Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
“This is new.”
“Yeah. I know how you like to snuggle. This one is bigger than the other one. We can both cuddle under it.” He takes a seat next to me and lifts his arm. I don’t hesitate to burrow up next to him, sharing the blanket. The lights were already turned off from him setting the romantic mood. He cues up a movie, and I smile when I see it’s The Notebook. One of my all-time favorite movies.
“You sure you want to watch this with me? You know I cry at the end every single time.”
His answer is to reach over, grab a box of tissues, and place them on his lap. “Nowhere else I’d rather be.”
That’s how we spend the rest of our night. His arms wrapped around me as we share the new throw blanket he bought and watch one of my all-time favorite movies. As predicted, I bawl my eyes out at the end. Legend pulls me onto his lap and wipes my tears once the credits roll. That only serves to make me cry harder. Legend continues to hold me, running his hand up and down my back to soothe me until my tears slow.
“You want cake, or are you ready for bed?”
“Bed, I think. We can save the cake for tomorrow.”
That’s all he needs to hear before he’s standing, lifting me into his arms, and carrying me off to bed. We go through our routines of getting ready, then slide beneath the covers. Legend is wrapped around me like he is every night, but my heart is still in tatters from the movie, and my mind is still processing this perfect night he planned for us.
In the quiet of the room, I whisper. “Legend?”
“What’s up, gorgeous?”
“You make me want things we didn’t agree on.”
“So it’s not just me?” he asks, holding me tighter.
His reply makes this easier. “Will you make love to me?”
He immediately rises up, and with the light of the moon spilling through the bedroom blinds, I can make out his figure. “I’d never turn down the chance to make love to my wife.” He kisses me so softly, it’s as if he thinks I might break. Every touch of his calloused hands is soft as a feather as he roams them over my body.
Legend makes love to me, just like I asked him to. It feels different and special. It’s unlike any other form of sex and intimacy I’ve ever experienced.
My heart feels so full it could burst.
Is this love?
Does he feel it too?
I’m warm and snuggled in our bed. It’s late March in Tennessee and still chilly. Not that I have to worry about that at night with my husband. He keeps me warm. Just like now. I’m in that state of half awake and half asleep. It’s Saturday, and I had planned to sleep in, but my body is trained to wake up early. I don’t know what hour it is, but I know it’s not time to wake up. Not today.
My phone rings, causing me to jolt. I fumble to reach for it on my nightstand as Legend’s phone also rings. I feel the bed dip and know he’s also reaching for his.
Fear grips me. Something is wrong.
“Hello?” I answer.
“Mo.”
“Emerson? What’s wrong? Oh my god, are you in labor? Is she coming?” I sit up in bed, suddenly wide awake.
“We’re on our way to the hospital. My water broke.”
“What do you need?” I toss off the covers. “I’m on my way.”
“Nothing. You don’t have to come. It’s just Rome and me in the delivery room. We don’t know how long this is going to take.”
“I’m coming. Do I need to stop by your place and pick anything up?”
“No.” My best friend laughs. “You know Rome has me covered. I just wanted to tell you.”
“How are you this calm?” I ask her as I scramble to pull clothes out of my dresser.
“Because, Mo, I get to finally meet my daughter.”
Tears well in my eyes. “I love you, Em. I am so happy for both of you. I’ll be there, okay? If you need me, I’ll be waiting for you. I can’t wait to meet your daughter.”
“T-Thanks, Mo. Love you,” she replies, choked up.
“Love you too. I’m on my way.” I end the call and toss my phone on the bed while tearing off Legend’s shirt I was sleeping in. I’m rushing to put my bra on when I feel hands on my hips.
“Take a breath, Mo,” Legend says from behind me. He places a kiss on my bare shoulder. “Let’s get dressed, and we’ll head to the hospital.”
“Who called you?”
“Rome.”
“I need to get there.”
“We will. Let’s finish getting dressed, and we’ll head straight there. We won’t leave until you’re ready.”
“You don’t have to. She’s my best friend. I appreciate you wanting to go with me, but you can go back to bed.”