AJ
I did my best to climb out of bed without disturbing Rhett. It was almost impossible to slip away from him when he pretty much wrapped his body around my own protectively every night. But I wasn’t complaining even a little; I loved how protected he made me feel.
I moved through the darkness of the apartment toward the kitchen. Nights had easily become the worst times, as it was next to impossible for me to sleep. Heartburn was a horrendous, torturous event, one I suffered from every night around the same time. It never mattered what I actually ate, it would hit me, leaving me wide awake and feeling as if my entire stomach, chest, and throat were on fire.
I quietly retrieved a glass from the cabinet and poured myself a glass of milk before walking over to the large window. The moonlight reflected off the water, and I lowered myself to the floor and pulled the blanket off the arm of the couch, securing it around me.
I knew without a doubt this very spot would be one that I’d never grow tired of. Maybe it was weird just how much it meant, but it held so many memories, and I only hoped there were many more to come. Memories of the two of us, holding our child, filled my mind every time I closed my eyes.
I’d managed to let go of the fears I’d felt when it came to Rhett and Harley. He was right; she was his past, and me and our child were his future. That worry inside me, the one that often left me feeling raw and irrational, was gone. And in its place was the most radiant and unexplainable feeling. I had never in my life felt as whole as I did right then.
“Hey, beautiful.” I looked away from the window and toward the sound of Rhett’s raspy voice. A silhouette of his body stalking toward me actually made my heart race in my chest. “Is it the heartburn again?”
“Yeah.” Just then, he stepped into the light of the room caused by the moonlight filtering in, and I feel my chest tighten. The man was absolutely gorgeous. “Just having my nightly glass of milk.” I held it up as if he needed a visual.
“Mind if I join you?” He was already lowering himself to the floor in front of me, placing one leg on either side of me so he could move in as close as possible. “Wish I could take on the discomfort so that you could sleep through the night.”
He lifted his hand to my face and moved away the hair, tucking it behind my ear. My eyes closed involuntarily because each touch from Rhett manages to take my breath away. To love someone so much and so deeply that whenever they show you that same love in return—it made it feel like you are free falling through the sky. I adored the feeling; I wanted it all day, every day.
“I’ll be okay after I drink this, I think.” I lifted the milk to my lips and took a small sip. “It’ll all be worth it in the end.”
“It will,” Rhett agreed, reaching out to place his hand over the small bump that was now so prominent at my waist. “I’m still amazed by the idea that just beneath my hand my son is growing. It’s mind-boggling.”
“You’re gonna continue to gloat about being right, aren’t you?”
Rhett smiled brightly, and I laughed. I still remembered the moment we had the sonogram that confirmed that we were, in fact, having a boy. Rhett literally hooted loudly throughout the room, and the technician laughed, accepting his high five as if she was on his side and somehow had a part in making our child a boy.
“I knew from the moment I had that dream.” He was talking about his father. “I felt like it was my father’s way of letting me know that even though he wasn’t here physically, he was still here, watching over me.”
“I think so too,” I confessed, reaching out to cup his cheek. “How could he not stick around in some way to watch you turn into the amazing guy you are today?”
We remained quiet for a few minutes, Rhett looking out the window at our side, somewhat lost in thought. I loved when he did that very thing; it gave me the time to just watch him and honestly fall in love with him just a little more.
“What do you think about living right here for at least the next year or two?”
“I’m okay with that,” I told him, wondering where this conversation was going.
“Good, because that’s how long I want to ensure that the house I plan to build for us is nothing short of perfect.” I instantly saw that smile tug at his lips.
“What?”
Rhett finally looked away from the window and his gaze settled once again on mine. “I talked to my mom and my dad.” He pointed toward the opposite side of the lake. “That space right out there, across the lake. It’s ours.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. I figured we could turn it slightly so whoever ends up living here later can’t see inside our new place.” He smirked. “Last thing I want is for anyone to look in and see my girl walking around in a nightie, or naked.” He winked playfully. “But we’ve gotta have this view still. It’s our spot.”
I nodded, feeling that rawness in my chest threaten me.
“I wanna build us the perfect house, one that the two of us design together.” He leaned in and kissed me. “Four bedrooms.”
“Four?”
“Yes.” Another kiss is pressed to my lip,s and this time he lingered just a little longer. “One for us, and one for each of our kids.”
“Three children?”
“We could make it five bedrooms.” He moved back just in time to catch my eyes widen in surprise, which made him chuckle.
“Three’s good,” I assured him.
“Have I told you just how much I adore you, Allison Jo?”
“Not in the last few hours.” He shook his head, almost as if he was disappointed. “I’m slipping.”
My heart was so very full. I was floored by the connection I had with Rhett, and how each day it only managed to grow deeper and more indestructible. He was my rock, my foundation, the man I loved with every single fiber of my being.
Rhett Jackson was my life, and in turn, I was his.