“What gift is that?”
“Brian and I want you to choose a color and we’re going to paint my old room for you. Figured we’d give you a jump start on decorating it for the baby.”
“Really? That’s the best gift ever. Thank you.”
Bennett came back through the front door, his gray T-shirt soaked with sweat. He pulled off his backward baseball cap, wiped his forearm across his brow, and put the hat back on.
“Anything else?” he asked James.
“I think that’s it.”
Brian came in and everyone said one more good-bye. I knew it was time for James to go, but there was still something sad about it. Saying good-bye to my roommate and planning a nursery for my son made me feel like I was moving on to the next stage of my life.
James and Brian left and Bennett and I sat down on the couch. James had taken his recliner and end table, so the couch and TV were all I had in the room now.
“You gonna be lonely now?” Bennett asked.
“Not with my unofficial roommate keeping my bed warm,” I said playfully.
“Maybe we should make it official.”
I felt a flutter of panic in my chest. We’d settled into such a happy, blissfully perfect routine. Bennett spent pretty much every night with me when he wasn’t traveling, but there were still occasional nights when he stayed at his apartment.
“You mean move in together?”
His wry smile was a mix of amused and aggravated. “I can see the idea scares you.”
“I’m not scared,” I said with a scoff. “I just don’t see why we need to rush things.”
“We’ve been together six months, babe. The baby’s due in five weeks. I want to be there for you both when he gets here, and it seems like that would be easier if we lived together.”
“Can’t you just keep staying nights here? What we have is working great.”
He sat back on the couch and folded his arms. “Yeah, except I don’t have most of my stuff here.”
“Stuff? Like what stuff?”
“Clothes. Shower stuff that doesn’t smell flowery. My bobblehead collection.”
I narrowed my eyes skeptically. “You don’t have a bobblehead collection.”
“But if I did, you wouldn’t want it over here. That’s too commitment-like for you.”
“What? That’s ridiculous.”
“So we should do it, then? You’re not afraid of the huge commitment having my pants and shampoo here would represent?”
I sighed with frustration. “Here’s the thing—when you’re here, I prefer you without pants.”
He took my hand and held it in his own. “I prefer that too, babe. Look, it’s time. You don’t want to marry me—”
“Not after six months, no.”
“What about an engagement?”
After a pause, I said, “Maybe.”
He pulled me a little closer. “Really?”
“Why don’t we talk about it after the baby’s born?”
“And where are you on moving in together?”
I took a deep breath. “Can we talk about that after the baby’s born, too?”
He nodded curtly but I could see the disappointment in his eyes. I hated that I was responsible for it, but I didn’t believe the birth of the baby meant our relationship had to change.
“You know I’m crazy about you, right?” I said. “This isn’t about me being unsure about you.”
“I know. It’s about your mother making you believe commitment is an act of desperation.”
“That is so not true.”
He put a hand on my thigh and leaned his head back on the couch. “So I’ve finally got two off days coming up. Sunday and Monday. Can you take Monday off so we can go see my family?”
“Yes, definitely. I’ve been wanting to meet them for so long.”
“Good.”
“Are we done with the other conversation?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I think we’re at an impasse.”
“I know I’m slow to take big leaps,” I said, turning on the couch so I was facing him, “but that’s because I have to be 100 percent certain. And when I looked at you in that backward baseball cap and sweaty T-shirt a couple minutes ago, I realized I’m 100 percent certain that I love you, Bennett.”
He arched his brows in surprise. A smile tugged up the corners of his mouth. “That’s all I need to hear, babe. If you love me, I can wait as long as it takes.”
“I do.”
“So the sweaty shirt and hat did it? I would’ve broken them out a long time ago if I’d known.”
I shifted on the couch, trying to ease the ache in my back. “It’s just you, Bennett. You’re so sexy and sweet and reliable.”
“Reliable?”
“You’re always there for me. And you’re my best friend.”
He took my hand and pressed it to his lips. “You’re mine, too. You want a back rub?”
I laughed humorlessly. “I’d love one, but I can’t lie down. I think I’ll have to just stand and lean my hands against the wall for it.”
“Only five more weeks, babe.”
I sighed softly. He stood and bent to help me get up from the couch. I wasn’t exactly the picture of grace these days.
“I just remembered the carpet cleaning place is coming tomorrow to do the whole apartment,” I said. “We’ll have to stay off the carpets until the next day.”