Page 77 of Under the Influence

“I hope so. I feel wrong inside when she isn’t around.”

“You sound like Lola talking about Val.”

“Probably.”

“I’m not doing that,” Clover says, scooting away from me. “I don’t want someone in my space. The curse was a godsend for me. Now, I’m worried I’ll get stuck going silly over someone.”

“Look, I know you don’t want anyone. I wasn’t looking for it, either. However, I was always open to the idea.”

Clover nods, but she still feels pressure from a nonexistent problem.

“Once I met Edith, I got addicted quick. I didn’t have a lick of control over the feeling,” I explain and chuckle at her horrified expression. “But it’s a good feeling, Clover. If it happens to you, it won’t be gross or bad. It’ll make you happy.”

“I still hope it doesn’t happen.”

“Okay, but don’t stress it. If it doesn’t happen, you’re happy. If it does, you’ll be happy, too. So, stop worrying.”

“Well, okay, but I still think I ought to move out.”

“How about you try out Lola’s apartment after she moves to the homestead? If you don’t like it, you can move in with your grandma so you won’t cramp my sex life.”

Clover laughs. “If you knock up Edith, you won’t have much of a sex life.”

I don’t know what Clover sees on my face, but her mouth drops open. She scoots farther away.

“I thought you were fixed.”

“Why would you think that?”

“You said you were done having kids.”

“Yeah, I was. Maybe it’s immature, but I didn’t want my balls snipped.”

Clover shakes her head full of disapproval. “Was that why she looked tired and sad?”

“She had an emotional day, yeah.”

“Does she cry a lot normally?”

“Yes.”

“Is she high-maintenance?”

“Yes.”

Clover scowls darkly at my answers before asking, “Will I be expected to help maintain her at that high level?”

“No, but I might need you to pretend to feel sorry for me when I’ve been wiping her tears all day,” I say, laughing at her expression. “I don’t think Edith normally cries much, but sneaking around was difficult for her.”

“Pregnancy makes women emotional. That’s the kind of drama I thought you were done with.”

“Scoot closer. Allow me to cling to you while I expose my feelings.”

Clover grudgingly crawls to my end of the couch. I wrap an arm around her shoulders and stroke her messy, damp hair.

“This isn’t what I wanted. A serious relationship, I mean. I certainly didn’t want a baby after I suffered so much with you and Lola.”

Clover offers a little smile since she knows she was one of the easiest kids to exist in the world.

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