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She cleared her throat. “But now, I’m flat, in darkness, buried under the blanket—and much better.” She paused. “Tell me the details. Was there talking or just humping?”

“We started with talking, which then led to humping.”

“And?”

“The guilt was gone. He wants this.” I sucked in a breath. “He wants us.”

Gabby sighed. “Thank fuck. I was starting to worry about that man and his ability to see what was right in front of him.”

“He saw.” I remembered the words he had said. The way they hit me. The way they made me question. The way they settled every bit of apprehension I’d been feeling. “It just took him time to admit to himself that I’m what he wants. He knew all along, like I knew I wanted him, but coming to terms with that isn’t easy, not when you have a child to protect.”

“You’re the queen of understanding, you know that?”

The sun was just starting to rise in the sky, a sight that made me smile. “I don’t know about that. I just get the dynamics of family because kids are all I know.”