Page 106 of Fierce- Royce

“No more than you are holding back moving in here because you are worried you won’t have your space and time to do what you want.”

Her shoulders dropped as if she didn’t expect to be called out on that. “Maybe we both have things to overcome.”

“No maybe about it. Listen, Chloe. Take whatever space you want in the house for yours to do what you want. Call it a sanctuary if you want. I don’t care. Go up there to knit or watch chick flicks. I’ll just watch something else down here.”

She laughed at him. “I don’t knit and if I’m going to watch a chick flick you’re watching it with me.”

“You know what I mean,” he said.

“I do. We haven’t talked much about the future. We are both just making assumptions here.”

“That’s right. We are. Might as well talk now. I’m going to say what I want and you can tell me if I’m wrong or if it’s not what you have planned.”

“What do you want?” she asked.

“I want you to move in. You know that. I want you to be here when my child comes. I want to help you. I’m not going to crowd you. I don’t even have it in me to crowd someone. I’m more worried you are going to think I’m not doing enough.”

“I’m not worried about that,” she said.

“If you are or get that way, I want you to let me know,” he said. “Promise me that. I own part of the damn company and can step back if I need to.”

“Stop it,” she said. “Just like I want you to tell me if you think I’m not making the time for you. If you need me to have dinner on the table and all that stuff you need to tell me. I’m not sure I’m there. That I’m that person.”

He laughed. “Trust me, I know that. I’m going to admit it was nice to have it the other day when I came home from the hospital. But I don’t expect you to wait for me to eat. Never that. I’ve been feeding myself for years. If you make yourself dinner and there is something left over I’ll warm it up. I’m a big boy.”

She let out a sigh. “I guess this is the stuff we need to talk about.”

“We know the other has faults. Remember that is how we got to this point. I’m not going to ask you to change,” he said.

“Good,” she said. “I know I have to and can and will. That is life. But I can’t be someone I’m not.”

“The same,” he said. “I’m going to say it again. I want you to move in. You said you’ll be here before the baby is born, but I’d love it if you did it now. But I’m not going to push you. It’s out there. Open invitation.”

“Thank you for that. My lease is up in a few months. My plan was to do it then. But maybe since I’m still able to do a lot of things I should move more now. Let’s just get past this with your father. I can start to move things over slowly. I don’t have a lot.”

“You don’t. We can put your stuff wherever you want it. There is enough space in this house. I said to set aside another room for you with a TV, so do it upstairs or over the garage.”

She waved her hand. “I’m not thinking that. I’m not even thinking anything has to be changed here. I like your house the way it is.”

“But you can change things. I’ll do it.”

“I can do it too if you trust me. Paint isn’t that hard.”

He wanted to argue with her but decided not to. They’d get to that when the time came. “Whatever,” he said. “Tell me what you want.”

“I want to be here. I want to know it’s what you want and not just for the baby.”

“Fine,” he said, moving toward her. He yanked her into his arms and she landed softly against his chest. “I want you in my bed every night so that I can tell you I love you. So that I can watch our child grow in your belly and feel its movements. I want to be the type of father that my father was to me. I’m going to be a better partner to you than my father was to my mother.”

“Something tells me your father wasn’t that bad,” she said, smiling at him.

“I don’t think so, but my mother did. I only care what you think. I’m not going to guess. We have to talk to each other to get through this. Agreed?”

“Agreed,” she said. “I guess that wasn’t so hard. I’m not sure why we both thought it was so hard before.”

“Maybe because neither of us tried enough or even found someone to care enough before.”

“Could be,” she said.