“I didn’t forget anything,” he interrupted, his expression darkening. “We’re having a baby together, so we still have to see each other sometimes.”

“Oh.” She was appropriately chastened. “What’s in the bag?”

“A few things,” he replied, keeping the top closed so she couldn’t peek inside. “Are you going to invite me in?”

“Come in.” She obliged him. “There’s something I want to show you.”

“Intriguing. What is it?”

“Not yet,” she said, plonking onto the couch and patting the spot next to her. “After you show me what’s in the bag.”

Eli sat and handed her the bag. She reached in and pulled out the first thing she touched: a jar of maternity multivitamins. Then she pulled out a box of crackers and another of chocolates. Her favorites. Their favorite.

“You really know how to win over a pregnant woman.” She laughed, opening the box of chocolates to offer him one.

Leaning toward her, he closed his mouth over the chocolate and stroked her fingers with the raspy part of his tongue. The hot inside of his mouth burned her, but she shivered. He swallowed, and she yearned to trace his throat with her tongue.

“I want you to know that you’re not doing this alone,” he told her.

She kissed his cheek impulsively. He still hadn’t shaved, so his face was bristly. “That’s so sweet of you.”

“There’s more.”

Reaching back into the bag again, she pulled out candied ginger, an eye mask for sleeping, a tube of massage oil and a bottle of body lotion. She laughed again. “You really did your homework, huh?”

He shrugged, but there was something hesitant in the motion to belie his earlier confidence. He seemed unsure of himself.

“This is great,” she said. “Thank you. Dry crackers are easier to keep down than most food. And massage oil is exactly what I’ll need in a few months when the weight starts piling on.”

“Teri helped,” he explained. “She said to buy massage oil and body lotion. I think she spent hours Googling pregnancy to learn all about it. She’s very excited to be an aunt.”

The tight coil in her stomach loosened at the thought of Teri scrolling through articles on Google about pregnancy, wanting to be involved. She was as special as her brother.

“Here, I want you to see something.” Taking his hand, she led him to the new nursery. His hand felt good around hers–warm and strong. She pushed the door open. Eli’s quick intake of breath told her she’d taken him by surprise.

“Did you do this?”

“Yeah,” she replied, proud of herself. “Avery and Sophie helped.”

“You told your friends?”

“Just them. I haven’t told my family yet,” she confessed. She felt pretty stink about it, actually. After all, his family knew.

“Why not?” She could have mistaken his tone for criticism, but he looked genuinely curious.