Calling Me Home Read Online Free PDF Page B

didn’t tell him, but he was on to something. We were together now. It made sense to me, and I felt good—no—amazing about that. “I think it’s time to tell Haven.” I dropped another kiss on his jaw.
    “You ready to not care if she’s weird about it?”
    “You think she’ll be weird about it?”
    “No, but I want you to be sure of this—of me, of us. I don’t want you breaking up with me again if she says something you don’t like.”
    He was right. I’d been all too ready to buy in to Haven’s doubts—I’d even enlarged them in my own imagination. “I think she just gave a voice to the feelings I had. Hearing them from her made them bigger than they needed to be. But, you’re no longer five seconds out of a long-term relationship, and I believe you when you tell me that I’m not the easy option for you. It’s like you’ve moved out of some rut and are embracing change for the first time ever.”
    “You’re right. I’d tried to make everything around me into some kind of time warp because I thought that was what would make me happy. It’s probably been like that since my parents died. I’ve let go of that need to keep everything the same, and you’ve helped me with that. You’ve shown me how good change can be.”
    He couldn’t have said anything that would have made me love him more. “You say the sweetest things.”
    “I mean every word.”
    “I’m ready to tell Haven.” I reached up and placed a row of kisses down his cheekbone.
    “Come on.” He lifted me off his lap. “That’s reason to do some naked celebrating. Let’s get you to bed.” His phone began to buzz.
    “It’s Haven,” he said. “It’s late; I wonder why she’s calling.” He silenced the call. By the time we’d made it to the bedroom, my phone was ringing. I knew before checking it would be Haven. It would be too coincidental for our phones to have gone off so close together not to be.
    “I have to answer. It could be about the baby, and Jake’s out tonight.”
    “Haven?” I sat on the bed and kicked off my shoes.
    “Hi, sorry. Is it too late? I just tried to call Luke but he’s not answering, and neither is Jake.”
    “You okay?”
    “Yeah, I just had a weird sensation in my belly, and I got a bit freaked. I spoke to the doctor, and he said it was fine and normal and probably the baby kicking, but I just needed someone I loved to tell me that it’s going to be okay.”
    Luke had stripped down to his boxers and was trying to pull my sweater over my head. He held my phone to my ear to release my arm. Placing my hand back on my phone, he pushed me back onto the bed as Haven continued to chatter.
    “It’s more than okay. It’s so amazing, Haven. You’ve got a living thing inside you. It’s weird, but totally cool.”
    Luke slid my jeans down my legs, followed by my underwear. I lay naked on the bed.
    “So you’re okay. Do you want me to come over?” I’d have to have a cold shower before I left, but if she really wanted me to go over, I would. That was the story I was telling myself anyway.
    “No, I’m fine. I just needed to hear you tell me that it’s okay. I’m just relived, that’s all.”
    Luke began to drop butterfly kisses across my belly. I threaded my free hand through his hair, loving his warmth against my skin.
    “How was the mixer? Oh my God? Did you get a place? I’m sorry; I’ve been whining about me and I forgot to ask. Are you a future MBA graduate?”
    My gut sank. Thank God she’d know about us sooner rather than later. I hated lying to her. I twisted away from Luke. He moved to my side and rested his head on his elbow, looking at me. “I didn’t hear today. I think it will be this week though.”
    “But the mixer was good?” she asked.
    “Tonight was fine, but I’m really tired. Do you mind if we catch up tomorrow?”
    Haven and I exchanged goodbyes, and I hung up and tossed my phone on the nightstand. Luke traced his finger along my jaw. “Is she