In a Rush (Friendship, Rhode Island #2)

by Kate Canterbary

I smiled as I said, “I think I have some idea.” He sucked in a breath and I knew—I knew there was no turning back from here. The Ryan and Emme of the past were gone and this new version of us, this couple, were much more than childhood friends. I didn’t know what lived in the dark unknown of that much more but I knew we’d figure it out—together. Like we always did. “Have you softened up yet?” I asked. A choked sound echoed around him. “Not even close.” He cleared his throat and then turned the water on again. “You told me a few months ago you wanted to be married. You wanted to be settled.” “Yeah,” I said, snuggling into the pillows. “I do.” “What does that look like for you? Is it a house and kids? A backyard for some dogs to run around? Or a brownstone in the city and traveling every chance you get? What is it?” It took me a minute to find the right words. “I don’t care about the house, the backyard. The place, the things—they don’t matter. They’ve never mattered. I just want something that belongs to me. Something that’s permanent.” “And the kids?” I scowled at the bottles of vitamins, supplements, pain relievers, and hormones lined up on the bedside table. “That’s complicated.” “Why? Because of your condition?” he asked. “Or because you haven’t decided about kids?” “The world is a riotous, melting disaster and I’m truly concerned about handing over that shit show to anyone,” I said. “But I’ve always been told getting pregnant could be difficult. For me. So. I’m not sur...