Page 52 of Ruin The Friendship
“Hmm. I think I’ll say yes, then.”
Fletcher’s eyes gleam, and he gives me an even more endearing smile. “Great. I’ll add it to the calendar.”
“Can’t wait.”
He pulls me in for another hug and kisses the top of my head. I rest my cheek against his chest, listening to his heart thump rapidly.
“When’s your next baby appointment?” he asks, surprising me.
“Not for a few weeks.” My first real appointment was a few weeks ago, and I go once a month for now until later in my pregnancy.
“Would you…” He clears his throat. “Could I maybe come to the next one?”
I pull back so I can look into his eyes. “You’d want to come?”
He nods slowly. “Only if you want me there. I’m all in, Lydia. And I know you’re a package deal with the baby, so I’ll do whatever you need to show you that.”
He has such a kind and genuine heart, I know I could trust him with it. If I let myself, I could easily fall for him. He’d be right there to catch me, and my baby, too.
“Yeah. I want you there. We may have to rearrange our schedules, but we can make it work.” I rest my hand over his pounding heart and follow my gut, standing on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek for the second time tonight.
The warmth of his cheek and the stubble from his beard sends a tingle through my body and a swoop through my belly. The moment reminds me of earlier, when I accidentallyturned at the right moment, and our lips just barely touched. It was shocking in the best way. I couldn’t help but reach up and touch my lips to make sure what I’d felt was real. If the soft half-kiss felt that good and surprised me so much, I have no idea what I’ll do when we actually kiss for the first time.
I pull back and brush some of the tousled hair from his face.
“Thank you.” Hopefully, the simple words convey how much I feel. I can’t stop the yawn that falls from my mouth.
“Alrighty, time for bed, Lydi-bug.” He takes my hand, squeezing gently and leading me down the hall to my bedroom.
We stop outside my closed door, and I realize I don’t want this night to end. It’s been perfect from start to finish. I want more.
I turn and rest my back against the door in the dark hall. When I look up at him, there’s a new expression on his face, one I’m unfamiliar with. Fletcher tucks a hair behind my ear and drags his thumb across my cheekbone.
“Good night, Lydia,” he says, breathless.
I reach up to rest my palm flat on his chest. “I don’t think I’m ready for this night to be over.”
The corner of his mouth twitches. “Me neither, but we’re going to take this slow.”
I want to pout. I’m desperate for his lips on mine, even for a quick kiss.
“Don’t give me that look.”
“What look?”
Fletcher groans, resting his forehead on mine. “I have a plan.”
His breath is hot against my skin, and a shiver wracks through my body as my heart pounds.
“What is your plan?”
“That’s for me to know, and for you to find out.” Fletcher pulls away for only a moment before pressing his lips to my forehead in a long kiss. “Good night.”
He steps backward into his bedroom.
“Good night, Fletcher,” I say, even though it’s the last thing I want.
I stay here for a moment after he closes his door, then go into my room, sitting down on the edge of my bed to process this night. I knew I would have a great time. It’s Fletcher, after all. He knows me better than anyone. But I never expected the immediate shift in our friendship, or the way sparks would fly between us at the slightest contact.
