Page 49 of Never Really Mine
I stride toward her, leaving the door open behind me. “What about this?” I pull a shirt of hers off the hanger. It’s one of my favorites, a long-sleeved burgundy sweater. “I love this one.”
“I don’t want to wear that today,” she says, her voice wavering.
I rush to put it back on the hanger, not wanting to upset her. An idea pops into my head. Her emotions have been all over the place lately, and I definitely don’t want to make things worse. “What are you doing today?” I ask.
“You don’t remember?” she nearly scolds.
“Uh…” I hesitate. “No?” I wrack my brain for knowledge of when she told me what she would be doing today and come up with nothing. I even remember asking her last night if she had plans this weekend, though that conversation was interrupted when Thomas asked if we were going to find out the gender of the babies.
Marley sighs, her irritation only growing. “I am meeting up with Josie and Megan. We’re going shopping.”
“Oh,” I reply, completely dumbfounded. Maybe I missed that part of the conversation last night.
She continues before I can get another word in. “And now, I can’t find anything that fits. I swear in the last three days I’ve grown three sizes. None of my jeans fit and all my shirts are too tight.”
“That’s not a bad thing, Marley,” I say, hoping I don’t say the wrong thing. “It means the babies are growing.”
“I know!” she shrieks. “But it also means that I’m getting fatter than I already am, and finding cute clothes is a pain in the ass.”
Without a thought, I’m taking her chin in my palm, forcing her to meet my gaze. “Don’t you dare say that about yourself. You are fucking perfect, Marley Bell. And you are growing our children. I can’t wait to watch your body change and grow. Can’t wait to see how you carry them. Can’t wait to see how incredible of a mother you are.” Her eyes widen, those brown orbs dilating at my words and the intensity of my gaze. “Do you understand?”
She slowly nods. Then she cringes. “That doesn’t change the fact that I can’t find something to wear right now, though.”
I can’t help the burst of laughter that bubbles out of my chest. “Come on,” I say, dropping her chin and taking her hand. “You keep looking, I’ll be right back. I need to use the restroom.”
Marley nods, not really acknowledging me, too lost in her closet. I drop her hand, and dart across the hall to my room and pull a few things from my own closet. Cozy tops, like a worn sweater I know she’s complimented before, an old tee from college, and a long-sleeved Henley.
I cross back over to her room with my haul, and tuck them into her pile of things as she continues her search through the closet.
Twenty-five minutes later, we have an outfit picked out. I never knew just how much went into picking her clothes, but every option she declined had a reason. Too hot, too itchy, not stretchy enough, will make her bump look weird, doesn’t fit her boobs right, and so on.
She opted for leggings and one of the old college tees I threw in the pile, with a cardigan to wear on top. That way she can take a layer off if she needs. A burst of possessiveness hits me with the knowledge that she had so many choices and ended up choosing mine without even knowing.
She finishes getting dressed while I head into the kitchen to get myself a cup of coffee. I make her a cup of decaf, throwing in some cream and sugar and putting it into a to-go cup for her. I expected for her to be awkward in front of me this morning, especially after last night, but she hasn’t brought it up at all. I hope she doesn’t pretend that it didn’t happen, that’s the last thing that I want.
Marley strides into the kitchen, her hair in a ponytail with the ends curled. “Adorable,” I state. She blushes slightly, then moans when she sees the travel mug I’m handing her.
“Thank you,” she gushes.
“Anytime,” I reply.
A honk from her driveway sounds. “That’s Josie,” she stammers. “I’ll see you later?” she asks, voice hopeful.
“I’ll be here,” I reply, taking a sip of my coffee. “Hey, before I forget to say something, we should get a registry set up,” I tell her, having thought of it when she mentioned shopping.
She misses a step, stumbling slightly. “You want to do that?”
“Of course,” I say. “Why wouldn’t I?”
“I… I figured you wouldn’t be interested in doing that with me.”
I withhold my irritation. I’m really going to have to beat it into her that I’m all in. I’m not just going to be a co-parent. I’mtheir dad, not just the guy they see on weekends. “Yes, Marley. I want us to do it together. Is that okay?”
“Y-yes,” she stammers. “Maybe tomorrow we can go to the store and set it up.”
“Perfect,” I say. There’s another honk. “Go, have fun.” I lean toward her, kissing her cheek. “Call me if you need anything.”
She steps away, eyes slightly widening at my show of affection toward her. I’m glad she’s getting out of the house, because I have plans of my own today.
