Page 57 of Pieces of Us
“Melonie and I are going to move into a three-bedroom in my building next weekend. Her and the baby will each have their own rooms, and I’ll be there to help.”
“That sounds like a good arrangement. Do you need help moving or getting everything set up?” Linc’s dad offers.
“That would be great, Dad.”
His mom beams from across the table. “Melonie, you and I can go shopping and get things to decorate. Leave the heavy lifting to these guys.”
I laugh. “That sounds perfect. Audrey is getting me movers as a gift, so it will just be arranging everything and making it comfortable.”
She smiles. “Perfect!”
The appetizers arrive and we order entrees. I order chicken piccata and dig into the bruschetta and stuffed mushrooms.
Linc leans over to me. “This is the best I’ve seen you eat in a while. I like seeing you enjoying food again.”
I swallow and touch his thigh under the table. “Today was a good day.”
He nods in agreement, and we go back to discussing our plans for the move.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Linc
The week passes by quickly, and before I know it, it’s Friday and I’m packing up the last of the kitchen. If I never see a cardboard box again, I would be totally fine. Jax texted about an hour ago that he was coming over with pizza and to help. I’m stacking a box on a pile in the living room when he walks in, the smell of pizza following him into my apartment.
“I bring rations.”
“Thank god, I’m starving.”
He sets the pizza down on the coffee table, and I grab paper towels and plates from the kitchen. I hate using paper, but when everything is packed away, it’s pretty much unavoidable.
Jax looks around the room. “How do you have so much stuff?”
“I have no clue. I even took four boxes over to Goodwill yesterday. This whole process has made me start looking into minimalism.”
He laughs. “Good luck with that with a baby on the way.”
I take a bite of pizza. It’s still too hot, but I need food. “Is Audrey over at Mel’s?”
“Yeah, she said they needed to pack up her important stuff and her ‘unmentionables’, as she called it.”
I look around my apartment. “This is all so crazy.”
Jax looks at me, confused. “How so?”
“The way everything can change in such a short time. Three months ago, I would have never thought I’d be moving in with Mel and have a baby on the way.”
“You certainly picked the accelerated course.” He shakes his head.
“Wouldn’t change it, though. I’m so excited to be a dad.”
“I knew you liked kids, but I never thought I’d see the day when you would say those words.”
“Is it under the circumstances I would wish for? No. But I’m happy all the same. I really am looking forward to being a dad. I just want Mel to see that, though. I think she does, but every once in a while, she’s surprised by something I do or say about her or the baby. Like she still thinks I’m going to make a run for it.”
“Can I speak with transparency, and you not get angry?”
“Sure.”
