She groans at my joke, even though my mom told me that I need to start Lucy’s days with a kale smoothie. And no, she didn’t mean my own personal concoction.

We continue to banter back and forth, and before I know it, we’re in Nashville. Her eyes widen when I pull up to Germantown Café.

“You remembered!” she squeals, leaning over to give me a kiss on the cheek.

Last summer, she lamented not being able to find delicious fried green tomatoes in Clarksville, so after asking around, I heard that this place had the best. We came quite a few times before I left for Afghanistan, and each time, I delighted in her moans of satisfaction with every single bite.

After parking, I round the car and open her door for her. Taking her hand, I lead her inside. “Could I really have taken you anywhere else on our first official date?”

She simply smiles and shakes her head.

Once we’re settled in, Lucy’s anxious until she has the appetizer in front of her. I watch her with fascination, still trying to wrap my head around the fact that she’s here and she’s mine.

“Why are you staring at me? Am I hogging these? Sorry, Kale. I didn’t get a chance to eat anything other than a banana this morning, and I’m starving. Have some, please,” she insists, pushing the basket towards me.

Mild irritation crosses my face. “Lucy, you need to eat more than that. You have to keep your energy up. One banana is not enough,” I scold.

“Okay, Dad. Geez. Maybe if you hadn’t kept me up so late last night, I wouldn’t have been running behind this morning and I would’ve had time for something more substantial.”

“Well, maybe you should just go ahead and move in with me so I can feed you something substantial every single morning. Eggs, bacon, toast, sausage. The works. You name it and it’s yours.”

She nearly chokes on a tomato when she hears my offer. Patting her lips with a napkin, she then takes a drink of water as she gapes at me. “You can’t be serious, Kale. We’ve been dating for a few days. I don’t think that warrants moving in together already.”

Truth be told, I actually wasn’t serious when I mentioned it, but now it doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. Shrugging, I take a drink of my sweet tea before responding. “Half serious?” I reply, giving her a sheepish grin. “I mean, sure, it’s soon, but come on. Let’s think about this for a minute. You have a small-ass apartment. Your guest bedroom is the size of a closet. I have more than enough room. The baby could have a nursery, and if you really wanted, even though it would break my heart, you could have your own room if you want, too. We’re together almost every night anyway, Lucy, and we were like that before we even decided to become a couple. After all, June fifth, 2014 will be here before we know it. Why not get settled now?”

I can see the wheels turning in her head and decide that her contemplation is a victory. A small one, but a victory nonetheless.

Lucy

HE CAN’T be serious. It’s been less than a week since I asked him to be my boyfriend—cue eye roll— so the thought of moving in with him already is absolutely absurd. Okay, so maybe if I’m honest with myself, I’d admit that we’ve been in this limbo-type relationship for almost a year and a half, and he’s no stranger, but still. And then the rest of his words register and I can’t help the small smile that spreads over my face. June fifth, 2014. The estimated day I’ll meet the child growing inside me—our child.

“Ah, I see that smile, Lucy. I can tell you’re considering it. Come on. I know it’s been a short time since we’ve been official, but I’ve been yours for a very long time,” Kale admits, causing my heart to flutter, and I try to ignore it.

Rolling my eyes, I scoff. “You have not been mine all this time, Montgomery,” I refute, knowing it’s not true.

“Au contraire,” he jests in a faux French accent that causes me to giggle. “That’s where you’re wrong. I’ve not looked at or touched another woman since I set foot in your classroom. Wait, I take that back. I’ve looked. I am a man after all, but since the moment you seduced me with your naughty, wicked teacher ways, I’ve not felt another woman’s touch.”

It takes a moment for his words to process through my mind. Even I slept with Aidan while he was gone. The thought causes me to blush. I never expected Kale to have been with only me. What about the summer? Is he serious? A thousand thoughts run through my mind.

“Kale, you seem to forget that I found panties underneath your bed. It’s fine. We obviously weren’t together at the time, but you don’t have to pretend I’ve been your one and only. I’m yours now. That’s all that matters.”

Groaning, he rubs a hand over his face, through his short, dark hair. “Luce, babe, I told you then and I’ll tell you now. That was an old pair. I promise you. The only thing I’m guilty of is not doing any thorough cleaning. I swear on our fucking child I haven’t touched anyone since I met you.”

His words floor me, and I believe every single one. “First of all, please don’t ever utter that phrase again. The F-word should never be used in connection to our baby, no matter how much you’re trying to emphasize your point.” He starts to protest, but I hold my hand up so I can finish. “That being said, I believe you. I’m absolutely freaking floored, but I do believe you. If and when I do decide to move in—a big, big if—you better do some crazy-ass spring cleaning to ensure that I don’t come across any other lady garments. I can’t imagine how my hormones would deal with finding a lace teddy under my boyfriend’s bed, even if it is a year and a half old, which would completely and totally gross, by the way.”

“Scout’s honor, baby. I can guaran-fuc—um, freaking-tee there is no women’s lingerie in my place. You know. If and when you decide to move in,” he promises in a low voice. “Just remember. I’m pretty damn good at wearing you down. Sooner or later, you’ll be in my home.”

Laughing out loud, I shake my head. “I’m pretty sure we established a long time ago that you were never a Scout, but I’ll take it. Just give me some time. I’m sure you’ll wear me down in the long run, but let me pretend to put up a little bit of a fight, okay? Knox and Charlie already did the falling-into-playing-house bit. Let’s not steal their thunder, okay?”

Kale shakes his head, but I can see his shoulders move, indicating that he’s trying to hide a chuckle. “We’re having a baby, Lucy. I don’t think there’s any thunder to be stolen. And I don’t see Jace—or you, for that matter—hanging around, trying to push us together. If and when we make this decision, we’ll do it together, not caring about anyone else’s opinion. Charlie was there to help Knox. In less than nine months, I swear to God you’re going to be thankful that you moved in with me. Think about it. We’ve both heard the horror stories. Late-night feedings. Early mornings. Dirty diapers. I want to be there for all of that, and I can’t if we’re living in two separate places. Now I won’t force you, but just think about it?”

His argument makes sense, and while part of me wants to jump up and scream a big rousing yes, I contain myself. “I’ll think about it, Kale. I promise.” And I mean it.

At the same time, my phone buzzes, and I see that I have a text from my mom. She’s been hounding me about Thanksgiving plans, and I’ve been avoiding her. Now that we have a due date, it seems logical that I stop avoiding the baby in the room and start discussing how we’re going to move forward. “So, do you have holiday plans?”

He pauses as the waiter serves our meals and waits to respond until we’re alone again. “Well, Mom was hoping I’d bring you down, but I was waiting to mention it. I’m a little hesitant because she’s kind of going crazy at the thought of being a grandma, and I don’t want her to scare you away.”