Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24405 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24405 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
We are so in tune with virtually everything. We rarely argue, and on those few occasions when we do, it’s over within minutes. Then we both apologize and talk things out rationally. And those conversations always end with a hug, a kiss, and a reminder of just how much we love each other.
Our relationship is solid. Steady. Reliable.
It’s like a cup of black coffee.
Today, though… today is going to be different. I have something to tell Burke, and I’m not sure how he’s going to react. I’ve become adept at knowing what he’s going to say or think about something. I can usually predict it. But this is something we’ve never talked about, didn’t plan on, and I have absolutely no idea what he’s going to say. Hell, I don’t even know what I’m going to say yet. I’ve tried practising in the mirror, but haven’t been able to find the words.
The truth is, as much as I don’t know what he’s going to think about it, I don’t know what I even think about it yet. Everything has happened so fast, and the implications are so far-reaching that I haven’t been able to pin down how I feel about it all just yet. But it’s time we figure that out. Both of us. Together. Waiting is only going to make it harder and more awkward.
Burke is sitting out on the back deck reviewing notes for his current case. I step outside and breathe in the scent of the ocean, then turn my face up to the azure sky above, letting the sun’s rays warm my skin. I lay my hand on his shoulder, and he turns to me, a warm smile on his face as he sets his tablet down on the table beside him. I squeal, then laugh, as he pulls me down onto his lap, loops my arms around his shoulders, and gives me a soft kiss.
“Hey babe,” he says softly.
“Hey yourself.”
“I thought you were heading into the office?”
“I’ll do my paperwork here,” I reply, swallowing the lump in my throat.
As in tune with me as ever, he cocks his head and stares into my eyes like he’s trying to read my thoughts. My heart quivers, and my stomach churns.
“What is it?” he asks. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s nothing wrong, exactly,” I respond. “I just thought… hoped…”
My voice trails off, the words refusing to come. Burke watches me, his gaze patient but curious. Drawing a deep breath, I hold it for a five-count, then let it out slowly. This is a lot harder than I thought it would be.
“Brynn, what’s going on?” he asks.
“I just… I thought we needed to have a talk.”
“All right,” he says, sounding slightly uneasy. “What do we need to talk about? Did I leave the toilet seat up again?”
I laugh softly. “No. I think I’ve been able to train that out of you.”
“So? What is it?”
Letting out another breath, I swallow hard and lick my suddenly dry lips. “I wanted to talk to you about your workload,” I say. “You’ve been taking on a lot of cases lately.”
“I have,” he replies. “People need help, so I want to be there to do that.”
“I know. And I think that’s a beautiful thing.”
One of his eyebrows arches upward. “But?”
“I just… I think you need to hire some help.”
“Hire help?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
“And why do I need help?”
My heart is in my throat, and the words seem stuck behind it. I clear my throat then take a drink from his bottle of water, trying to steady my nerves.
“Brynn?”
“I think you need to hire some help because you’re going to want to spend more time at home,” I say. “At least, I hope you do.”
“And why is that?”
“Because you’re going to be a dad.”
I pull the test stick out of my pocket and hand it to him. Burke takes it, his eyes fixed on the little blue plus sign in the window. The air between us seems to stop. It grows thick and heavy, and Burke’s eyes widen as his mouth falls open. He stares at me as if trying to figure out if I really said what he heard. And when I give him a nod, silently telling him that I did indeed say it, his eyes widen, and his face reddens.
Laughing like a lunatic, Burke scoops me up as if I weigh nothing at all and jumps to his feet, spinning me around. He sets me down and pulls me to him, crushing me in a tight embrace. Surprised and overwhelmed by his reaction, I turn my face up to him, trying to figure out if he’s truly as happy as he seems to be. He is.
And that sets a wave of relief washing through me. My heart starts to beat again, and I smile… happy.
“You’re not going to be able to pick me up like that in a few months,” I say.