Chapter 37
HOLLY
Itold myself things between Dexter and me aren’t possible because I’m leaving. But… what if I’m not? If Shelby really moves here, we could start our kindergarten in the US. We’d need to adjust the setup, register it as a private preschool, but even so—it’s doable.
And it would change… everything.
I sit with the thought for five full minutes, staring at my screen, chewing the inside of my cheek. A smile keeps tugging at me anyway.
I grab my phone.
Me:
Dexter, I need to tell you something important.
Dexter:
Tell me.
Me:
Not over chat. When you get home.
Dexter:
You all right?
Me:
I’m fine. Just big news.
Dexter:
All right. See you at 7.
The rest of the day slips by, though I hardly get anything done. Every time I look at the clock, seven feels too far away. I pretend to work, but I can’t keep the smile off my face. By the time I get back to the apartment, the nausea’s eased and I’m steady on my feet.
Ding.
As the elevator doors slide open, his front door opens too.
Dexter is standing there in his suit, jacket off, gray tie loosened. He looks like he just got home himself, but hasn’t taken a breath yet.
“You look better.” He’s staring at me, before he steps aside so I can come in. “Sick spell over?”
“For now. But guess what!” I say happily, kicking out of my shoes. My balance tips, and before I can catch myself, I stumble forward, straight into his chest.
He catches me without blinking. “Always looking for ways to end up in my arms.”
I blink up at him, letting out a shaky laugh. “Okay, cocky much?”
“Just stating the obvious.”
I get stuck there, caught in his eyes longer than I mean to be. The way he’s looking at me makes it hard to think straight. “You’re not helping,” I manage. “At all.”
“And could you not eye-fuck me with those eyes? You’re making my dick hard.”
I roll my eyes and step back, putting just enough space between us to breathe. “Fine. I’m telling you anyway.”
His eyes don’t move off mine. “Shoot.”
“Someone bought the building we were going to lease.”
Dexter stills. Just for a second, something strained flashes across his face. His shoulders lock. “And that’s… good?”
“It is! It’s perfect! The landlord offered to double our deposit as an apology, and Shelby said... if it all checks out... she might move here! With the kids!”
Dexter’s whole posture changes. His shoulders drop. Slowly, he begins, “So if she comes…”
“I stay.”
He doesn’t say anything, just steps in and pulls me close. His hands are on me, his body against mine, and I feel the tension leave him in one long breath.
“Thank. Fucking. God,” he rumbles, taking my face in his hands, and leaning in.
When he kisses me, he tastes like coffee and relief. I can’t help smiling through the kiss, kissing him back with everything I’ve been holding in. My heart swells at the thought of him beside me through this. I’d planned to do it alone, convinced I had to.
But maybe I don’t.
Maybe I can let him in, just a little. The possibility makes my eyes water.
He pulls back, eyes scanning my face.
“Shit, baby, you’re crying.” He brushes his thumb under one eye, then the other. “Don’t cry.”
“That’s just… water. On my face. Don’t read into it, I’m hormonal. I cried yesterday because I bought the wrong hand soap.”
“Just admit it, baby, you’re happy.” His dimples form a smile. “Admit you can’t imagine doing this without me.”
“Never. You’ll have to torture it out of me.”
“I might.” He kisses me again, giving me several small pecks before drawing back. “I’m so fucking glad you’re staying.”
“I might be staying,” I remind him. “Shelby’s still figuring things out. She hasn’t talked to the kids yet.”
“This is happening. Just let it happen.”
He gives me a look I haven’t seen in weeks, maybe months. For the first time in ages, it feels like him again. And I feel like I’m floating on clouds.
Everything’s shifting—only now, it’s shifting in the right direction. I can see it all: the baby, the preschool, Dexter beside me. But this time, I don’t fight the feeling.
“You know what this means, right?” he asks.
“We’ll do this together and I’ll have my sister with me.” My voice wobbles, and I sniff.
The next thing I know, he’s swept me up in his arms. “Wrong. Celebration sex.”
I giggle. “It’s not confirmed.”
“Too late, you told me. That’s legally binding.”
“Dexter!”
“Fine. Regular sex, then.”
“You know, pretty soon I’ll be too big for you to get me off the ground like this.”
“I’ll install a pulley system.”
Laughing (and still crying a little), I loop my arms around his neck. “Okay, but shouldn’t we have a snack first?”
“All right. Come here, my snack.”
Beaming, I kiss him.