Page 84 of The Wish List
He chuckled. “Nervous as hell. But it’s the right thing. It’s not as if Helena won’t still be there for Michaela.”
Trinity lifted a brow as she dug the spoon into the cheesecake’s graham cracker crust. “I’m also sure you could find plenty of women willing to step in and offer a helping hand or a sympathetic shoulder for you.”
His lips twitched. “Are you volunteering?”
She laughed despite the nerves that fluttered through her. “My shoulder’s going to be caked with baby spit-up for the foreseeable future. I don’t think I’m going to have time to support anybody but that little man in your arms.”
“Maybe you could use some support, and not because you’re weak, Trinity. You can be strong and not handle everything on your own.”
“I wish I could believe you.” She popped the last bite into her mouth and rose from the table. “Now that you’ve worked your baby-calming magic, I should get him back to the house and take advantage of possibly sleeping for a couple of hours. Thank you for the dessert.”
She placed her empty plate and spoon in the dishwasher. “Thanks for the words of encouragement as well. I appreciate...”
Her throat clogged with emotion, which she wanted to blame on hormones and exhaustion. But she had a feeling they were just her reaction to Ash. “I appreciate you,” she finished.
“Enough to eventually go out with me on a second date?”
“I didn’t figure you’d want one,” she admitted as she stepped closer to take the baby into her arms. “Is there any worse potential romance killer than going into labor on a first date?”
“That’s one way to look at it. You could also decide it’s going to be a great story to tell down the road.”
She swallowed at the intensity in his dark eyes as he looked at her. Without allowing herself to worry about what she was doing, Trinity leaned in and brushed a kiss across his mouth. “I like how you think,” she said.
Ash grinned like she’d just given him the best gift in the world. “I like how you kiss.”
“I’ll agree to a second date.” She laughed when he pumped his fist after transferring Thomas to her. “Good night, Ash.”
“Best night ever,” he told her.
In this moment, she couldn’t help but agree.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“YOUNEEDTORELAX.”Freya kept her smile in place as she and Trinity walked along the downtown sidewalk later that week.
“How can I relax? There’s a guy with a camera filming me.”
“Pretend the crew isn’t there.” Freya smiled and waved at a random stranger across the street like she was greeting an old friend. Because this was Magnolia, the somewhat befuddled woman waved back in the same manner, and the reality-show crew caught the whole exchange. “I do it all the time.”
“I’m not a movie star,” Trinity said, sounding exasperated.
Freya laughed out loud. “Honey, neither am I. Far from it. Have you ever faked anything? Gratitude...your qualifications for a job...an orgasm?”
Trinity snorted. “On occasion, but I’m not going to tell you what I’ve faked.”
“You don’t have to.” Freya noticed her sister’s death grip on the stroller handles loosen slightly. “Just channel your inner faker.”
Trinity seemed to think about that. “From the moment I held Thomas in my arms, I’ve been faking that I know how to be a mother. I might even have Mom convinced, although I’m pretty sure Thomas is well aware that I have no idea what I’m doing.”
Freya grabbed hold of the stroller and stepped in front of Trinity, blocking the crew’s view of the two sisters. “You’re doing fine, Trin. I don’t know why you can’t see that.”
“Maybe it’s because I’m too exhausted to have any type of perspective. It will get better.”
Freya made a face. “Of course. In the meantime, you could let Mom or me help more. I think she’d like helping you.”
“I think she’d like reading your book,” Trinity countered and glanced over Freya’s shoulder at the camera crew. “I think your fans would like to read your book. You’re an excellent writer, Freya.”
Freya felt panic begin to squeeze her lungs. “You haven’t shown anyone, right? That manuscript was for your eyes only. Although I’m glad you like it. What did you think of the ending?”
