pizza, too.”
My shower was divine. I didn’t have the strength to stand up the past few days. I was barely able to take a bath the day before that. After washing and shaving from top to bottom, I felt like a brand-new woman.
Little did I know that blow-drying my hair would zap all my recently restored energy. By the time I was dry and moisturized, all I wanted to do was crawl into bed.
Like the miracle my man was, the bed was turned down and ready for me. Chris had changed the sheets all on his own. The scent of fabric softener and fresh, crisp linens was heaven-sent.
Chris was preoccupied with Hudson. The sound of his shower and their cute conversation made me smile.
Deciding to wait for them to finish, I turned the bedroom lights off and crawled into the comfy cocoon of Chris’s Cal-king bed. Try as I might to wait up for him, I fell asleep. I only knew this because when I woke up a little before midnight, Chris was fast asleep next to me.
Cuddling closer, I tucked myself into his side.
He sighed a happy sigh before saying, “It’s good to be back in our bed. It’s even better to have you back in my arms.”
Our bed , I thought as I closed my eyes again.
It was unbelievably amazing how much my life had changed since meeting Chris.
I went from having the only men in my life being four-legged to being in an amazing relationship with a wonderful man, his adorable son, and their precarious pooch.
My life wasn’t just about me anymore, and I couldn’t be happier.
Our bed.
Our life.