Page 49 of Intern

“Not exactly,” Sadie mumbles while biting her lower lip.

“What’s wrong?” I erase the few feet between us and pull her into my chest as best I can with the dog between us.

She smiles down at the dog with tears in her eyes, and the sight breaks my heart.

“I thought this was a good idea, but now I’m rethinking it. I should have talked to you first,” she answers cryptically.

Cupping her cheek, I smile down at her. “You know you can always talk to me.”

Nervously she smiles up at me with unsure eyes. “Even after a year it still amazes me how you’re the levelheaded one.”

“Sweet Sadie, talk to me. What’s on that gorgeous mind of yours?”

Her gaze flits around the backyard. Her lips tipping up the more she sees.

“You finished setting up. It looks great,” her voice rising in excitement. “I know I’ve been working you hard to get everything done before the weather gets too warm.”

I place my finger to her soft lips to silence her. “Stop. This is our house, and I love the vision you have for it. What’s a little work when we can enjoy it for the rest of our lives?”

“Ty,” she mouths around my finger, placing a kiss at the tip before she sucks it into her hot, wet mouth.

My dick is instantly hard.

Swirling her tongue around as if it were my cock, she lets it go with a pop.

“Thank you for being you,” she softly speaks with tears in her eyes. “Every day I’m thankful that it was you who showed up at my hotel room door.”

“What’s going on, Sadie?”

She’s starting to worry me.

“I see the way you look at the babies we pass by on our walks. The longing, and heartache.” She brushes her thumb along my bottom lip. The puppy in my arms and wedged between us, nips at her hand. “And I know we can’t have kids of our own, but I thought… well I got us…you,this dog.”

“Baby, it’s not like that. The heartache and longing you see is to see you round with my child. I wish I had known back when I was sick that one day, I’d meet you.”

Sadie slips the puppy from my arms and to the ground, wrapping me in her arms. I rest my forehead to hers. The love that I see in her eyes calms the rioting emotions ricocheting through me. Shame, guilt, acceptance, and love.

She plants both hands on my cheeks. “How were you to know?”

“I know, but I wish I had saved my sperm. Even though I didn’t have the money to store it. I wish I could give you a child of our own.”

“Ty,” she coos. “I only need you. I’ve said it before, and I want you to know that I meant it then, and I mean it now. Only you. You’re all that I need, and I hope…” she trails off, looking down.

“You’re all thatIneed. I promise. And if you ever change your mind, we can adopt, or find a sperm donor. Whatever you want. So,” I draw out as the puppy at our feet pulls on my shoestring.

“I got us a dog,” she smiles down sweetly at it. “I’ve been thinking about it now that the weather’s getting warmer. I’ve always wanted a dog, but as you know we could never afford anything when I was growing up. Then I saw a sign yesterday with his cute little face on it, and I couldn’t resist.”

“How could you resist? I fell in love with him the moment he jumped into my arms. It’s a boy, right?”

“Yeah,” she answers back softly.

“What’s his name?”

“He doesn’t have one yet, and I wanted to wait for you.” Sadie squats down to rub his soft head and squeals when he licks her face. “Isn’t he the cutest?” she asks with awe in her voice and stars in her eyes. “What do you want to name him?”

“You want me to name him?” I’d never named anything in my life. I don’t want the poor dog to have a shitty name all its life. “Why don’t we name him together?”

She tilts her head, looking down at the new member of our house. “He needs a strong name because he’s going to be huge.” Chewing on her bottom lip, Sadie’s hands twist together. “Is that going to be okay? I should have asked you if you even wanted a dog and then talked to you about what type you’d want.”

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