Falling in Love Backwards

Christmas Eve

Maggie met us at the door, taking Luna from me so that I could finish getting our things from the car. I carried our gifts while Kade brought in the luggage.

"What room are we staying in?" I asked as I sat the gifts under the tree. It was decorated beautifully in warm colors, all reds, oranges, and yellows.

"Kade, put her things in your room. You can stay on the fold out while they're here." She instructed, ushering her son from the room.

"No, Maggie I'll stay on the couch. I can't take Kade's bed."

"Don't argue with me, Luna needs a room of her own to sleep in, and besides Kade has already agreed." Kade walked back in and nodded his agreement before taking his daughter from Maggie.

"I really don't mind sleeping on the pullout couch, really it's fine. I'm just happy to be spending Christmas with my little girl, and with you." Kade kissed Luna and smiled when she giggled. He radiated love for her, everyone could see that.

It was them that I made my decision.

"You can stay in the room with us. I mean- That way we can take turns when she wakes up at night." He looked up quickly, to gauge if I was sure. I may not trust him with my heart, but I knew I could trust him with my baby. Our baby.

"I'd like that. She hasn't spent the night with me yet." His smile warmed me but I had to laugh. He didn't know what it was like to be woken up randomly in the night by a screaming baby. He'd learn soon enough.

"Alright then, that's that. Now who's helping me make dinner?" Maggie asked from the kitchen door, a grin on her face. She clearly had hoped for this.

"I'll help. Kade are you alright with her?" At his nod I headed for the kitchen.

***

I had always loved Maggie's kitchen. It was everything I could ever want in a kitchen, and now that I was finished with school I could focus on my career.

I baked rolls and a cheesecake while she worked on just about everything else. It wasn't quite the traditional dinner but it was the best holiday meal I've ever had; roasted herb chicken with gravy, roasted winter vegetables, braised red cabbage, homemade yeast rolls, and for dessert we had New York style cheesecake with an espresso caramel drizzle.

"Wow Paige, this cheesecake is divine!" Cara exclaimed after the first bite. I grinned and said my thanks, Cara had always liked my desserts.

Duke had forgiven me for not telling Kade about the baby, but once he saw how happy Kade was with Luna he soften up a bit. Cara was really helpful on that front as well. She wasn't going to let him act like I didn't exist, especially when he himself was so in love with Luna.

Duke and Cara would be staying at the house as well, in his old room. Which is why Kade and I are now sharing a room, and I was completely okay with sharing a bed with him.

Until the sun went down and it actually came time to go to bed.

***

I put Luna to bed at 7 and I tried to stay awake as long as I could, but I knew that she wouldn't sleep long into the night so I grudgingly decided to try to get some sleep before she woke up. Kade was in the shower when I climbed under the covers, and I was grateful for that, because I don't know if I could have got into the bed otherwise.

It wasn't that I was scared of him or of sleeping next to him, because that was all we would be doing, I just suddenly felt that the entire situation was extremely awkward. It shouldn't be, we had slept in the same bed before, as friends in high school and later when we had sex. It was the sex part that gave me pause.

Kade walked into the room in nothing but a towel, which I didn't notice because I was so caught up in my own thoughts.

"Paige, are you sure you're okay with sharing a bed?" He asked pulling pajama bottoms and boxers from a drawer. His hair was still wet from his shower the water dripped and ran down his chest. I forced my eyes to his face and nodded.

"It's fine, really, I'm just thinking too much." I pulled the blanket closer to me and lay back in the pillow. I could see Kade out of the corner of my eye putting his pajamas on.

I closed my eyes and tried not to think about it. Which was hard truth be told, when he climbed into bed shirtless.

"You can open your eyes now." He laughed softly next to me. "Thank you, for not making me sleep in the horrible couch."

"You're welcome." I turned on my side and found him in a similar position facing me. "To repay me you can take the first shift with Luna when she wakes up. She'll be hungry and probably need changing."

"Deal." Kade grinned cheekily, he looked like that little boy I grew up with when he did that.

"Have you changed her diaper before?" I asked after thinking about it, Maggie had always been there with him and I didn't know how much he actually knew how to do.

"I've done it once or twice now. It'll be fine and I could use the practice. Go to sleep, I've got it covered." He said leaning over to kiss my forehead. It was a sweet gesture that let me relax, so I did as he said and let sleep take me.

***

I woke on my own around 2am to an empty bed. I got up to check on Luna to find that her bassinet was empty, I figured that where Kade was Luna would surely be as well so I went looking.

I found them in the living room. Kade was holding Luna, and to my surprise they were both asleep. I covered my mouth with a hand to stifle a laugh, I just wished that I had a camera. It was the sweetest sight I had ever seen, my daughter and her father past out together.

I took pity on him and gently took Luna from his arms. He woke startled but relaxed when he say it was me.

"Go back to bed, I'll put her in her bassinet and be there shortly." He nodded still half asleep and did as he was told. I wondered what else I could get him to do when he was this tired. I decided to save that thought for another time

I checked her diaper and started for the bedroom. I walked in to find Kade in what I would consider an uncomfortable position. I laughed softly and shook my head, putting Luna back in her bed.

I gently moved Kade to a better position and got into bed beside him. I fell asleep with a warm feeling in my chest. I was falling more and more in love with him everyday.

Maybe I'd tell him.

When I felt I could trust him not to break my heart.

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daanie14  whatcha think?