I Never Let You Go (I Never 3)

I nod, and Finn disappears from our room. I adjust myself the best I can, resting back on the pillows propped up against the headboard.

I can hear Finn talking to our daughter over the monitor. “Are you ready to go see Mommy?” She giggles as I assume he is tickling her belly. Moments later, he stands in the doorway, shirtless, with our daughter resting her head against his chest. This is something only dreams are made of. How did I get to be so lucky: a wonderful husband, a beautiful daughter, and a son just weeks away from making his debut.

As Finn and our daughter approach, he catches me staring. “See something you like?”

I nibble on my lip. “Yes, very much so.”

My daughter reaches for me as they get closer.

“Hi, baby girl. Did you sleep well?” She coos as Finn lays her between us. I look down at her, smiling, and then my gaze slowly trails up Finn’s body before meeting his chocolate-brown eyes. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.” He presses his lips again mine, smiling, and then leans down between us. “You too, baby girl.”

I gasp, waking up. My hand flies to my stomach that is still flat as a pancake, not swollen with child like I was in that dream.

I prop myself up, glancing over at my phone on the nightstand to see what time it is. “3:45 a.m. Great.” I groan. I run my hands over my face, wiping the sleep from my eyes, and adjust my legs so my elbows can rest on my knees.

I run my fingers through my hair while looking at the empty side of the bed. I reach out to feel the side of the bed. It’s cold, just like it is every night.

That dream felt so real, and it left me feeling nothing but alone.

Morning eventually comes, but I tossed and turned the rest of the night, so I am dragging extra slow today. I leave a few minutes early to stop into the local coffee shop on my way to school.

I stand off to the side of the coffee shop as I wait for my Venti caramel latte. I am currently browsing my Instagram when a shadow stan

ds in front of me. I slowly lift my eyes to find a man staring at me. He is so close the tips of his brown loafers are almost kissing my ballet flats. I take in his blue-on-blue suit, and while he is a rather attractive man with tousled brown hair framing his chiseled jaw, he doesn’t fill out a suit as Finn does.

This handsome man just approached you, and you’re thinking of Finn? What is wrong with you.

I give him a brief smile, listening to my conscience. When he returns it, a small dimple pops out on his right side. For most women, that might make them weak in the knees, but I don’t feel a spark. His gaze never wavers from mine, and I notice a soft twinkle in his green eyes.

“I’m sorry if this comes off too much, but I noticed you when you came in, and you looked a little sad, so I thought I would come over and tell you how beautiful you are.”

Do lines like that work? I blush at his compliment, but hearing someone else call me beautiful doesn’t make me feel the way it did when Finn called me that. “Umm, thank you. I promise you I’m not sad, just exhausted. It’s a Venti kind of day for me.”

“Ahh, same for me.” The handsome stranger holds up his Venti iced drink. I look back down on my phone, but he continues to stand there.

The barista calls outs, “Venti latte for Lauren.”

I give the man a small smile and reach forward.

“So, Lauren,” he says, trying to show off that he was paying attention, “now that I have your name, could I maybe get your number and buy you a coffee sometime?”

“Oh.” I run my thumb along the side of the cup and pull my bottom lip between my teeth. “I’m sorry.” I pause, unsure of his name.

“Mitchell.”

“I’m sorry, Mitchell,” I continue. “I’m—”

I don’t get a chance to say not interested before he takes a step back. “Oh no worries, I should have known that a beautiful girl like you would be taken. Have a good day, Lauren.”

I should have corrected him, but I didn’t. He’s not wrong though. Deep down in my heart, I am taken.

I hate that they put the best cereals on the top shelf. While I’m not short, I need to reach up on my toes to grab it. I wish I had worn heels today instead of ballet flats.

Reach, reach, reach, almost got it.

“Lauren?” a familiar female voice says from behind me, startling me. My fingers were just touching the box of Apple Jacks when I jump, causing the box to fall and hit me in the head.