#Chapter 11 An Unexpected Heatwave

And that’s how I ended up horizontal with Elroy for the second time—though this time was much less…enthusiastic. We laid together above the covers, fully clothed, as I let Elroy rest his hand gingerly just above my waistband. Right over our baby. Elroy’s hand was large, warm, and heavy, and it was strangely soothing to have it sitting there. I was more enthralled with watching his face though; he was all carefully modulated excitement and serious intensity as he stared down at his hand, and aside from being drop-dead gorgeous, it made me feel like he’d be a good father. Good. My baby deserved nothing less. We sat there for long, silent minutes while Elroy’s energy carefully reached out to the baby’s. It wasn’t something I felt, more like something I was aware of, but it was like watching an animal gently sniffling at something it knew was fragile. I watched the way Elroy’s eyes lit up when he located the tiny wisp of energy our baby was starting to develop. I was a little