Page 117 of Anti-Hero

“Did you feel that?” I ask softly.

Twin lines of concentration appear as he shifts his palm a little to the left. He’s staring at my stomach.Staring, not just looking, like it happens to be the Eighth Wonder of the World.

My thighs clench tight, my hormones mistaking the sweet moment for something sensual.

“No,” he finally replies. “I don’t feel anything.”

“It must be too early,” I say. “The kicks will get stronger as the babygets bigger.”

His thumb moves in a tiny circle. “Hey, Orange. It’s your daddy. Kick harder next time. It’s probably pretty boring in there, but things will get more interesting soon.”

I have to blink rapidly a few times. I also clear my throat, dislodging the lump that formed there. Seeing Kitexcitedabout this pregnancy has my whole heart expanding, making my chest feel too small to contain the spreading sensation.

“It might also be too early for them to hear,” I say softly.

“Yeah, I know it can vary a little. But our kid is probably pretty advanced.” Kit shoots me a grin that requires me to clench my thighs again.

“You … know? Like, you bought a baby book?”

“No. I bought babybooks.”

All I can think to say is, “Oh.”

I’m surprised, and I shouldn’t be. Kit’s been nothing but committed. I thought his involvement was too much to expect, let alone the mural, or the coming to doctor’s appointments, or the meeting my parents, or all the ways he’s continued to show up.

My life isn’t the only one that was completely upended. His was too. And I’m worried, at some point, this excitement will spoil. Become resentment instead.

“Exceeding your low expectations is entertaining, Monty. But you’ll save yourself some surprise if you stop expecting the worst from me.”

The words are light. Drawled with an edge of amusement.

But I can feel the tension humming in his body. Can sense the edge behind the flippancy. And wonder how many times I missed it before, when I wasn’t paying this close of attention.

“Idohave expectations of you, Kit. High ones even. And you’re still exceeding them. Still surprising me, which isn’t always a bad thing. It means a lot that you bought books.”

I swallow hard, glancing down at my stomach. His hand is still resting there. He’s touched me a lot more intimately, but this feels even more vulnerable than sex.

“Sorry I woke you up for no reason,” I add.

“You can wake me up for any reason anytime you want.”

I’m not sure if I’m projecting the innuendo in his voice or if it’s really there, but I flush regardless.

“Kit?”

“Yeah?” He’s looking at his hand on my stomach, not at me, which makes this a little easier to say.

“I want to date you.”

He glances up so fast that I swear I hear a crack. A stray section of hair flops onto his forehead. “What?”

“You heard me.”

“Yeah, I did. But I could be dreaming.” He leans closer, the blue of his eyes all I can see. One ocean I’d happily get lost in. “So,say it again, Monty.”

I comb the wayward section back. “I want to date you, Christopher Kensington.”

“All it took was me taking off my shirt, huh?” He smirks. “I caught you looking.”

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