Chapter Seventeen
697 Words
Six months ago, Lucy stood in a crowded reception hall watching Marcus marry Britney, wondering if love always came wrapped in chaos before it finally settled into peace.
Now, standing in Britney’s kitchen with the smell of cinnamon rolls in the air and sunlight spilling across the marble counters, love looked…different.
Quieter.
“Lucy, can you pass me the orange juice?”
Britney called from the other side of the island, one hand resting absentmindedly over the gentle curve of her stomach.
Lucy froze for half a second.
That curve.
It was still small, barely noticeable unless you were looking for it. But Lucy had noticed it immediately.
She slid the glass across the counter, raising a brow. “You’re not supposed to be lifting anything heavier than a spoon, remember?”
From the living room, Marcus appeared instantly as if summoned by the word lifting. “Exactly. I told her that.”
Britney rolled her eyes. “I am pregnant, Marcus. Not made of glass.”
Marcus ignored her, already taking the juice and placing it carefully in front of her like it was a priceless artifact. “Doctor said no stress.”
“The doctor said moderate rest.” Britney corrected.
Lucy laughed softly, leaning against the counter.
Six months ago, Marcus had been the man who chased love like it was something he might lose at any second. Now he hovered over his wife with a a mixture of awe and terror.
And it was strangely beautiful.
“Still doesn’t feel real,” Lucy said quietly.
Britney’s expression softened. “Tell me about it.”
Marcus moved closer to Britney, pressing a kiss to her temple. “It’s real,” he said firmly. “And I’m not messing this up.”
Lucy caught the flicker in his eyes, the memory of old mistakes, old fears, but they didn’t linger there anymore. He wasn’t the same man he had been before the wedding.
People could grow.
She had learned that.
The doorbell rang.
Lucy didn’t need to check to know who it was.
Josh walked in moments later, carrying a small paper bag and wearing that easy smile that always made her chest feel lighter instead of tighter.
“I come bearing peace offerings,” he announced, holding up the bag. “Strawberry pastries. Your favorite.”
Lucy blinked. “I didn’t even tell you I was craving those.”
Josh shrugged. “You didn’t have to.”
Something warm settled in her chest.
Six months ago, she had confused intensity for depth. Now she was learning that attention, the quiet, steady kind was its own kind of romance.
Josh crossed the room and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. Not dramatic. Not possessive.
Certain.
Marcus smirked from across the room. “You’re setting the bar high, man.”
Josh only smiled. “That’s the point.”
Lucy shook her head, but she couldn’t stop smiling.
Later, when the laughter in the house had mellowed and Britney had gone upstairs to rest, Lucy stepped out onto the patio for air. The evening breeze was cool against her skin.
Josh followed a few seconds later.
“You okay?” He asked.
She nodded, watching the sky shift into deeper shades of blue. “Yeah. It’s just…six months ago everything felt complicated.”
“And now?”
She glanced at him. “Now it feels simple.”
Josh didn’t answer right away. He moved closer and his hands brushing against hers before intertwining their fingers.
“I don’t need complicated,” he said quietly, “I just need time. With you.”
Lucy swallowed.
Time.
Not urgency.
Not competition.
Not fireworks that burned too fast.
Just time.
From inside, Marcus’s laughter echoed through the house. Britney’s voice followed, light and teasing.
Lucy squeezed Josh’s hand. “My birthday’s next month,” she said casually. “You better not forget.”
Josh’s lips curved. “As if I could.”
But later that night, when Lucy wasn’t looking, he pulled out a black velvet box from his pocket and opened it. It was a stunning engagement ring.
He was going to propose to her on her birthday.
- Writer
