Chapter 42 #2
“She’s been kicking more,” I say with a smile.
“Really?” His eyes light up, and a boyish grin takes over his face. He puts his other hand on the other side of my bump.
“Yeah. I can’t really feel much on the outside yet. Only a little bit of a thump. Try to feel. She’s pretty active right now.” I lay a hand over his, applying some pressure to show him he can press a little harder.
The baby moves a little inside of me, and I gaze up at him. “Did you feel it?”
He shakes his head. I move his fingers a little lower. She kicks again, and this time, Fletcher gasps.
“Oh my god, was that her?”
A huge smile breaks out on my lips. “Yes!”
“This is incredible,” Fletcher breathes, awe lighting up his face. When he looks up at me, his green eyes are glassy. “That’s our baby in there.”
I nod, my own eyes stinging with tears. “Yeah, it is.”
Fletcher leans forward, keeping his hands on my bump and pressing a kiss to my lips. “I can’t wait to meet her, and for this part of our lives to start. I hope she’s just like you.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “Me too.”
The baby stops fluttering inside me, and reluctantly, Fletcher removes his hands.
“What else do you need before she comes?” Fletcher asks a while later. “It’s going to go by quickly.”
I sigh heavily. “Everything, pretty much. I registered for a bunch when we went shopping, but people aren’t going to buy the big stuff, and that’s going to be the most costly.”
“What if…”
“What if what?” I ask, my curiosity piqued.
“What if money wasn’t an issue?” The way he’s not looking at me has me worried.
“You can’t pay for everything. I know you can afford it, but it would take me forever to pay you back.”
“You wouldn’t have to pay me back. I wouldn’t be paying for it.”
“Then who?” I furrow my eyebrows.
What is he talking about?
“Hypothetically,” Fletcher says, sitting up and taking my hands in his, giving them a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “What if there was a savings account that was set up for you roughly six years ago with monthly deposits for you to use toward whatever you want or need? Hypothetically, of course.”
He didn’t. He couldn’t have.
My jaw drops, and my mind races. “You… You never used my rent money, did you?”
I can’t believe this.
He shakes his head, wincing, his gaze apologetic. “Sorry, but also, I’m not. Not even a little.”
I don’t have words.
“How much?” I ask, but I honestly couldn’t care less about the amount.
“Roughly sixty thousand. Give or take.”
“Fletcher! That money was supposed to be for you.”
“I didn’t need it. I told you I didn’t, and you insisted on paying, so I figured I would put it aside for you. I wanted you to have something if you ever moved out or had an emergency or something.”
I know I can’t be mad at him. He’s always taken care of me, even when I didn’t need him to.
“I don’t know what to say,” I admit.
“You don’t have to say anything. Even if you want to keep that money for something else, it’s there if you need it.” Fletcher presses a kiss to my forehead and swipes tears from my cheeks, tears I didn’t realize I’d shed.
“Thank you,” I whisper, curling into his chest.
“That went easier than I thought.” He pushes a curl away from my face. “With how stubborn you can be, I totally thought I’d have to beg on my knees for forgiveness.”
I let out a watery laugh, tears streaming down my cheeks freely. “I should probably yell at you.”
“You could.” He shrugs. “Doesn’t change anything. I’d give you a credit card with your name on it tomorrow if I thought you’d let me.”
“Don’t push it,” I say sternly, trying not to laugh.
“That’s what I thought.” He squeezes me. “Now, for the topic of rent. Unless you want to keep paying it and putting it into the savings account, you don’t have to pay me anymore.”
I should have expected this. “What if we put it into a college or savings account for the baby?”
That has to be a good compromise. Except Fletcher doesn’t say anything. I glance up, and he cringes.
“You already started a savings account for her, didn’t you?”
“Maybe. But there’s only five thousand in it.”
“Only five thousand.” I scoff. “I should have known better when I started dating a millionaire.”
“You really should have.” Fletcher laughs. “I can’t be held accountable for this. I’m doing what I do best, taking care of my girls.”
“Thank you,” I say again. “I really don’t know what to say. You do more than take care of me financially, though. I’m not with you because of your money. You’re here for me all the time. I don’t trust anyone the way I trust you.”
He kisses my nose. “I know. I never thought you were only with me for the money. I trust you, Lydi. More than I’ve ever trusted anyone.”
“So, you won’t be my sugar daddy then?”
“Baby, I’ll be whatever you want me to be,” Fletcher says, dropping his voice an octave and tickling my side.
We both burst into hearty laughter, and I sink into his embrace, trying to get as close as possible.
“Can I bring up one more thing?” he asks.
“Depends.”
“What do you think about turning your room into a nursery?” He pushes some of my hair from my face, tilting my chin to catch my reaction.
“Where would I sleep?” I ask, then stupidly realize. “Oh.”
Fletcher narrows his eyes. “I want you with me always. When I’m away, I want to know you’re in my bed waiting for me.”
I suppose we have been sharing a bed ever since that night a few weeks ago, and sometimes I’ve been sneaking into his room when he’s gone. It smells like him, and if I hold his pillow, I can pretend I’m in his arms.
“Yes. Okay. I want that, too.”
“Thank god,” he breathes. “I can’t bear the thought of another night without you in my arms.”
Fletcher places a kiss on the top of my head. “I’m glad you’re not mad at me.”
“Why would I be mad at you?”
“I lied to you for six years about rent.”
“I think I can forgive you. Just don’t do it again.”