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“Yeah, baby, I do I’ll make sure”

We sat quietly while Olive nursed, both of us watching her It seemed inconceivable that anyone would want to hurt someone so innocent and new

My eyes were drooping, and I was leaning heavily against Mark by the ti to stand up to pull back the blankets so I could crawl in bed seeroaned

“Co me to ain before kneeling at my feet

“What are you doing?” I asked tiredly

“Takin’ off your shoes,” he replied, nodding at my feet

Tears esture because he kne tired I was, but it felt big Really big Down on one knee, big Because if a guy that’s been up just as long as you have, and is just as tired as you are, still takes the time to kneel down to remove the shoes that you could easily toe-off yourself—you’ve hit the jackpot

“I still have to run to the bathroo

“Aeetheart,” he said reaching up to wipe ht a smile

“It’s not because I have to go to the bathrooot me back on my feet “You tried to take my shoes off”

“I know,” he said, though he clearly had no idea what I was ra on about

After grabbing the diaper bag, I clenched my teeth and stiffened my spine while he escorted me to a bathroom I’d been in ato let theently took Olive fro When I got out of the bathroo a lamp in his free hand

I looked at hi as ent back to the rooain when he laid Olive on the bed and plugged in the la a t-shirt over the shade to diht

Within minutes, I was back in bed, with Olive on one side of me—closest to the wall, and Mark on the other side, his body lined up perfectly with

“Mornin’ is gonna come early,” he murmured into my hair “Turn that brain off and sleep”