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I rip the plastic off as I saunter back into the roos I drop the bottle on the bed and she arches a brow, a slow s wickedly on her lips

"I think I like where this is heading"

"You’re going to love where this is heading," I promise

I slip her tank top off of her She settles back, looking up ata thin line up her leg, over her knee, across her thigh, her hip bone, and finallythere "Are you going to be able to keep this?"

She shrugs slowly "I’ll keep it as long as I can"

"That’s good I like it," I say as I lower ue over the s up every bit of chocolate As I h, Lucy whiood as the chocolate tastes, I know for a fact that she tastes better

Her hips rise in a reaction I’ers resting in the thick, dark syrup I pull back, letting it drip froers to coat her and I savor this experience It doesn’t take long for Lucy to float off the edge

She forgets about the rest of the sticky mess on her stomach as she pulls me up She wipes away a ser into ently She makes the best damn sound as I find my pace

"I’ve missed you," sheup the next silk butterfly Bree and Jessie ju in with each other We all decided it would be easier for Lucy to move in with me Two stories are easier than three with a baby

So now I’ht here," she says, pointing at an open spot Ias a makeshift ladder and press the tack into place

"So I was thinking," I state as I hop down "Since you can’t drink because you’re pregnant, I’ to either"

She doesn’t respond, so I turn around to make sure she heard me She jumps into me and I barely catch her before I fall backwards onto the bed

Lucy kisses me deeply and I wish I hadmy lap Her hand smoothes over my chin "You know, I can’t sard her seriously "You didn’t sive it up"

"That’s true, I guess"

I tuck her hair behind her ear, letting ?"

"I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to do Our lives are changing enough"

"That’s not what I asked," I say

"I wish you didn’t smoke because I know it shortens your life and I want you without of control againstabout the rest of our lives She’s talking about forever

"But," she continues, "I know all you’ve given up for me, Park I won’t ask you to lose any Hell, I don’t even re before you You’ve erased it all All that shit fro now I tried to avoid this Us I tried to ignore the way I felt about you But it just wouldn’t go away Before now I just didn’t care Before noas just surviving But no I have you and I know…I know I’ve gained everything Because I want ht noant the rest ofher closer "I alossy and she blinks quickly, sending tears off her lashes They hit my neck and my heart lurches inher not to cry as I dry her tears Good or bad, I can’t stand to see her cry

"I’ve loved you for so long," she says

I close ht here, is pure happiness Her lips touch mine, just verification that this moment is absolutely perfect

Lucy’s Rules:

1 Make the conscious decision to look at others with an open mind and an open heart

2 Everybody needs someone in their life they can rely on Try to be that person Be that person

3 Take a chance Take a lot of chances

4 Love whole-heartedly (Unless in the presence of Park Reed--in which case, guard your heart at all cost)

5 Make it your goal to make someone smile daily

6 Always expect more of yourself today than you did yesterday

7 Noin the goodness of others Learn to forgive

8 Make memories

41

Lucy

Park makes a face at me when the nurse focuses her attention on ood vein to drain, I try not to laugh

We heard the baby’s heartbeat today Yes--I cried I think Park ht it well

Now I’ blood work done Which kind of sucks, but I’ our baby is healthy

"I’ood vein," the nurse says, straightening up "You et you soain"

Park pushes off the wall and etting sick?"

The nurse ducks out the door and I shrug "No, I haven’t hadsickness in over a week It’s just early I’ and I just had that bagel before we left"