Chapter 8
Renee
Liam tucks Max back into the crib. I absently smile at the sight of such a fatherly action. My heart races as I think about the way he’d treat our babies. Dang, why am I letting his words dominate my common sense? I should know better especially the way my life has gone so far. Things start out good for so many couples. Then something goes wrong, life has so many twists and turns before the end comes.
“Liam. I’m going to sleep in here,” I tell him, silently hinting that I want to be alone. I think back to when things were good with my parents. All it took was one trip into the world of drugs. And I lost them to the federal system.
“Why? Are you worried about him?” he asks, missing my little implication.
“Yes,” I lied, hoping that he’ll understand.
“Okay. The bed is big enough for the both of us.” I press my lips closed, holding back the sigh. He catches the look on my face, then he adds, “Don’t over think this. I told you that you’re mine. If you think I’m going to sleep away from you, you’re out of your pretty little head.”
He pulls me into his arms and presses his lips to mine, coaxing a moan from my body. This is what scares me. What if this is too good to be true?
“Baby, I’d hardly call this too good to be true. We have a kid that’s not ours. We’re going to have ups and downs as we learn to be parents at the beginning of our relationship.”
“I suppose you have a point.”
“Of course I do. Still, that doesn’t change that I’m never letting you go.”
We fall into bed together, snuggling throughout the night, waking up only once with Max. “Don’t ever doubt me, Renee. I’ve waited a lifetime for you,” he whispers just as the sun begins to rise. His words sit in my heart, and I wonder if I can break the cycle.
“Are you off to work?” I murmured against his chest.
“Yes, sorry, beautiful.” He kisses the crown of my head and then he tilts my chin up to kiss my lips. “But I’ll be home right after work.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me because I’m selfishly counting the hours until I can come back, and I haven’t even left.”