Page 145 of Last Light

“I love you too. And that was definitely some good loving.”

“No argument here.” He turns so we’re both on our sides, and then he finally loosens his arms. His eyes are quiet and tender as he brushes his fingertips down the contours of my breasts until he reaches my stomach.

It’s starting to curve outward. I’m five months along now in my pregnancy.

“It wasn’t too much for you, was it?” he asks softly.

“No. Definitely not too much. You might be big, but you’re notthatbig.”

He snorts. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I know what you meant.” I stroke his bristly jaw. “I still like having sex like that. I’m pregnant. I’m not a different person.”

“I know that. I just worry.”

“I know. I worry too. But I’m doing fine so far, and we’ll do the best we can with the baby. That’s all we can do.”

“Yeah.”

“The air is a lot better now than it was when Grace was little. There’s no reason to think the same thing will happen to our baby.”

“I know.”

“And babies were born and grew up without hospitals for millennia.”

“I know that too. I’m gonna worry. No help for that. But I’m... hopeful.”

“Me too.” I kiss him very gently.

When we found out I was pregnant, something seemed to snap in Travis, and he was finally able to grieve for Grace. It was hard. For both of us. But it fixed something inside him that had scarred but never healed. Not until now.

He holds me for a while, until I feel too hot and sticky. Then I get up, take a shower, and change into leggings and an oversized shirt.

I’m working on dinner when Travis comes into the kitchen, smelling like soap and wearing clean clothes. I give him a casual smile but pause when I get a glimpse of his expression.

He looks serious. Just a little nervous.

“What’s the matter?” I ask.

“Nothin’. Just wanted to ask you somethin’.”

“Really? What?”

He clears his throat. “Wanted to give you somethin’.”

“Travis? What’s going on? What are you all uptight about?” My heart is racing. It feels like something important is about to happen.

He stuffs his hand in his pocket and pulls it out again, opening his palm to show me something in his hand.

A ring.

A gold ring with a pretty little diamond solitaire.

An engagement ring.

I gape down at it, utterly stunned.

He clears his throat again. “It’s okay if you don’t... I know it’s not the most important thing. But I wanted... I wanted to make it official. That I love you. That you’re everythin’ to me. That I’ll be yours forever. If... if... that’s what you want.”

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