“Sawyer?” he said, a little louder this time.
I just crumpled into the couch, nodding.
Diving down, he pulled me into his arms. “This is amazing!”
“What?” I barked. “This is a disaster.”
“How could something so miraculous be a disaster? Is it fast? Heck yes. Do we barely know each other? Fair, but Sawyer, I don’t care if I have known you for five minutes or five years—I know you are someone I want in my life for the rest of my life.”
“How the hell can you say stuff like that? I don’t even know what I want for breakfast tomorrow, let alone if I want to have a child.”
His body language softened. “We’ll take this slow, but I am going to be there for you every step of the way. We can date for the next few months, and when you’re ready, you can move in with me. My house is too big for me anyway.”
I pushed him away. “Pump those damn breaks. Move in with you?”
He shrugged. “Well, yeah. If we’re going to have a kid together, we really should live together so I can help with everything. I want to help with everything. I know this is unconventional, but neither one of us plays by society’s rulebook anyway. Fuck what is normal and do this with me.”
His pleading eyes started to break down my walls, but not completely.
“This is all happening way too fast, Trace. I need time to breathe and think.”
His hands flew into the air. “Fair enough. We can talk about it after the wedding tomorrow. I will pick you up and help you carry all of your stuff. You really shouldn’t be doing any heavy lifting in your condition.”
“In my condition?” I flew off the rails. “Where do you get off barking orders at me? I am not some helpless pregnant damsel. I can take care of myself.”
“But what if I want to take care of you? Ever think of that side of the damn coin?” he bit back. I had to hand it to him—at least he was willing to put my crazy ass in my place when need be.
I softened my resolve a little as a wave of tiredness reminded me just how miserable I had been over the last week.
“I’m sorry. I am just so overwhelmed right now.”
“Let me take a little of the burden off of you. I’ll be here in the morning with decaf coffee and breakfast then I will take you to the venue since we both have to be there at the same time anyway. I’ll help you throughout the day, which is a win-win for me because I need an escape from the drama. When the event is over, we will escape to my suite. We’ll order room service and take a nice long bath and talk.” Trace stroked my hair as tears rolled down my cheeks.
“Decaf?” I wept.
“Yes, sweetheart. No more caffeine for a while,” he cooed.
“But I love coffee. I can’t give up coffee,” I blubbered into his hard chest.
“Only the caffeine part of the coffee,” he assured me.
“But that is the best part! Is everything going to be okay?”
He tucked me into his side, leaning back with my head on his shoulder. “For us, yes. For my sister, maybe not.”
I glanced up at him. “What does that mean?”
“You’re in for a show tomorrow if it is going to go like I think it will. All I can say is I don’t envy the groom.”
“Very intriguing.”
“I think so too.” He exhaled as he kissed my forehead. “I should probably let you get some sleep.”
I stopped him from getting up. “I really don’t want to be alone right now.”
“Fair enough.”