Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
I grin. Eira can’t help but care. Fuck, how did I get so lucky?
I grab the latest British Medical Journal and sit, cradling Guinevere in my arms, and give her the milk. I flip open the publication and start to read. “‘Abstract Objectives To determine the extent and content of academic publishers’ and scientific journals’ guidance for authors on the use of generative artificial intelligence—” I break off. “This is going to be a good one,” I say. “Might even be useful.”
I feel Eira’s hand on my shoulder before I hear her. “What are you doing?” she asks.
“Reading her the British Medical Journal. She loves it.”
She laughs. “Of course she does.”
“I’m serious.”
She bends and gives Guinevere a kiss on the head. “Hey, sweet girl. I missed you.”
Maybe I’m imagining it, but I swear there’s a flicker of recognition in Guinevere’s eyes.
“Can I get you anything?” she asks, heading to the kitchen. “I’m grabbing a water.”
My jaw falls open as I see she’s wearing my old Cambridge t-shirt. “No, but I’m going to enjoy the view.”
Her head tilts to one side as if to tell me I’m incorrigible. “I’ll have a drink and call a cab.”
My body tenses and I frown. “A cab for who, exactly?”
She grins at me. “I’ll head back to the flat and—”
“No, Eira. No, you won’t. I’m not giving you up again.”
She brings her glass over to the table and sits down opposite us. Just her being nearer calms me, like she’s human propofol or something. “It’s just one night. We haven’t discussed logistics or what comes next and—”
“Do we need to?” I thought I’d made myself completely clear. “I want you. I want to be with you. I love you.”
Even in this low light, I can see her blush.
“I love you too,” she says. “And I want to be with you. But this is new and—”
“Then stay. There’s no point in you going somewhere just because this feels fast. We both know this is it. That we’re together from now on. Why delay the inevitable?”
She shrugs. “Okay, so I’ll stay.”
I don’t even try to contain my grin. “Okay,” I say.
“But I want some Guinevere snuggles. You’re hogging her.”
“I think we can arrange that,” I reply. “You can burp her once she’s done feeding. In the meantime, you want to tell me what kind of engagement ring you want?”
She narrows her eyes at me. “You’re quite the romantic.”
“Stop dodging the question. I’m not good with the creative stuff. I’m not like Zach. Unless you want to end up with something awful, you’ve got to give me some hints.”
“I don’t care about a ring,” she replies. Before I get the chance to reply, she says, “You know something that I’d really love?”
“Name anything. If it’s in my power, I’ll get it for you.”
“I want my brother and sister to get to know you. Sooner rather than later. Your brothers are… I’ve met them all. They all seem wonderful…”
“But they’re overwhelming?” I suggest. “A pain in the neck? We can move so we’re not opposite Jacob if you’d prefer and—”
She laughs. “I mean it—I really like your family, but I don’t want to feel like I’m having to step away from mine to be with yours. Eddie is still young and needs me even if it’s not in the way I thought. Dylan too, in his own way. I love them both and I want…” She clasps her hands together. “The Coves and the Cadogans to mesh well. I don’t want my brother and sister to feel like I’m deserting them. It’s been the three of us for a long time.”
I groan. “Of course. I’m a selfish prick at times. Let’s go and see them next weekend or invite them here. And then…maybe we should do what Nathan and Madison have done and buy our own place in Norfolk, so we have the base for the Cadogan-Coves.”
“The Cadogan-Coves?” Eira asks.
“It’s got a nice ring to it.” I glance down at Guinevere. “Don’t you think, Guinevere? You think we should all become Cadogan-Coves?”
Eira gasps. “You wouldn’t mind changing your name?”
“I’d do anything for you,” I reply. “If you want us all to be Cadogans, that’s fine too.”
“I think you might be a keeper, Dax Cadogan-Cove.”
“Glad you think so, Eira Cadogan-Cove.”
Guinevere turns her head and the teat of the bottle slips out of mouth. “Guess she’s done,” I say. “I think she wants snuggles with you.”
I sit back in my chair as Eira puts Guinevere over her shoulder and gently pats her back.
Three months ago, I had no clue my life was about to change. And now it has, I can’t believe this exact moment wasn’t what I’d been aiming for my entire life. Everything in this second is perfect. I’m the luckiest guy in the world.
EPILOGUE
Eira
I shift from foot to foot, glancing at the side table and the footstool. “I think we need to move it back where it was.”