“Yeah, I am. Like I said, just tired.”

But he felt like it was something more. “Talk to me, baby.”

She leaned on her hand, wiping her face and then sucking in a deep breath. “I’m lonely.”

He figured, and as his lips curled, he said, “I’ll be home in two days, and I promise I’ll do you in the car.”’

She giggled, which was what he wanted, her face breaking into a grin as she let her head fall back, laughing. “There’s my smile,” he said and she glanced back at the phone and smiled wider.

“It sucks you being gone, like really.”

“I know,” he agreed and she looked away.

“I’ve actually been thinking a lot, and what do you think of me opening a gym?”

He made a face, surprised by her statement. “Don’t you have those interviews with Bellevue?”

She nodded. “And I’m gonna go. But I’ve been training the Assassins’ wives and it’s so much fun. I love it.”

“Then do it,” he said quickly. “Anything that makes you happy, I’m down for.”

She smiled. “Yeah, I’m still considering it.”

“You should do it. Talk to Lacey, she’s good with that stuff. Business and all.”

She chewed on her lip, thinking for a moment. “Yeah, maybe I will. I’m gonna see her tomorrow.”

“Good, let me know what happens.”

“Of course, I will,” she promised and then she looked up. “So we are still going to dinner with your mom?”

“Yeah, I’m gonna give her a chance to be in my life, and if she doesn’t want it, then I’m gone.”

She nodded and he could tell she didn’t think his mom deserved even that much, which she didn’t. “Well, you know how I feel about it.”

He grinned. “Yeah, I do.”

“Well, then I guess I’ll prepare myself not to punch her in the throat, no matter how much I want to.”

“Yeah, hold that in,” he laughed. “I don’t want to bail you out of jail when I need to be investing in Gym Khaos, with K, of course,” he said with a wink and she grinned big.

“You do love me, huh?” she said sweetly, batting her lashes, and he nodded.

“More than you know,” he admitted. “So much more.”

As her eyes lit up and a grin spread across her whole face, he knew he could never love her enough.

There wouldn’t be enough time.

He’d need at least seven lifetimes, but since he only had one, he wouldn’t stop until that smile never left her lips.

“I forgot my darn flip-flops,” Lacey complained as she met Kacey in front of the nail shop. “Did you bring yours?”

Kacey shook her head, her fingers wringing together as her heart pounded in her chest. Ever since she’d sat on the toilet in her bathroom and watched as the word PREGNANT came up on the pregnancy test, her heart hadn’t slowed. To say she was elated and surprised was an understatement, but she was already scared out of her mind. She sort of felt bipolar, because one minute she was ecstatic, couldn’t wait to tell Jordie and get ready for a new baby. Then the next, she was curled up in a ball, worried that not only was Jordie not going to be able to handle a new baby, based on what Lacey said, but also that this was the second time she had gotten pregnant on her IUD. That couldn’t be good for the baby, and what if she lost this one too?

What if she couldn’t have children?

“It’s okay, we aren’t even going to the salon,” Kacey said before walking toward her OB-GYN, which happened to be right next door to the nail salon.

Lacey’s face warped in confusion as she looked at Kacey expectantly. “What the hell? You said girls’ day, Elli is watching Mena, I need my feet done, and why are we going to the OB-GYN… Oh my God, you’re pregnant?” she asked and Kacey rolled her eyes as she went through the door.

“Apparently. Come on,” she said, still not a hundred percent sure the nine home pregnancy tests she took were right. It seemed a little unreal, but yet she was still puking her brains out and now finally, her boobs were hurting. She knew that she was, but a part of her was in denial.

“Seriously? You took a test?”

She nodded as she went up to the desk, signing in. “Yup, nine positives and my tits started hurting.”

“Oh, shit.”

That was one thought Kacey had.

“Jesus, Jordie’s sperm is strong as hell,” Lacey commented as they went to sit down after Kacey had checked in.

“Agreed,” she said, her knee bouncing. “I don’t think I am though.”

“Liar,” Lacey laughed. “You know you are. I can see it on your face.”

“Okay, yeah,” she said with a nod, and then a smile crept up on her face. “I’m really excited but scared out of my mind.”

Lacey threaded her fingers with Kacey’s. “It’s gonna be fine.”

Kacey shot her a look. “A couple days ago you were singing a different tune.”

She shrugged. “A couple days ago we weren’t sure. Now we are, and now we will be fine.”

The way she said that, it almost seemed as if she meant her and Kacey, which was confusing. Was she already counting Jordie out? Holding Lacey’s gaze, she asked, “You still don’t think he’ll be able to handle this?”

Lacey looked away, sucking in a deep breath. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “But if he can’t, I got you,” she promised before squeezing Kacey’s hand.