Page 48 of Love is Grand
“How’s our little guy?” I whispered. It was as if aliens had inhabited my body, but it felt good. I wasn’t opposed to them staying.
A smack on my arm knocked me out of my thoughts. “Cal, stop saying that. What if I have a girl? Will you be disappointed?”
“No.”
“Here you go, Caleb,” Sam said, interrupting. “What do you think about you and your brother expecting babies at the same time?”
“Uh,” I looked to Shell, and she nodded.
“We all know,” she said softly.
“I’m sure it will be cool.” What else could I say? I had no clue.
Giving me a pointed look, Sam said, “Your brother went about things the usual way. Got married, then started a family.”
I nodded. All of a sudden, it was boiling hot in the coffee shop. My track pants hugged my balls like a vise—or was that Sam?
“My brother is a better man than me. I know that.”
Shell glared at Sam. “Dad, please.”
“What? This man needs to decide what he wants. Does he want you or to play games?”
I didn’t know what I wanted, but no one threw down the gauntlet when it came to me.
“I do know what I want, sir. A healthy baby, your daughter to take care of herself and be happy, and I don’t want to upset Weezie—ever.”
It was the truth. I might not have ever verbalized it before, but it was.
“Then do it,” Sam said and walked to the back.
“Sorry about that,” Shell said, still standing in front of me.
“Don’t be.” My palm cupped her cheek. “He has every right to question me. But right now, I’m going to kiss you. I can’t wait.”
Leaning closer, I felt my heart beat faster as our lips met. At first, it was soft, then not. If we weren’t in public and inside the coffee shop her dad owned, I might have fucked her right on the counter.
Instead, my hand found her belly again. “You look beautiful. I keep meaning to ask, but have you been sick? Maybe that’s why you’re not gaining weight.”
Shell shook her head. “No. I didn’t have morning sickness with Weez either. As for me, I look pregnant, and I’m only going to get bigger.”
“Good. That means you’re taking care of yourself.”
“Drink your coffee,” she said, changing the subject, nodding toward the counter where my cup waited for me.
I reached for it and took a sip, letting the caffeine spread through my veins. “Jack is outside. I’m going to rent a house here for the next few months with space for you and Weezie to spend time there. I’m going to be here as much as I can to take care of you.”
“Cal.”
“Don’t Cal me. It’s done.” When Shell put a hand on her hip and was about to argue, I said, “Now show me the secret papers under the counter.”
This made her eyes sparkle and shoot fire at the same time. I’d touched a nerve, and I loved it.
“Later. I need to take some beans to the Ritz, and then pick up Weez. It’s a half day for her at school.”
“Oh, good. You can bring her to the hotel, and she can swim.”
Shell frowned. “I don’t know.”