Page 22 of Rock the Cradle of Love
“Yeah?”
Taylor nods. “Yeah.”
“That’s awesome, sweet pea.” Even though Taylor’s seen her at her worst already, Noah still worries that her crying will be too much.
“So how’d it go with the attorney?”
They take seats on the barstools, and Noah settles Emma in his lap, making her play patty cake. She kicks her legs in seeming delight.
“Ms. Padget said there’s no issue. If Julia wants to give up Emma to me, there’s very little her mom can do to prevent that. I have the names of several other firms that handle family law and adoptions for Julia to call. This could be taken care of in weeks.”
Taylor leans forward and kisses Noah’s mouth and then Emma’s head. “That’s…wow…that’s soon. It’s awesome.”
Noah nods. He’s felt giddy all afternoon because of it. “I can hardly believe it. I just want it all to be over and done with so I don’t have to worry anymore.”
“And your mom? Did you tell her about us? How’d she take it?” Taylor’s expression becomes questioning.
Noah grins. “She’s happy for me, for us. Wants us to come visit this summer. She and I usually spend a week at her timeshare on Lake Tahoe, and she says you have to come too.”
“I’d love that, Noah. And I know my family will want to meet you and Emma as well, so we’ll have to coordinate family vacations.”
“Let’s get through the adoption first and then we can plan whatever you want. Right now though, I want to get out of this suit and spend the rest of the evening relaxing. You staying?”
“If you want me to.”
“I never thought I’d have this, Taylor. Of course, I want you to stay.”
Taylor’s grin is wide and bright, and Noah’s chest hitches with happiness.
* * *
Taylor easily rises from the couch with a sleeping Emma. Emma snuffles quietly, but remains asleep.
The evening has been a leisurely affair. Noah played with Emma while Taylor cooked an easy meal of spaghetti and meatballs along with salad and garlic bread. They shared a bottle Chianti.
He lays her in her crib, clicks on the baby monitor, and pulls the door shut behind him. He grabs a water from the fridge. “You want something?” he calls to Noah.
“Just you,” he says, and Taylor’s heart flips. Noah doesn’t mean it as in getting down and dirty between the sheets. That’s been the biggest adjustment for Taylor—remembering that Noah’s not a sexual person like he himself. The intimate moments they’ve had have been awesome, but it’s always Taylor who instigates things, and he’s not sure how he feels about that. A little uncomfortable, maybe. He sometimes feels like he’s pressuring Noah. He might have to do some research on the Internet about asexuality.
Noah shifts on the sofa as Taylor rounds the corner and pats the cushion. Noah likes the romantic stuff though, the cuddling and the holding hands. Taylor does too, so that’s worked out at least. In all his other relationships, it’s mostly been a means to an end though. With Noah, it’s an activity in and of itself. Noah doesn’t seem to need more. Taylor enjoys it, he does, but he has to rein himself in all the time. It’s a process, Taylor reminds himself. Things will progress. They’ll talk. They’ll work it out. Taylor curls into Noah, resting his head on Noah’s chest. The thump of Noah’s heart beats steady beneath his ear.
“Hey, did you see S’more’s email about his end-of-season barbecue yet? It’s this Saturday.”
“No,” says Noah. “Haven’t looked at email today. You going?”
Taylor has a crazy idea. “Are you?” he asks.
Noah traces lazy patterns on Taylor’s back, raising goosebumps. He loves this. He’s missed intimacy a lot. And to finally have it, and with Noah, is more than he expected, despite the lack of sex. He sighs mostly in contentment.
“Probably,” says Noah. “I want to take Emma and introduce her to the team and the rest of the WAGs.”
Taylor lifts his head to look at Noah. “Let’s gotogethertogether.”
One of Noah’s eyebrows arches. “Really? As a couple?”
“As a couple.” Taylor’s tired of showing up to team events alone. Tired of being razzed about not having a girlfriend. The other guys attend with their wives and girlfriends, and he misses having someone to share the moments of his life with. Just being at the same gathering with Noah wouldn’t be like goingwithNoah. Noah’s fingers run along the edge of Taylor’s waistband, trace just beneath it, and if he could, Taylor’d be purring right now. “Would you feel comfortable with doing that?”
“What’s the worst that could happen? A couple of guys make some comments? So what? We have a chat with the coaches, with the team. And we move on before next season.”
