Page 48 of Say I'm Yours, Firecracker

She crashed on the floor as I made a phone call to the movers. Explaining that they could go ahead and bring in the essentials from her apartment, but to be as quiet as possible. It was late and I offered them double their regular rate to move the rest in tomorrow morning.

They arrived soon after I called, moving her bed up the stairs and into the guest room. I had bought a king size suit that was waiting in the garage.

The front man agreed to move it up the stairs with me so I could put Ronnie to bed instead of letting her sleep on the floor any longer than she had to.

We got everything ready within an hour so I could transition her. She moved very little as I picked her up and transferred her to the bed. I took the band out of her hair, letting her long strands fall in a halo around her.

I pulled the blankets up around her shoulders and took a moment to place my hand on the swell of her stomach, rubbing circles over our baby. Earlier, it hit me that I hadn’t done it before, that it was truly the first time I’d felt the little one we made.

Aaron came over with Bellamy not long after I had put Ronnie to bed. We helped the movers get everything off the truck and into the house.

“She’s upstairs, the last bedroom on the left.” I told Bellamy.

She nodded and kissed Aaron before heading up and disappearing around the corner.

“That was fast.” Aaron commented.

“Yeah.” I said noncommittally. I honestly still didn’t know if she wanted to move in by herself, or if she would allow me to move in with her. “Let’s put this stuff in her room.”

“You aren’t planning on sharing the master?”

“I am if she’ll let me. But that extra bedroom? I’m gonna make it her closet.”

He nudged my shoulder, and smirked.

We got everything moved and somewhat placed in organized chaos. The house already felt like it was home, and we didn't even have all of it furnished. Aaron brought beer over from his house next door and we cracked them open on the front porch.

“So.” Aaron started.

“I don’t know.” I answered. “I’m all in, man. I think I’ve been in love with her for a lot longer than I want to admit.”

I thought I saw him smile, but it was hard to see considering the street lights weren’t working yet on this new street, and it was well past ten o’clock.

“I knew it.” He laughed, “I mean, anyone with eyes can see y’all need each other. Even if you weren’t in the situation you are with the baby, you just…work.”

“I’m still mad that she won’t let me know if it's a boy or a girl.”

He chuckles, “Get used to it, brother.”

We sat there, sipping our beers and enjoying the balmy night air. Only a few more months until our baby arrived and I resolved myself to make Ronnie see what our future could be, despite her tragic past.

I woke up in a tangle of navy sheets and the overalls I’d worn yesterday. The room looked eerily like the master in the house Finn bought. As the sleep fog cleared away, and I shuffled to the attached ensuite to relieve my bladder, memories from last night began solidifying.

I’d told Finn. My deepest fear and darkest memories.

I’d told him everything.

One glance in the mirror as I washed my hands and all of those thoughts were confirmed. My blue eyes were rimmed in pink, and purple bags hung under my eyes.

“I am a mess.” I told my reflection.

I heard a deep chuckle at the door and spun around. Finn had one shoulder leaned against the door frame, tattooed arms crossed over his chest. “You’re beautiful.”

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. He smiled even brighter and nodded toward the bed. I huffed, but complied. Hopping up onto the bed and sitting with my legs crossed under me. He sat with one leg propped on the corner, the other supporting his weight on the floor.

“The movers will be here in a few minutes,” he started, “and I haven’t moved any of my stuff in, but I’d like to fill the baby room with essentials together.”

“Okay.”

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