31
DIY
Mitch
She stares up at me as if I’ve grown horns. Assessing me. Eyeing me with caution.
“Why would you give me a house?”
“Because I can,” I reply, amused, but also incredibly nervous. I’m still in shock at the news—we’re having a baby! But I know deep down this is the right thing to do.
She shakes her head and rushes downstairs. “I can’t do this.”
“What can’t you do?” I ask, following.
“I can’t take this house from you,” she says. She stops and holds her arms out as if I’ve offered her the worst thing in the world. “I can’t live here.”
Through her eyes, I see what she sees. Not the potential, but all the work that’s ahead.
“I’m not saying it’s move-in ready, but honestly, would waking up to that view every morning be so horrible?” I point outside, but she doesn’t stop glaring at me.
“Are you serious?” She grabs a corner of peeling paper and tears it off the wall. “It all has to be replaced. It smells damp, which could mean mold. And I’m not about to check, but I’d bet there are small rodents living in the kitchen cabinets.”
“That’s nothing a little TLC can’t fix.”
“TLC?” She grimaces, slamming her hands onto her hips. “Okay, then how about we stick with the fact that this is your house. You bought it. I can’t let you give it up.”
“I’m not giving it up. You’re the mother of my child. You deserve it. And hey, I’ll live here with you if you want me to. I’ll take care of both of you. And I’ll take care of the house, too. You won’t have to lift a finger.”
I caution a step closer, but she crosses her arms in defiance.
“When are you due?”
She glowers at me, biting her lower lip. “May 28th.”
“Perfect. Give me a month. Or two. Then you can move in and…” I shrug, letting the words linger, afraid to let my imagination wander too far into the future and picture what we could have together, if only she wanted to. “It’ll be great.”
A shadow crosses her face. “Mitch, come on. We can’t be roommates. It’s too weird.”
Nothing with Maxine is ever easy, so I shouldn’t be surprised with how she’s taking this.
“Well, you can’t stay in that apartment with a newborn. It’ll drive your neighbors nuts.”
She rolls her eyes. “I don’t have neighbors. Be serious.”
“I’m being completely serious. I want you to be happy. Honestly, I came back looking for a clean slate. I wanted to buy this house, fix it up, and be closer to you. To all of you,” I tack on. “I didn’t sign with that German team because I wanted to come home. Permanently.
“That’s why I’m doing the podcast. I can live here and still work.
I want to be more present at the brewery, and be closer to my mom, too.
And if you let me, I want to help with the inn.
I mean, it’s my name on that sign—what sort of co-owner would I be if I left it all up to my pregnant—” I stop, realizing I’m rambling.
I run a hand through my hair. “I’m sure you can totally handle this alone, and this has nothing to do with you carrying my child,” I add.
A flutter of butterflies takes off in my stomach when I hear the words out loud—my child.
“But I figure it’s as much my responsibility as yours now, Max, so I should be around. ”
She stares at me, then looks down, running her hand along one of her braids and plays with the tips. “How do you know you’ll stick around this time?”
Her question stabs me in the chest. She’s not wrong for doubting this.
“Losing Dad made me see a lot of things. Deep down, I’ve always known that Oakwhite is my home, but I was afraid to come back.
It wasn’t until I saw you and the guys that it all became clear.
” I knock my hip. “I think the universe has been giving me hints for a while now.” I step closer, reach out, and wrap my hands around her waist. “And this is the cherry on the sundae. The timing is too perfect; I buy a house here and you tell me you’re… that we’re having a baby?”
It’s all suddenly so real, and my chest fills with warmth. How can I care so much about someone who isn’t even born yet?
Still, Maxine’s brow remains pinched.
“What is it?” I ask.
She blows out her cheeks. “This is a lot to take in. I wasn’t expecting it to go this way.”
“You thought I wouldn’t support you?” I try to ignore how her lack of faith in me hurts and drop my hands.
“I never doubted you’d be supportive. I’m just surprised you actually want to be part of this.”
“And I hate that you’re surprised. But there’s no question in my mind that I want to be a part of this. All you have to ask yourself is whether you want me to be or not.”
She looks around, shaking her head in disbelief.
The idea of not being in my child’s life stabs me worse than anything ever has. I know Maxine would never keep the kid from me. But we’re still so undefined. And I never anticipated this kind of problem when my time came to be a father.
Worry clouds her blue eyes, and she nibbles her lip, keeping her arms crossed as if shielding herself.
“Max, you don’t need to worry about us. I’m not pressuring you into anything. No matter what, I’m here for both of you. If you want to live here, the house is yours. If you don’t, then we’ll figure something out. Regardless, I’m staying put.”
Her eyes dart everywhere without focusing on anything, and she keeps fiddling with her braid.
I’m desperate to hold her, to make her feel safe, and make up for all the time we’ve wasted.
The memories of our last conversation in the cemetery return, and I shove my needs down deep.
This isn’t the time to break what’s left of our fragile bond.
“Max, I promise you, I’m staying,” I insist. “But I should warn you, I’m going to be annoying as hell.”
“So, pretty much status quo, then?” she replies with a giggle, then blinks, her eyes glossy.
She walks around the room, running her fingers along the walls, flipping light switches on and off, then faces me with a determined expression. I swallow hard, preparing myself for the rejection.
“Okay,” she whispers.
“Okay?”
She nods. “Let’s do it.”
“Are you being serious?” Unable to hold back my stunned excitement, my voice cracks.
She tucks her hands into her overall pockets and wanders around the room.
“I knew I wouldn’t be alone in this, but that’s not the same as having you here with me.
And I genuinely wanted you here, with us.
” She exhales, stepping closer, her emotions bouncing off her.
“Honestly, Mitch, I’m fucking terrified. ”
“Becoming a parent is scary as hell,” I admit.
“Oh, I’m not scared of that. Sure, I expected to be freaked out. I mean, who am I to be responsible for another human being?” she asks. “But this feels right. It makes sense. Like you say, things sort of worked out this way, haven’t they?”
With a wide grin, I nod in response, impressed by her positive energy. Somewhat stunned, too.
“I’m actually excited. But you want to know what I’m terrified of?”
“What’s that?”
She reaches up, running her fingers through my hair. At first, I freeze, worried that if I move, she’ll pull away. When her fingers lightly trace the shell of my ear, I’m left helpless and smiling.
“How completely natural it feels to be having this baby with you,” she says.
It might be too early in the pregnancy, but I swear she’s glowing. The hope in her stunning blue eyes, along with the smile that dimples her cheeks, weakens my knees, and I have to lean on the wall behind me for support.
“What are you saying?”
She drops her hands. “I’m saying I think I’m done marinating.”
“Marinating?” I ask, then remember what she said in the cemetery. For now, we need to take our time. Let all this marinate. “Oh.”
“I meant what I said. I do love you. I have for so long.” She looks down, her cheeks flushed.
“Back when we were kids, I honestly thought I’d never get over you.
But I did. For a while. Until you came back.
It was so hard for me because it was like no time had passed.
All those feelings came rushing back, trapping me in.
I couldn’t cope. And I guess I needed you to leave to see what I was losing. ”
She sighs, lifting her chin. “So, yeah, we could live here as friends or roommates and pretend that’s all we are.
But we know better. I know I do.” She takes my hands, cradling them between hers.
“I’ve always seen myself as a mom, but when I’ve pictured it, there was always one constant by my side.
That’s you. I don’t have any idea how any of this will work out, but if we’re doing this together, then we have to do it, together. ”
My breaths are shallow, quick puffs of air. Words are impossible because I’m too overwhelmed to speak. All I can do is grin like an idiot.
I had low expectations today. I assumed after a quick chat, Max would send me on my way, and that would be it. We’d be acquaintances, but would never find our way back to each other. Never in a million years did I expect this turn of events.
“I have one condition, though.” She raises her tiny finger.
As if waking from a dream, I blink a few times. “Anything. Name it.”
“Kiss me.”
“What?”
“Come on, Mitch. If you think I’m about to live here, pregnant with our child, and treat you as anything but the love of my life,” she leans into me, giving my temple a gentle knock, “then you’ve had too many hits to the head.”
She fists my collar, bringing herself up onto her tiptoes. My limbs are about as strong as jelly, but I wrap my arms around her waist, trapping her in like a boa constrictor.
“So, what do you say? Wanna be mine?”
As if seeing them for the very first time, I’m drawn in by her stunning eyes. A tiny flutter in my stomach ignites at her cute freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks, and the tiny dip of her Cupid’s bow.
I search her gaze as if I’m waiting for her to laugh. To admit this is one big prank.
“Do you really mean this?” I ask, hesitant.
With an adorable little head tilt, she frowns and then laughs. “Yes, I do.”
“This isn’t some pregnancy-hormone thing?”
Her jaw slackens as her eyes go wide. She swats my arm pretty hard. “No, Mitchell. This is the real deal. And that better be the last time you say anything about my hormones,” she adds, stabbing me in the chest with her finger.
I lean down, brushing my lips lightly against hers, then draw in a long inhale of her scent, of her warmth, letting this wave of indescribable joy spread over me.
Everything is finally clicking together.
She’s here. She’s in my life. And I’m not letting her go.
After a quick peck on the lips, she pulls away. “Not it. You’re telling Hunter.”
I wince. “Fuck.”
Giggling, she tries to run away, but I tug her against me, slowly slanting my lips over hers, waiting for permission.
She parts her lips with a low moan, meeting my tongue with hers, while her hands grip my hair, pulling my head back.
She moves her lips to my neck, kissing me, and with a deep groan, I grip her thighs and hoist her up, spinning us around.
I wedge her between me and the wall, causing something to crash to the ground and shatter nearby.
Laughing, she drags her lips away. “This place is falling apart.”
“Not yet, it isn’t,” I reply with a wink, smashing my lips to hers. I start to undo her overall buttons, but then let out an irritated grunt. “Of all days for you to wear these.”
I lower her down. She works the buttons and lets the overalls drop, then unbuttons her plaid shirt, but doesn’t take it off. She points to her mismatched white and navy polka dot bra and dark green underwear, grimacing with a soft blush. “Wasn’t planning on anyone seeing me naked today.”
“Mm.” Her creamy skin peeks out from the shirt, and I sneak a finger into the waistband of her underwear, tugging her toward me. I cradle her face with my free hand. “Toots, you could be wearing long johns and I’d still want you.”
I swiftly tug her underwear down her legs, helping her step out of them, then bunch them up, bringing them up to my face, and take a deep inhale. She rips them from my hand and throws them aside, then undoes my pants, sliding them down just past my ass.
I lift her, holding her against the wall, enjoying how my cock presses firmly against her warm heat. I growl softly into her neck, slipping a hand between us, rubbing her clit.
Our eyes meet when she reaches down, lining me up. The anticipation of being inside her makes my mouth water. Gently, she slides down onto my cock, and the sensation is so wild and hot, I can’t help but bite my lower lip.
What starts off slow and intimate, turns into a frantic need to fuck. To be as close as two people can be. She devours my mouth, stealing away whatever words remain unsaid. Whatever’s left to be healed.
This is a fresh start. A great fucking one at that.
I drop my mouth to her neck, tasting her sweat.
“Don’t let me fall, Mitch,” she says in my ear in a breathless hush.
She doesn’t mean literally. And I realize that my purpose is to be by her side, offering her my unwavering support. To be hers.
I lean into her, gripping one of her thighs with my free hand. “I’ll never let you fall.”
She fists her hands in my hair, tugging me back, and then sucks my lower lip into her mouth. “Okay, if we’re done with the cheese, can you please fuck me good and hard?”
A loud, unrestrained laugh escapes my lips. “I thought you’d never ask.”
And I do. I give her everything I have, pinning her against our future dining room wall, the Atlantic Ocean in front of us, all our worries behind, and my entire soul fills with the possibilities of our future.
Together.