Page 51 of The Lover
“Okay. But that means we have to wait at least a month. You have to give people notice. They need a chance to put it in their calendars. Plus I want to shop for a dress, not some big deal dress or anything, just something nice and pretty. We’ll need to plan a guest list and a menu for the reception. All of that takes time.”
I frowned.
“One month, Jake, and don’t go all eighteen hundreds on me. I know you think you’re going to be able to hide it from everyone about why we needed to get married. That we’ll just say the baby was a little early or something, but it’s the twenty-first century. People know better.”
She was right. People were going to know, but that didn’t mean I had to like it. Still, one month didn’t seem too long to wait.
“Okay. Whatever that Saturday is a month from now.”
“You won’t regret it,” she said with a bit of smug satisfaction.
“But you move home next week.”
“Yes, Jake,” she agreed. I knew she was placating me, but I didn’t care. The good news was after our talk, she was eating again.
Which was good. Because she was eating for two.
Fourteen
Ellie
July
“Areyou kidding me right now?”
It was my first night back home. We had packed up all my stuff, and when I sayweI meant Jake because he wouldn’t let me lift anything that was heavier than a pound. I had given Frank notice that day after Jake and I had lunch. He hadn’t been thrilled about it, but he’d seemed resigned. After all, he knew eventually I had to go home. I did tell him Chrissy was looking for summer work, and then he’d looked at me like I had two heads.
Chrissy didn’t exactly have a reputation for being super reliable, but at least she wouldn’t spill stuff on people. At least I didn’t think she would, but that was Frank’s call to make.
Meanwhile I’d let Bella know I was heading home. She’d just smiled at me and said it was about time.
Two weeks later, Jake had driven out to town and took all my stuff to his truck, and then I’d followed him home in my truck. He’d grilled steak for dinner while I unpacked the essentials. Mostly my toothbrush, moisturizer, brush, hair dryer, some clothes, and my scales.
It had been hard call on what number to give the scale. On the one hand I was thrilled to have them back where they belonged. On my kitchen counter. On the other hand they were only back on the kitchen counter because I was knocked up.
Ultimately, I had settled on seven. It was a good number for how I felt.
Now we were in bed, which was kind of weird because this was how it was going to be for the rest of our lives. Not that we hadn’t slept together. I had stayed over some nights and Jake had stayed over with me some nights, obviously. But this was it. This was official.
This was the start of our life together.
Which I thought should begin with awesome and amazing sex.
He thought otherwise.
Which is why I asked him, “Are you kidding me right now?”
He was reading one of his ranching magazines, so he wasn’t looking at me when he said, “You’ve had a long day on your feet, up and down the steps, packing and unpacking. You need to rest.”
I flopped back on the bed. “Ugh! Jake Talley! Please tell me you’re not going to do this through the entire pregnancy.”
“Make sure you’re well fed, well rested, and looked after. Yes, Ellie I am.”
“How many times do I have to tell you, I’m not china. I’m perfectly healthy and sex isn’t going to hurt me. It’s going to make me feel good.”
He glanced at me and I knew he was caving, but then he seemed to make up his mind.
“Not tonight.”
