But we fit. Just like we do now. My front to his back, my legs curled up behind his. He’s warm, and my dick is pressed against his bare ass, but it’s not something yet. It will be, and probably soon (there’s only so much naked Otter I can stand before I have to try and get all up on that), but for now, it’s soft and quiet and good. My arm is over his hip, fingers trailing in the hairs on his stomach. My face is pressed against the back of his neck, and he smells good. Like sex and sweat and the soap we have at home.

He sighs, wiggling back until he’s pressed against me, no space left between us. And then he just melts, like he’s exactly where he wants to be and doesn’t plan on moving for the foreseeable future. He’s predictable, and I love him for it. For this.

“Are you scared?” he asks.

“Yes.” Then, “About what?”

“September.”

“Ah. Yeah. I guess. More anxious, maybe. And excited. And nervous. Like, not that vomity-nervous that I sometimes get, but a good kind of nervous. Okay, maybe a little vomity-nervous too, but that’s probably par for the course. I also get sweaty at really random times. Like, I’m not even thinking about the fact that we’re about to be dads, but then I get dad sweats, and then I start thinking about it and get vomity-nervous and—”

“I’m sorry I asked.”

“Jerk.”

“No, seriously. I just made love to you—”

“Oh dear god.”

“—made love to you, and now we’re cuddling—”

“I married a fifteen-year-old girl.”

“—and now you’re talking about getting dad sweats and nervous vomiting. You remember what I said about us not being like Anna and Creed? I lied. We need help. Or rather, you need help.”

“That’s mean.”

“Well. It’s how I feel.”

“Because I’m here to validate your feelings. That was not in the wedding vows, if you’ll recall.”

He takes his hand in mine, our fingers intertwining. “That was a good day.”

He’s such a sap. “Yeah. It was.”

“I’m scared too.”

“I think that’s normal, right?”

He shrugs a little. “Probably. I just want—I need to be good at this.”

“Being a daddy?”

He nods.

I tighten my grip around him. “Can I tell you a secret?”

He laughs quietly. “Yeah.”

“Just between you and me.”

“Okay.”

“I don’t know that there is anyone who is going to be better at this than you.”

He sucks in a sharp breath. “Bear—”

“I mean it. You’re going to be so good at it, okay? You’ve waited for so long for this. You’ve been so patient with me. And I know you. Okay? I know you better than anyone. You’re going to be good. The best, really.”