Read Love Found in California (The Washington Triplets) for Free Online

breath catches, making me feel warm and light. When he reaches the top, he lays on his side, facing me with his elbow propped up and holding his head.
    “Talk?” He finishes my question for me.
    “Yea,” I say on an exhaled breath, fighting to keep my emotions in check.
    “Well, how are you feeling, first?”
    Untangling the sheets from me, I turn on my side and match his exact position before I respond nervously. “Better. I’m fine and can definitely return to work.” My free hand cups his cheek and we both pause to just stare.
    I break the silence first this time. “I’m sorry.”
    “For what?” His eyes do more than question my apology. They seem to be begging for more from me.
    My eyes dart low, almost shutting, to avoid his prying. He’s right though, there is probably more I should be sorry for. The accident is really not the root for concern. “I’ll be right back.” He rolls off the bed with my hand now empty of his cheek. Moving myself to lean against the headboard I curl my legs up to my chin and wrap my arms around them. My nightgown slips down to my thighs, but still manages to cover my bottom. It’s probably more modest than Ryan would prefer, but it’s a comfortable cotton, especially for the hot nights.
    Ryan walks back into our bedroom, still shirtless, holding something small and white in his hand. He sits next to me with a row of even space between us. The sheets and comforter are all gathered at the end of the bed and both our bodies pull at the fitted sheet beneath us. While my legs remain curled up into me, Ryan’s stretch out long, crossing at his ankles, his bare tan feet exposed.
    As I turn my head to him he smiles lovingly at me, and I can see his face strain slightly as he breathes in a shallow breath. Then he places a small rectangular-shaped card on the pulled sheet between us. I look down and instantly see what it is. My breathing stops, but Ryan pulls at my hands, releasing my legs. They fall limply down to the bed beneath me, feeling like jelly.
    “I called and told them that you couldn’t make that appointment and that you were in accident,” he says cautiously.
    I don’t speak at first because I literally cannot. He knows. My secrets are about to come crashing down on our world. This could change everything for me. The worry that he’ll push me away, decide this marriage is a sham and that I’m not worth it have colors flying through me … reds, blues, oranges, yellows … maybe it’s all black now. What could that mean? My breathing picks up in speed, but when I look at Ryan’s face I see kindness, concern and … love. As relief sets in I realize his love keeps me out of the dark, far away from purple.
    Before any words come out, Ryan pulls me to him and places me between his legs. His lips kiss the back of my head as he pulls my hair all to one side. Then they trail down to my bare neck leaving goose bumps in their wake. “How did you find that?” I ask, amazed at my confidence.
    “I came back early, to surprise you. When I came back here from picking up groceries to make you dinner, I found this on the floor next to the garbage can.” His arms grow tighter around me, but I tense at the thought of what I may have to tell him. “Is it because of me?”
    I squirm in his embrace so that I can see his face, feeling a cut through me at his question. “God, no Ryan, I-I …”
    He picks up where I fail to continue. “I know this has all been fast and sometimes I don’t handle things the right way, but I love you so much, Mik. More than life.” He pauses and I hear him swallowing deep. “What’s going on?”
    “I was going to tell you everything, but I needed to get help with talking about it. That’s why I had the appointment.” My long hair sticks between the two of us so I pull at it and in the process turn myself to straddle his lap. Ryan’s hands rest on my bare thighs with his thumbs softly moving in circular motions. My nerves begin to calm and