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“You and your taste testing.” Tenley watches me hesitantly. “Good?” she asks.
“Not bad,” I mumble through the tough, chewy texture. “Try one.” I hand a piece over to her and she takes a little nibble from the end.
I can tell the taste surprises her, her nose flaring in suspicion. It’s cute watching her try new things. “It’s actually not so bad. I don’t think I’ll be able to eat a ton of it, but it’s worth a shot if it helps.”
“Damn, I’m good,” I exclaim proudly, beating my chest.
That earned me another smile. I’m so used to bickering back and forth with Tenley that I never realized she has a side to her like this, too. A side, unfortunately, she’s never let me in on. I hate that it took her getting pregnant and me forcing myself into her space to see it, but I’m grateful for it nonetheless.
“I still can’t figure out how you just knew to buy these things,” Tenley tells me, accepting the ginger ale I pop open for her. “Thanks.”
I open a water for myself. “I told you…thorough research. Fell asleep last night with my browser tabs fully stacked.”
She laughs, and I continue, “I guess I can’t take all the credit because I did consult the team psychologist to confirm they weresafe.”
Her eyes bug open in disbelief. “You asked old lady Trudy?”
I chuckle. “Sure did. She had some pretty helpful insight.”
“Oh my god, August. Trudy is like one hundred years old!” Tenley exclaims, laughter spilling out of her.
“Fuck. Is she really?”
“Honestly, I have no idea. But she’s old enough that I question why Leggins keeps her on staff. She never consults with anyone, just sits in her cubicle watchingJerry Springerall day.”
“Well, shit. She was the one who suggested the ginger root.” I scratch my head. “Old lady Trudy let me down.”
I start to clean up the space, storing away the other random necessities I bought just in case Tenley needs them. I bought different types of crackers, and I also read somewhere else that women can become low in iron during pregnancy, and they tend to chew on ice.
So naturally, I bought a nugget ice machine.
“This is too much, August. You didn’t have to do all of this. Seriously.”
“It’s no problem at all,” I tell her, finishing up the last of it. “I don’t want you to go without anything you need. It’s the least I can do.”
Almost forgetting the most important thing, I rush to my duffel bag quickly, before coming around to her side and laying the massive crescent pillow around her neck.
“What’s going on?” she asks on a giggle, looking at me like I’m a lunatic.
She’ll find out eventually that I am.
In a good way, of course.
I stand on the opposite side of the island, making sure she’s in the perfect position. “Say cheese, Mama. Give meyour best smile.” I snap the picture and get back to my task, leaving her questioning what the hell that was for.
She doesn’t need to know my motive.
Before I reach the cusp of the staircase, I turn to meet her blue eyes full of beautiful questions, and although we have a long way to go until the baby gets here, I’m looking forward to the next six months just her and me.
I get six months. Six months to make Tenley see me less like the playboy she thinks I am, and more like the man I know I can be.
For them.
16
AUGUST
“Stop lusting after our social media girl and throw the damn ball.”
