Chapter 34
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE
LYDIA
TWENTY WEEKS PREGNANT
My stomach swoops as Fletcher drives us down the long, snow-covered driveway. We got a dusting of snow last night, and it made the hour-long drive out of the Twin Cities look like a winter wonderland.
He didn’t tell me what we were doing until this morning, but something about today feels extra special.
What he’s doing means the world to me. Taking time out of his busy schedule to plan dates—and not only just a date, but elaborate, thoughtful ones—is so special.
He’s really trying to prove he means what he’s saying.
It’s so sweet.
“I can’t believe I’ve never been here,” I say as we pull up to the cabin. It’s nothing fancy, but it looks so homey.
“Same. I told Cal we’re going to have to do a long weekend up here this summer, maybe over the Fourth of July.”
“That would be so fun! And the baby will be here by then,” I say, automatically placing a hand on my lower stomach.
My soft stomach now has a small bump that isn’t too visible to others yet, but I can see it.
I can’t wait to get bigger and really be able to see my bump in all my clothes, not just when I’m naked and looking for it.
You can’t even tell in the oversized, comfy sweater I’m wearing today, and you especially can’t tell with my jacket over it.
“Holy shit, you’re right.” Fletcher puts the vehicle in park and shifts to look at me. “We’re going to have so much fun.”
A scene plays out in my mind before I can stop it. Fletcher, holding a baby girl in a ladybug hat in his arms on the boat. It’s a beautiful scene, and I can’t wait to have it become a reality.
“Let’s go inside.” He rounds the car and opens my door, holding his hand for me. “It’s a little slippery.”
He holds my hand as I get out and doesn’t let go, protesting when I try to pull away to grab my bags from the backseat. “I’ll grab them in a minute. I want to get you inside, and a fire started first.”
I gasp. “There’s a fireplace?”
“Yep. Grace got some wood for us, so it’s ready to go.”
“This is amazing.” Stopping in my tracks, I admire the wooded area surrounding us. I pull Fletcher’s hand and step onto my tiptoes, wrapping my arms around his neck. “I can’t say thank you enough.”
The urge to kiss him is strong, but he doesn’t make a move, even though I can see in his gaze that he wants to.
So, I do the next best thing and press my lips to his cheek.
My body lights up with desire at the simple touch.
Fletcher’s arms tighten around my waist, and he groans, his hips pressing into mine.
A hardness presses against my core, and I nearly groan in delight.
My fingers twist in the hair at the nape of his neck.
I have a feeling I won’t be waiting much longer to have his lips on mine.
“Come on. I need to get you inside before I do something.” The words come out sounding tight.
A breathy sigh falls from my lips as he releases me, and I slide back down to flat feet. “What if I want you to do something?”
Fletcher groans again, this time pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re testing my patience.”
I laugh. “Haven’t I always done that?”
“This is a different type of patience.” Fletcher bends to get the key from under a rock, and he not-so-subtly adjusts his pants as he stands.
Oh.
I guess maybe he’s right. Heat burns in my core, and I’m not sure how much longer I can take this.
The image of a half-naked Fletcher runs through my mind, particularly the trail of hair that directs a path to the thing I want most. His tempting touches have been driving me wild.
I want him so bad that images of him between my thighs, his lips glossy with my release as he lifts his head to gaze at me with those intense eyes, have infiltrated my dreams. I’ve been so horny lately.
When I wake up soaking wet after a dream of him, I can’t help but get myself off to the thought. I need him.
A shiver runs through my body at the fantasy, and Fletcher looks at me with concern. “Cold?”
I shake my head and hold his eyes, hoping I can convey what’s going on in my mind to him with only a look. “Opposite, actually.”
“Oh.” His voice cracks on the single syllable.
“Mhm.”
Fletcher opens the creaking door, taking my hand again and leading me into the warmth of the cabin. The smile I give him is immediate.
You can tell this place is decorated as a summer house, with wood-paneled walls and log furniture and decor.
At the same time, it’s perfect for tonight.
Small, with an open plan, displaying the kitchen and living room, and a hall to the right where the bedrooms must be.
Grace also must have taken the time to decorate for the holiday season for us.
A small artificial tree sits in the corner with silver bulbs, just waiting to be plugged in.
White string lights are hung from the mantle and the low ceiling. I can’t wait to see it lit up tonight.
“I guess Calvin and Grace’s parents have had this place since they were kids. Calvin offered to upgrade or update it for them when he was signed, but they all decided to keep this one for its nostalgia.”
“I don’t blame them.” It’s like the memories are practically seeping out of the walls. I can’t begin to imagine all the fun they’ve had here.
Fletcher releases my hand to grab some wood by the fireplace. He starts arranging it, grabbing some paper and the lighter from the stand next to it. I sit on the deep green couch, letting my body sink into the plush cushion.
My hips and lower back have ached more as this pregnancy goes on, and my doctor says it’s normal but mentioned I could see a chiropractor or something if I need it.
I don’t think I’m there yet. This pregnancy so far has been a dream; I didn’t even have much morning sickness.
The only thing that’s been getting me is the exhaustion and pregnancy brain.
Fletcher gets the fire started a minute later, and the heat immediately seeps into my bones.
“That feels great,” I comment as he stands from the floor.
“I’ll go grab our bags, okay?”
He heads outside while I stand from the couch, taking a more thorough look around. There are sliding glass doors on the front wall, with a small deck that has stairs down to the beach. On the lake, there are multiple ice houses, and even a few people out and about.
I bet it’s a gorgeous view in the summer. I glance around, taking in photos of Grace and Calvin on the walls, as toddlers and throughout high school, with cheesy grins on their faces. Adam and Zoey are in a bunch of them, too. It’s so sweet how close the four of them are.
I head down the hall to the bedrooms. There are four of them, one that’s obviously Grace’s, with posters of boy bands and other artists on the walls. Calvin’s is also pretty obvious. He has a bunch of hockey posters on the walls. There’s a room that must be their parents’, and one guest room.
When I enter the guest room, my heart pounds.
Fletcher and I have never shared a bed. Anticipation blooms as I realize what this means.
I don’t want to sleep away from him tonight.
Sure, there are plenty of beds but only one guest room.
And I’m not about to share a bed with him in Grace’s old room with pictures of One Direction staring me down all night.
No way.
I hear Fletcher before I see him. His footsteps carry him down the hall until he finds me staring at the bed in the guest room.
“Hey,” he says, setting our bags on the floor. “Are you—”
“Yes.”
“You don’t even know what I was going to say.” He chuckles, taking both of my hands in his cold ones.
“What were you going to say?” I squeeze his hands.
“Are you comfortable sharing a bed?” Fletcher glances toward the bed, his eyes narrowing at the plaid quilt. This night could either be awkward or amazing, but my bet is on amazing.
“Yes. I would rather stay in here than in Grace’s One Direction shrine, or Cal’s pre-teen hockey room.”
“Fair.” Fletcher smirks.
There’s almost an expectation now that we’re here, and what may occur between those sheets starts to sink in.
“Though it may be fun to defile Calvin’s room and tease him about it,” I say, hoping to break some of the tension.
It works, Fletcher chokes on a laugh, his face turning red.
“He specifically asked me not to defile anything,” he says.
“All the more reason to defile it.” I put one of my hands on his chest, smoothing his shirt and giving me any excuse to touch him. His heart thrums rapidly under my palm, mirroring my own. “Relax.”
“I’m relaxed.”
His voice is anything but relaxed.
I raise my eyebrows. “Sure, and I’m the Virgin Mary.”
That gets a laugh out of him. “I want tonight to be perfect.”
“It will be. We’re here, together. That’s all I need.”
“Me too.”