The next week goes as smoothly as it can.

Monday Chloe called to inform me that Eric had been served the divorce papers that afternoon. She said once his attorney reaches out we will have our first mediation together to try and see what our divorce will look like and discuss custody questions. 

Tuesday I had a prenatal appointment. Everything looks good except that she is still in breach position but she still has time, 8 weeks to be exact, to turn her little butt the right way. 

Wednesday I let the boys eat too much pizza and we watched the second Star Trek movie, again not as bad as I was dreading. 

Thursday my friend Kate from college called, she was going to be passing through the area next week and we made plans to grab lunch together. 

On Friday Eric called. I stared at the phone as it rang, this was the first time he had reached out since we parted at the hospital elevators. I was somewhat surprised that he waited this long. I couldn't help when my mind wondered how much he was talking to Hope in that time we didn't. I even let myself get a little mad over the fact that she was probably staying in my home as well since there was nothing stopping them. Forcing my hand to move I bring the phone to my ear. 

"Hello" 

"Ok I gave you some space. I see that you still went through with filling so I guess we can just talk about all this with the attorneys now but I want to see the boys. I haven't bothered you about them for a week and I know you aren't at Rachel's like you said by the way." 

"I never said I was going there you assumed and I let you. After how you acted last week I don't know how I feel about you being with them. What would you like to do with the boys?" I don't like how easily he switched into someone else last time we spoke and it makes me nervous for the kids. 

"I'm allowed to see my children and do whatever I think is best for them, Larkin. I have an attorney as well and if you want to play this game I'll call the police and say that my ex kidnapped my kids." 

I'm shocked by his statement. I've never given him a reason to not trust me but he has given me one to not trust him. 

Chris walks in as I'm on the phone and sees my growing distress. I put the phone on speaker and he quickly figured out what the conversations were about. Looking me in the eye he nods it's ok to let them go. I shake my head no and he reminds me that we have to be fair and responsible in dealing with him so he doesn't have anything to use against me later. 

"Do you want to have dinner with them?" I offer in return, it's not a school night so they don't have to go to bed early either. Noah will probably be excited to see Eric, he has asked about him a few times over the week but Connor has not. I don't know how he will feel about this. Hell, I don't know how I feel about this. 

"Dinners fine, I'll pick them up at four at Chris's." He says and hangs up immediately after. 

Asshole! I turn to Chris with tears in my eyes. 

"He's coming at four to get them for dinner." He nods in understanding, like he wasn't present for that part of the conversation. 

"Ok do you want to go out too or order something here?" He asks me, pulling me into a hug. 

"I don't want to go out, I still don't feel like being out if I don't have to, plus I want to for sure be here when he's done so there's no problem getting them back later." I reply.

"Good point, how do you girls feel about Mexican food?" He says rubbing my belly. My stomach growls and he laughs. "Tacos it is then!" He exclaims. Looking at my grim face again he adds softly "it's going to be ok I promise." 

A few hours later I'm getting the boys ready for dinner with their dad. Eric pulls in right on time and surprise surprise Hope is in the car. She stays in the front seat watching the exchange happening in front of the truck.

"You needed a date for your dinner with the kids?" I raise my eyebrows. 

"I really don't care what you have to say about me and Hope now that I know where you've been this week, hasn't Chris been around you with them the whole time?" he replies without making eye contact. 

"But I haven't been away from them for a week..." I start to answer but he cuts me off. 

"And who's fault is that?" He takes a deep breath then tells the boys to hop in the car. Turning to me he continues, "I hope you know what you have started doing all this," he waves his arms around, "I told you not to file." He says almost as a whisper then starts walking toward his truck. 

"Be back by eight please." I say as he's opening the door. 

"Yeah maybe," he says, slamming his door. I can see him and Hope laughing through the wind shield. 

Panic fills me with his statement. What if he doesn't bring them back?! I immediately run to Chris who's standing on the porch waiting in case I need him. 

"Take a deep breath, I bet he was just fucking with you to stress you out, just like you're doing," he tells me while hugging me close. 

I take a deep breath and take in his scent. His smell and the way he's hugging me help take the edge off. We eat our takeout and he watches tv while I watch the clock. By 9:30 I'm pacing the kitchen. Eric hasn't answered any of my calls. And I'm close to tears.

"Should I call the police? How long do I have to wait?" 

"Calm down Larkin," he makes a phone call real quick then comes over to me and leads me back to sit on the couch. 

A few moments later he gets a text. "They should be here in 15 minutes." He says calmly. 

"What? Who was that? Are you talking to Eric?" I fire off at him. 

"That was Hope, I reminded her that our parents are still helping her pay for her condo and they would hate to hear how she was still making you cry, especially about the kids." He answers me. 

This man!! I can't hug him tight enough! I don't know how he seems to have answers to all my problems lately but I'm not going to question it. 

"Thank you," I say into his chest. 

"Anything you need, I said I would help you through this and I meant it.” He looks me in the eyes and whatever I have been waiting for to change, whatever shoe I was waiting on to drop...has dropped. 

I don't think I need any more time to figure out how I truly feel about him. I feel safe with him, the kids are safe with him and I can breathe when he's around. I've been seeking him out all week without thinking about it and he's been nothing but respectful of my asking for more time after his confession. 

As promised the boys come walking in the door a few moments later. I run over to them and step outside to speak with Eric but no one was there. 

"Dad dropped us off and left already," Connor said from beside me. 

"Of course he did." I mutter to myself. "How was dinner? Did you get enough to eat?" I turned to them both. 

"Yeah it was good!" Noah informs me as he bounds toward Chris. "Hope let us get the biggest dessert!" 

"And you didn't save me any!?" Chris laughs while picking him up. 

"Let's go get washed up and changed for bed. You guys had a late night." I watch his retreating back following Connor and Noah toward the guest room and bathroom. 

His super muscular broad back. Oh man I'm in trouble. I don't know how I went from unsure and nervous about the timing to picturing him naked just now. Stop that! Geez Larkin, get it together!

I follow after them all and we spend the next 45 minutes brushing teeth, washing up and getting into pajamas. After both are tucked in Chris and I are walking down the hall back toward the living room for probably an hour or two of watching tv and phone scrolling. 

As we pass the master bedroom I stop walking, Chris takes 2 steps without me then stops and turns back. 

"You ok?" He asks me. I can only nod in response. I look into the room and hold out my hand to him. Chris looks into the room as well then at my outstretched hand. 

"Are you sure? Once I have you I won't be able to go back." I don't think anyone has ever looked at me the way he is right now. My whole body shivers and I detected the drum of a heartbeat between my thighs. 

"I'm sure," I manage to breathe out. Chris takes my hand and stepping closer to me exhales. 

"Thank God," he barely whispers, leading me into the room straight towards the bed.