Chapter 23 Sage
SAGE
I can’t remember the last time I lived with someone. No wait, I can. University, in the shared dorm rooms. But as soon as I could swing it, I moved into a single student room. Once I graduated, I was on the move so often, short-term studio rentals were the norm.
That makes it more than six years since my life co-mingled with someone else’s. Since my shoes were lined up next to much-larger pairs, and my dishes sat alongside others. The bag I take to work leans next to his baseball gear bag by the front door. A domestic collision, of sorts.
It’s overwhelming at times, if I’m being honest. I’m trying to ignore those feelings and focus on the good. But it’s only been a few days since Brady came into my bedroom and forced me to admit my feelings.
Maybe forced is the wrong word, that implies I did it against my will, and I didn’t. I’m happy we finally got things out in the open. I’m happy we’re giving it a try, being in a real relationship.
And while Brady made it clear we could move as slow as I wanted us to, that hasn’t exactly been reality. No, our reality is the opposite of a couple in the early stages of a relationship, given we’re already sharing a space and having a baby together.
Still, there’s a part of me that’s desperate to pump the brakes, to slow down and give ourselves a chance to adjust.
Which is why, when he woke up this morning and announced his intentions to get things organized around here, I had to stuff down the nerves that had me panicking over what he meant by that.
“What time do you usually take a nap before night shift?” he asks, coming out of his en suite bathroom with an armful of stuff.
“Um, early afternoon. What is all that?” I ask from where I’m still sitting on his bed.
“Just stuff that can go in the spare bathroom. That way you’ll have some drawers you can put your stuff in,” he says cheerfully before disappearing down the hall.
Oh. Oh.
When he eventually comes back, I’m exactly where I was when he left, still trying to process what’s going on.
“I have to be at the stadium by three, but we can have lunch together, I’ll head out when you go to sleep.”
He’s making it all sound so seamless, so simple. As if our lives can blend together easily. And I suppose that’s been true thus far. I don’t know why I’m still struggling to let go of my worries and enjoy the fact that everything is going well between us.
But I’m determined to try.
Tossing off the blankets I get out of bed, taking a second to find my centre of gravity that has definitely started to shift as my belly grows. Brady’s moved to the small walk-in closet now and is moving things out of some drawers in his dresser.
“The top row can be for your stuff. I’ll use the bottom ones so you don’t have to bend over.
” He shoots me a wink over his shoulder as I walk up behind him and wrap my arms around his waist. I can still just reach all the way, but not for much longer.
Resting my cheek on his strong back, I breathe in the scent of him, his fresh-smelling shampoo mixing with laundry soap and whatever deodorant or cologne he wears.
“So you just assume I’m gonna move into your bedroom, huh? Just like that?”
Brady tenses and turns around slowly. When our gazes meet, he has a worried expression on his face that I immediately reach up to smooth away.
“Is this too fast? I’m sorry, Hurricane. We should’ve talked about it first.”
I place my finger on his lips. “Brady. I was teasing you. This is fine. It might take me a minute to catch up, but I love your enthusiasm.” I lower my finger and lift up on my toes to kiss his lips instead. “Besides, I sleep better when I’m with you than I have in a long time.”
“Does that mean you won’t freak out if I want to show you something else I’ve been thinking about?”
I loop my arms around his neck and tilt my head to the side. “I’m not sure if I should be excited or worried. What could you possibly want to show me that would freak me out?”
Instead of saying anything, Brady takes my hands and leads me out of his room and down the hall to the spare room where I slept when I first moved in.
He steps inside and starts moving around the room, pointing in various directions as he talks animatedly.
“I was thinking about how to turn this into the baby’s room.
We could sell the bed and get a daybed or a sofa bed instead, just so we have something in here.
I’m not totally sure how we’ll make it work when the twins come to visit, but maybe we’ll get an air mattress or something.
Anyway, I could paint the dresser and the bookcase white, and put a chair in the corner there, and… ” He trails off, turning back to me.
“Crap. Too much again? See, I told you it might freak you out.”
I step toward him, shaking my head slowly. “I’m not freaked out. I’m…adjusting. Remember? You’re making space for our baby and she won’t be here for months. I’m okay with it, honestly.” I look around the room, and I picture a white crib by the window, with a baseball-themed mobile hanging over it.
Brady wants to build a home here for us. All three of us. And yes, it’s fast, crazy fast. But I’m not scared. Instead, there’s a soft warmth in my chest.
Hope.
Possibility. Uncertainty, yes, but also comfort. Because I trust him. I trust him with my heart.
After we move my clothes into the newly cleaned out space in the closet, we decide to go out for some breakfast.
As we push open the door to the same diner we’ve had all of our breakfast dates at, the smell of bacon and coffee makes my stomach grumble right on cue.
“Pancakes with bananas and chocolate chips?” Brady asks with a grin.
I nod. “And a side of bacon. It smells amazing.”
“Look who’s back! How’s that baby of yours?
” Dottie, the diner owner, comes sashaying over in one of her poodle skirts, which she seems to have an unlimited supply of.
She places her hands on her hips and looks pointedly down at where mine and Brady’s hands are clasped together.
“Ah. Did we finally move past whatever silliness was keeping you two apart?”
Brady drops my hand, only to drape his arm over my shoulders and kiss the side of my head. “Sure did, Dottie.”
She beams at him. “Good. Let’s get you settled, then. Sage, honey, are you wanting coffee today, or some peppermint tea?”
We follow her to a booth, the same one we’ve ended up sitting in each time we come here. “Coffee please, just a small one.”
“You got it. And Brady?”
“Same here, thanks.”
She bustles away after dropping two menus down on the table that neither one of us moves to pick up. Leaning forward, Brady drops his voice to a whisper. “This is the same booth we’ve had the last two weeks, isn’t it.”
I nod, my eyes widening. “That’s what I was thinking.”
He leans back and takes a sip of his water. “Guess we’re regulars now.”
“Of course you are, silly,” Dottie interrupts, returning with two cups of coffee. “Perks of a small town. Now, will it be the usual for both of you?” She looks at us expectantly, and after exchanging a glance, Brady answers for us both.
“You bet. But with a side of bacon, please.”
Dottie leaves again, and after adding some milk and sugar, I pick up my coffee to take a sip. “Oh, that’s good,” I moan. “I can’t wait until I can drink all the coffee I want again.”
“This one book I read said it’s not actually that bad to drink coffee during pregnancy. You could probably have more than just a small cup if you wanted.”
I smile at Brady over the top of my cup. “It’s seriously adorable how much you’ve read and learned about pregnancy. Major DILF points.”
My comment must catch him off guard, seeing as he chokes on the sip of coffee he’s just taken before managing to respond. “DILF?”
I make a point of slowly licking my lips as I nod. “Mm-hmm.”
Brady’s eyes darken as he sets the coffee cup down and leans in again. “Careful, little mama, or we won’t be staying here long enough for you to eat your pancakes.”
My cheeks heat. Brady reaches over to lace his fingers with mine, his thumb stroking my knuckles. “You know, I was doing some reading as well. And what I read,” I say casually, “is that in the second trimester a woman’s libido increases, like, a lot.”
Brady’s thumb stills, and I watch him shift in his seat. “Sage,” he rumbles warningly. But neither one of us can say anything more because Dottie’s back with plates of food that smell so good, my stomach lets out another rumble.
“Here you two go, let me know if you need anything else.”
She walks away and I pick up my knife and fork to start eating, only for Brady to clear his throat, drawing my attention up to his face. He’s still staring at me, his expression heated and intense.
“I had planned to take you shopping for some stuff for the nursery after this, but now I’m wondering if we have time.”
I glance down at my watch. “I have a couple of hours before I really need to be resting for my shift.”
He nods slowly. “Like I said. Not enough time to go shopping and…” He trails off, but the meaning is clear.
“Shopping can wait,” I whisper.
Brady gives me a wolfish grin before cutting off a huge piece of pancake and putting it in his mouth. Once he’s swallowed, he replies, “Good answer.”