The morning started with a protest from Lila’s spine.
She woke with a small, ungraceful sound as she tried to roll onto her side and felt something in her lower back bite in response. Not sharp pain. More like a deep ache, as if her bones were slowly rearranging themselves to make room for everything growing inside her.
“Careful,” Caleb murmured, voice still thick with sleep.
She hadn’t realized he was awake. His hand came to rest instinctively at the small of her back, warm and steady, thumb moving in slow circles.
“I’m fine,” she said, even as she winced again. “Mostly.”
“That’s not how fine sounds,” he replied quietly.
She huffed. “You’re very opinionated for someone who doesn’t know what it feels like to have their organs rearranged.”
His mouth curved, but his eyes stayed seriou
