Текст книги "Meant for Me"

Автор книги: Faith Sullivan

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Meant for Me
Take Me Now – 2
by
Faith Sullivan

Chapter One

Ivy

My boyfriend is so freakin’ hot.

I press my nose against the glass, peering out as he stops to take a break from cutting the grass around the garden center. It’s sweltering outside and he’s worked up quite a sweat pushing the lawn mower up and down the property. As a result of his labor, his white t-shirt is clinging to his chest in all the right places. I sigh happily, taking him in.

He has no clue that I’m watching as he picks up a water bottle and pours it over his head, forming a trail that trickles down the length of his body. I clutch the windowsill as I feel that all too familiar twinge between my legs. Being pregnant, my hormones are on fire and it doesn’t take much to get me going. So it’s no wonder a moan escapes my lips when he doesn’t stop there. Instead, he casually begins to strip in front of me.

My cheeks burn as he lifts his arms over his head, removing his shirt, elongating every inch of his defined abs. My eyes follow his v-shaped pelvic muscle as it dips suggestively below his belt buckle. My breathing becomes heavy as he stretches, causing his jeans to ride even lower on his hips. My pulse skyrockets as he proceeds to wring the water out of his shirt, flexing his glistening biceps against the rays of the setting sun.

I squirm against the window, forcing my knees together. My movement catches his attention and he glances up, meeting my gaze. A sexy grin slowly spreads across his face when he realizes the effect he’s having on me. My mouth is open. I’m literally panting for him. He shakes his head and chuckles softly. My heart clenches at how adorable he looks.

He’s not the kind of guy who flaunts his body, but for me it seems like he enjoys being on display. He runs his hands through his damp hair, tousling it before grabbing another bottle of water. He winks at me, tilting back his head and taking a long swig. He closes his eyes, his lips wrapped around the bottle, teasing me. He smiles when he’s done, beckoning me with his finger.

I don’t hesitate for a moment. I gladly leave the confines of his air-conditioned office and rush outside. He’s waiting, his eyes smoldering. He stands with his hands on his hips, watching as I approach. It’s unseasonably mild for October, and I step out of my clogs as I draw nearer to him. His gaze never leaves my face. It only intensifies, causing me to blush even more.

I get close enough to feel the warmth of his breath on my cheek, but I don’t speak. Instead, I run my hands across the wide breadth of his shoulders and down his heaving chest. My touch must be driving him wild because I can feel his heart thudding beneath my fingertips. His skin is so smooth and firm. He’s a man’s man who’d never dream of waxing his upper body, and a trail of soft, fine hair guides me to his belly button and beyond.

“How can I expect to get anything done around here with you touching me like that?” Eric asks, his voice all husky as I find the zipper of his jeans.

“Well, you shouldn’t be tempting me by getting naked in front of the window,” I whisper seductively as he grabs my wrist, preventing me from lowering his zipper and undressing him any further.

With my free hand, I start to remove my dress when he growls, “I don’t want anyone seeing what’s mine.” He scans the horizon for any approaching vehicles, but there are none to be found. “No one’s ever going to hear what you sound like when you come. Only me.”

He lifts me in his arms, and I’m flush against his chest. I instinctively wrap my legs around his waist as he carries me toward the greenhouse. I don’t know if Ben left for the day. He’s the quarterback from Glendale High who’s been working here part-time. If he’s still around, he’s about to get an earful. According to Eric, I can get pretty loud.

Eric pushes the door open with his back, his lips never leaving mine. The steaminess of the enclosed space is like a sauna. Eric’s skin feels slick across mine, and I’m stifling with this sundress on. I want it off. Wriggling in his embrace, I attempt to lower one of the straps.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Eric chides me. “That’s my job.” He nuzzles the dainty strap with his nose until it falls from my shoulder. I wince when he rakes his stubbled chin across my chest. “What’s wrong?” he asks, raising his head, the picture of concern.

“My breasts are still sensitive, but don’t stop. Trust me, what you’re doing feels so good,” I cry, groaning as he removes the other strap before massaging each nipple with his tongue. I tighten my legs around him and throw back my head, straining against him. He’s still holding me up. Sometimes I forget how strong he is.

“They were always beautiful, but now they’re spectacular,” he proclaims, fondling their newfound fullness. “I can’t wait to see what your boobs look like after you have the baby.”

But I barely hear him. I’m too caught up in what he’s doing to me, lost in the sensations flooding through my body. I’m horny all the time now, and on muggy days like this, I don’t want to be constricted by a stupid bra. I like giving him easy access so he can relieve my aching breasts whenever he can.

We’ve been so naughty lately, but I can’t complain. He’s always ready to oblige my needs no matter where we are—on the counter next to the cash register, in the field he’s planting out back, in the bed of his truck on the side of the road.

One of these days we’re going to get caught, and then everyone in town will have even more to gossip about, considering how they all still hate me for ‘stealing’ Eric away from Lauren. Yeah, I’m the young slut who threw herself between the perfect couple. And to top it off, I got myself knocked up in the process. How scandalous is that?

Well, that’s Lauren’s version of events anyway, and sadly it’s the one most people tend to believe. I don’t have enough influence around here to get them to buy my side of the story. College is on hold, and in the meantime, I have nowhere else to go. I’m barefoot and pregnant, and I’m shacking up with everyone’s favorite grieving bachelor. Yep, that’s me—the young harlot who’s taking advantage of a poor guy who’s down on his luck. Ah, the hypocrisy.

But even these unbidden thoughts aren’t enough to quench the desire building inside me. My body has a mind of its own—all it wants is sex, sex, and more sex. I can’t get enough. And after two years of self-imposed celibacy, Eric is certainly making up for lost time. I have to admit that he’s always up for the challenge, determined to keep me satisfied. It only makes me crave him more.

“Eric, please…” I writhe, biting my lip. “I need you.”

“Your wish is my command,” he says, his eyes blazing. He lifts his head from between my breasts and hikes up my dress, cupping my ass with his callused hands. At first, I wasn’t used to the roughness of his touch, but now I wouldn’t have him any other way. He works hard for a living, and when it comes to pleasuring me, I relish in knowing just how much my man strives to provide for me. For the first time in my life, I feel secure.

He strides over to the blanket already set up in the back among the hanging rose bushes. The seclusion of the greenhouse is one of our favorite rendezvous spots. We’ve made love countless times in here, even with customers rustling around outside. I think the thrill excites us both.

Placing me down on the soft flannel, he hooks his thumbs through the elastic band of my hot pink thong, yanking it down. He gets a kick out of the fact that I’m still wearing thongs for his amusement, even though my belly is beginning to bulge. He loves how I’m trying to maintain an element of sexiness during my pregnancy.

He unzips the side of my sundress, bunching it in his fingers as he lowers it over my hips, tossing it over his shoulder. I’m completely naked now, and the lush, humid air of the greenhouse caresses my skin. I stretch out, raising my hands above my head, sighing in contentment, letting him take in my every move. I close my eyes as his breathing increases.

“You are like a fucking goddess,” he groans, running a hand down the length of my body. I squirm beneath his touch, but he doesn’t stop. He’s driving me insane, so it’s about time I return the favor.

Shoving his hand away from me, I spread my legs before him. He gulps, swallowing hard as I bring my hand down, sliding it between my breasts before skimming my navel. Continuing my journey of self-discovery, I cup my mound and jerk against the blanket, delighting in the fact that he’s watching me touch myself.

“Ivy…” He moans, a dangerous tremor in his voice.

Instead, I pick up the pace. I feel my orgasm begin to build under his reproachful stare. I really have turned into quite a naughty girl.

“You are not going to deny me this,” he whispers fervently. In a flash, he is on his feet, clinking the metal of his belt buckle when he can’t get it open fast enough. A second later, I hear the whoosh of his zipper being lowered. He doesn’t even kick his jeans all the way off before springing his erection free from his boxers. In an instant, he’s back on his knees before me, gently tugging my elbow, urging me to stop what I’m doing and grant him access.

But I’m having too much fun toying with him. I’m going to make him earn it. Keeping a steady, self-satisfying rhythm going with my hand, I guide my foot onto his chest, pushing him back. Tracing his abdominal muscles with my toe, I feel him shudder beneath me. His hand is on my ankle, trying to pull it away, but I hold firm, pressing my foot even harder against his chest, my butt practically in the air.

Taking advantage of my vulnerable position, he grabs me under the knee, pulling my leg around his taut waist. Going in for the kill, he reaches for my other leg, cinching my ankles behind him. I’m helpless now as I feel his tip press against the back of my hand, blocking his entrance into me. Taunting him, I continue to pleasure myself.

Utterly frustrated, he buries his face against my neck, nipping and biting me with his teeth. I’ve never seen this feral side of him before as excitement courses through my veins. His erection is now straining against my hand as he rolls his hips, cursing under his breath. His hand is once again at my wrist, begging me to surrender to him.

Giving in, I let him pull my hand away, and he wastes no time in sliding into me. He lifts my arm in the air, interlocking his fingers with mine. His grip is strong as he dives deeper within me, never letting go. I cry out as I collapse against him, but he continues to hold my hand aloft as he pumps toward his climax, grunting with every beat.

I’m lost in a wave of complete bliss, but feeling his release inside me brings me back to earth for a moment. I love how we’re able to be with each other, skin to skin, no need for a condom—how a man and a woman are meant to enjoy each other.

I circle my heels against the small of his back, savoring how deep he is inside me, giving him a minute to catch his breath. We’re both drenched in sweat. His hair is plastered to his forehead, his nose buried in the crook of my neck. He’s so close; I can feel the flutter of his eyelashes against my skin.

My lips are swollen from his, and I smile when he turns his attention to my stomach, covering it in a fresh round of kisses. Our baby is inside me. A new chance at a future he never thought he’d have. My heart swells. I’m so lucky to have this man in my life.

I’m just about to tell him that when my phone chimes.

Eric picks up his head, startled, and looks at me. “Oh God, not again. Doesn’t he ever leave you alone?”

“I’m just glad he didn’t interrupt us sooner.” I feel a chill when Eric sits up, removing his body from mine. But I can’t pout for long when he bends to retrieve my phone from the pocket of my dress, his naked backside filling my vision.

We’ve gotten to the point where there are no secrets between us. We share pretty much everything, so I’m not surprised when he swipes his finger across the screen to read the text that disrupted our time together. I can tell he’s angry when his eyes darken as he scans the message. He tosses the phone onto the discarded heap of clothing without letting me read it.

“What did it say?” I prop myself up my elbows, meeting his troubled gaze. My hair falls forward onto my breasts, but I don’t even notice. The look on his face is killing me inside. He’s standing there, naked, in all his glory, but all I see is the fear in his eyes.

“Will says he needs you in L.A.” Eric crosses his arms, ready to lay down the law. “But don’t even think about it—because you’re not going.”

Chapter Two

Eric

I was afraid this was going to happen, and now it has. I knew Will Carter wouldn’t disappear from our lives so easily. There had to be a catch.

“Eric, he must’ve run into some complication he doesn’t know how to fix. We’ve been working together for months on this screenplay. I can’t turn my back on him now. We’re so close to finishing it.” Ivy looks at me with those puppy-dog eyes of hers, and I’m already starting to melt. But I can’t bear the thought of her traveling alone, especially in her condition. There’s no way she’s stepping foot on a plane without me.

But that’s the problem. I can’t leave the garden center. Not now. The Halloween season is a major moneymaker for Riverside Gardens. With a baby on the way, I can’t turn down the extra income that comes rolling in from the pumpkin patch I set up in the adjacent field. During the week, various school groups make their annual visit, and on weekends we’re jam-packed from morning till night, pressing apple cider and giving tractor-driven hayrides. It’s impossible for me to take time off.

“But why can’t you hash it out over the phone or by email like you’ve been doing?” I question Ivy, and she seems embarrassed as I bear down on her, hastily covering herself with her sundress. “Why do you suddenly have to fly across the country just because he snaps his fingers? He doesn’t own you.”

“Of course he doesn’t. But you know what this could mean for us if he’s able to sell this script. You wouldn’t have to kill yourself working so hard. You never gave yourself enough time to fully recover from your injuries after that stupid fight. I know you’re in pain a lot of the time, but you just push through it. It’s not right. Eric, I only want to help you as much as I can.” She gets up, tugging down her skirt. She’s nervous about pursuing this, but she’s determined and she’s not going to quit. I’m setting myself up to fight a losing battle.

“I know not going back to school hasn’t been easy for you.” I reach out and tuck a loose tendril of hair behind her ear, attempting to soothe her battered confidence with a loving gesture. “But it doesn’t mean that you’re never going to get your degree. Once the baby comes—”

“Once the baby comes, I’ll be busier than ever.” Her hands come to rest on my hipbones, and I can’t help reacting to her touch. “I’m not going to have the chance to do much of anything for a while. Don’t pretend things aren’t going to change, Eric.”

“I’m not…” But I’m at a loss for words when she begins to massage my stomach muscles with her thumbs. I gasp, widening my stance as my eyes start to close on their own accord.

“I want to contribute any way I can, and the one thing I know how to do is write. I’m barely into the second trimester of my pregnancy. Let me go and sort this out while I’m still able to travel.” She doesn’t like the idea of having to ask my permission for anything, that much is certain. And I can’t blame her for wanting to reassert her independence. But why does it have to be with Will?

“Ivy, if this is on account of what people around town are saying, you don’t have to prove yourself to anybody.” I grit my teeth as she takes a step back, making me acutely aware of my nakedness.

“This is not what this is about.” She glares at me from beneath her eyelashes. “Lauren’s bullshit has nothing to do with this.”

“I just don’t want you feeling pressured into doing anything you’re not up for. All I want to do is take care of you.” I reach for her, and she lets me hold her. She knows how worried I am about this pregnancy and how many things can go wrong. We’re not home free, not by a long shot.

“But it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Eric. When will I ever have a shot at something like this again? Probably never.” She sighs against my shoulder. In her eyes, she considers herself a failure. Coming here to work for me is such a step down for her. She’s too talented to man the counter of Riverside Gardens for the rest of her life. She’s young. She deserves the chance to spread her wings, and Will can give her that, even if I can’t.

“Promise me you won’t be gone more than a week. I don’t think I could part with you for longer than that.” I rest my chin on top of her head, staring glumly at the vibrant colors of the autumn sunset.

“Let me see what he wants. Maybe it won’t even take that long.” Ivy’s trying to encourage me as she rubs my back. After a day of heavy lifting, it feels so good that I shudder against her. “See, I know how to take care of you too, mister.” She chuckles and I hold on to her even tighter.

“Ivy, I can’t bear the thought of you leaving me,” I moan, just as Ben, our part-time helper, bursts into the greenhouse, not seeing us until it’s too late.

“Oh shit. Sorry, boss. I didn’t know you were in here.” Ben slides the rake he was carrying against the wall, lowering his eyes. “Do you need anything else?”

“Nah, that’s it for today. Thanks, Ben,” I mutter, grateful that Ivy’s sundress is back on her body. If he saw her… No, I won’t even go there. She’s mine and mine alone. We’re going to have to be more careful from now on. I can’t keep giving in to her every whim without taking some precautions. No one’s going to see how beautiful she is except for me.

“Goodnight, Ben,” Ivy calls out, unable to turn around because my arms are locking her in place. She’s pressed against my body, covering me even though it’s as clear as day that I’m buck naked behind her.

“Night, Ivy.” Ben shoots me a salacious grin over the top of her head, making me want to beat the crap out of him. As the town’s star quarterback, it’s obvious he bags girls left and right. It’s annoying to think of how many he must’ve been with since hitting puberty. He shuts the greenhouse door with a bang, but not before whistling through his teeth.

“Okay, that was mortifying, especially since he already caught me puking my guts out behind the cornstalk maze.” Ivy wipes her brow as I release my grip on her. “He felt so bad that he lugged a hose out there to clean it up before the kids arrived.”

“I think he has some kind of a crush on you, and I don’t want him getting any ideas.” My tone is lethal as I watch him swing into the driver’s seat of his brand new Ford F-150 pickup. He’s already secured a full ride to Penn State next year on a football scholarship. It must be nice having all of life’s perks at such a young age.

“Jealous?” Ivy teases, grabbing my length in her hand and squeezing hard. “You have no reason to be. He’ll never be half the man you are.”

Not expecting her surprise attack, I can only groan in response, making her laugh. She wraps her fingers around me, rapidly guiding her hand up and down my shaft. I’m powerless to stop her as I lean against the rose bushes, my breath coming in irregular intervals. I feel my knees weakening, but somehow I remain standing as she bends down to take me in her mouth.

“Oh, fuck…Ivy,” I cry out as the thorns dig into my back. I’m no fool. She’s thanking me for giving in to her, grateful that I’m letting her go to L.A. without much of a fight.

But how am I going to stand being away from this woman for seven long days and seven long nights? Let’s just say that I have no problem with her trying to make it up to me. And man, is she off to one hell of a start…

Chapter Three

Ivy

I hate that I’m freaking Eric out.

He tossed and turned all night after I confirmed my travel plans with Will. I’m leaving for L.A. tonight on a red-eye out of New York. Eric’s going to take half a day off and drive me to the airport. He called his buddy Jack to cover for him. He’ll drive the tractor and Eric’s dad Frank will take my place behind the register. Luckily they were both able to pitch in and help out on such short notice. Next week, Eric is going to rotate schedules between the two of them and Ben. Hopefully they’ll be able to tough it out until I get back.

I watch Eric sleep fitfully as the sun shines through the skylight above our bed, causing him to scrunch his eyelids. He looks so cute as he unconsciously throws an arm across his face to deflect the glare. My stomach clenches, and this time not from morning sickness, although it’s been pretty bad these last few months. I feel a pang, knowing that I won’t be waking up next to him for at least a week. We’ve only lived together since July, but the log cabin he built with his own two hands already feels like home. It’s up to me to make these last few hours we have together count.

I’m in one of his freshly laundered t-shirts, the white, short-sleeved style he regularly wears under his plaid shirts. I’m kicking myself for being so fastidious with the household chores because now I wish it smelled like him instead of fabric softener. I’m going to need something of his to help me fall asleep when I’m by myself in a strange hotel room.

I bite my lip to keep from crying. I can do this. I have to be strong, for him and for our baby. I’m not going to have him shouldering the financial load all by himself, not if I can help it. I refuse to strap him with any more burdens. For all intents and purposes, he’s supporting me right now, and it doesn’t make me feel good about myself. I’ve always pulled my own weight for as long as I can remember. I’ve never taken handouts from anybody before, and I don’t intend to start now.

Since our first night together, he’s always slept naked beside me. Sometimes in the middle of the night, I feel his erection press against the back of my thigh, and so far the only name he’s called out in his sleep has been mine. I’ve been dreading the moment when he cries out for Cassidy, but it hasn’t happened yet. It seems like he’s really and truly over her.

I glance over as he rolls onto his back, still unable to fully relax. He’s already pitching a tent, the sheet standing straight up below his waist. I chuckle to myself. He’s definitely ready for me. It’s time to make my move and start pampering my man with the precious moments we have left.

The feather mattress sinks beneath me as I get to my knees. Yanking down the sheet, I take a minute to commit his body to memory. I could stare at him all day long, but the clock is ticking. Scooting closer, I lift one leg over his waist to straddle him. He likes when I’m on top, especially when he sits up to join me. That’s a favorite position of ours, even though sometimes he likes to turn me around and take me from behind. I think it reminds him of our first time down on his couch when he tore me out of my black Jackie O. dress.

Before that night, I never had much experience with guys. My one hook-up was with Andre, the foreign exchange student from Ukraine whose dorm room was across the hall from mine sophomore year. We were always bumping into each other, making pathetic attempts at conversation. One Sunday morning, after a night out drinking with Sophie and the girls, we found ourselves between shower stalls. Stepping out, he took one look at me. I took one look at him. And bam…my virginity was a thing of the past. It was over in about twenty-five seconds, and I didn’t come anywhere close to achieving an orgasm. Sadly, we never had a chance at a second opportunity before the semester ended. He journeyed back to his homeland and that was that.

It was stupid having unprotected sex with someone I barely knew. And because of the language barrier, we never really had a real conversation. But I just wanted that dreaded rite of passage to be over with. I was sick of being the only one with an intact hymen among my group of friends. No one likes being the freak. I know I sure didn’t.

I haven’t revealed much about my sexual history to Eric. He’s kind of possessive like that, and I don’t think he likes the fact that he wasn’t my first. To be honest, I have mixed feelings about it. I don’t think I would’ve been as confident coming into this relationship without any kind of experience under my belt. Up until then, Cassidy was the love of his life. I was pitting myself against some serious competition. If I had been a virgin on top of all that, I would’ve been a complete basket case.

And I find it seriously hot that Eric was only with one other woman besides me. He wasn’t a player or sowing his wild oats after Cassidy died. He knew what it was like to be in love, and he was capable of restraint—two qualities that hooked me from the get-go. I knew that if I found the courage to trust him with my heart, he’d return my love with nothing but loyalty and devotion—as long as we stayed far away from the machinations of Lauren Price.

I need to drive any thoughts of that evil bitch right out of my head. I’m not going to have her ruin my morning with Eric. But I can’t prevent a surge of anger from coursing through me when I remember how she refused to sign off on Professor Tate’s form letter, denying me of my internship credits and basically canceling out the time I spent at the Weekend Express, my replacement assignment. Without her signature, I didn’t have enough hours to complete the requirements stated in the academic catalog. Her maneuver prevented me from enrolling in the courses I needed to finish my degree at the main campus. I couldn’t move forward without securing another placement, and since I am living in an area with more cornfields than media outlets, it was virtually impossible to secure a new position before the fall semester started.

Lauren’s efforts to derail my career were a complete success. She won, but I walked away with Eric. And it’s been eating at her ever since. Her bogus—although very public—display of affection with Eric went a long way toward cementing the image of them as a couple in the public’s mind. Everyone was rooting for Eric to make a fresh start. They were all pulling for him to find love again, just not with an outsider like me. They wanted him with one of their own. I was too young, too poor, too blah compared to Lauren. Eric could do so much better.

And I thought so too until Will contacted me out of the blue about his screenplay. He was having trouble nailing the local color the producers so desperately wanted when they visited our town last summer. They were considering moving on to another project if he couldn’t deliver what they were looking for by the end of the year.

Admittedly, Will is more of a schmoozer than a writer. He can talk a good game, but he just can’t translate his big ideas onto the page. If I didn’t step in and help him, he would have been in danger of losing his funding. Eric was leery of the idea, but he knew I needed this. He didn’t trust Will, but he was happy to see me writing again, putting my talent to good use.

Every spare minute I could cram into the day, I spent clicking away on my laptop, sending various drafts to Will for approval. I had never written a screenplay before, so I stuck mostly to dialogue, leaving out elements like camera angles, storyboards, and set design. I was in over my head, but I was having fun—and secretly getting even with Lauren in the process, making her the villain of the piece.

Up until this point, the producers liked what I was doing. Everything was going fine until Will texted that something was up. He didn’t elaborate when I called him back. He was rounding up the partners for an emergency meeting, and he needed my ass on a plane, pregnant or not. He was in one of his frantic moods and barely had time to write my flight number on his hand before hanging up on me. Whatever it was that had him so rattled didn’t bode well for the project. I had to help him salvage things. I owed it to Will.

Glancing down, I find that Eric is awake, watching me. I was so lost in thought. I didn’t even realize he was up. I’ll deal with Will when I get to L.A., but for now, my attention is focused on Eric. For the first time, I know what it’s like to be placed at the center of someone else’s universe because Eric gave me what Will never could—his heart and soul. He taught me what true love is all about. And he continues to teach me, both in and out of the bedroom.

“Good morning, beautiful. Sleep well?” He brushes my cares aside with one sweep of his hand, smoothing my hair away from my face. I’m still sitting on top of him, so it’s no wonder he’s awake. I’ve already gained about fifteen pounds with this pregnancy. I’m not exactly as light as a feather anymore.

“I did, but I don’t think you slept so well.” I frown, worried that he’s not going to get any rest at all when I’m gone.

“I didn’t disturb you, did I?” He sits up, lightly sliding me off him. I’m a little put out that he doesn’t want to fool around. He must be really tired.

I shake my head, trying to hide my disappointment. I can’t remember the last time he rejected my advances. Ever since I moved in, he’s been at my beck and call. Yeah, he has me spoiled, but we’re not going to see each other for a week. This is like our last chance to have sex, so why is he wasting it?

He yawns, stretching his arms above his head. He gazes at me sleepily under hooded lids. He has dark circles under his eyes, and it makes me nervous when I think about how much driving he has to do today. Three hours to the airport and three hours back—and he already looks exhausted.

It’s such a busy time of year at the garden center, and I’m abandoning him in the midst of the madness. I suck at being a girlfriend. God only knows what kind of mother I’m going to make. I just don’t want to let my new family down.