Page 105 of Sugar Coated Secrets

“Better now that you’re here.”

I’d be lying if I didn’t say it still amazes me how well he’s handling this surprise pregnancy. I remember the night we made Hayley. It was spring, and we visited the floating dock. We hadn’t been back since that one night that started it all for us. That’s not accurate, though. It started between us the day we met.

But this night was warm for spring. The water was too cold for swimming, so we took the kayaks out during the day.

I didn’t know he’d prepared a picnic and had flowers inside the cabin for our four-month anniversary. He celebrated every month to show me how much he embraced being in a committed relationship and loved being a doting boyfriend.

“How could I have known I was made for this when I’d never tried it,” he said.

“Maybe I’m the reason you’re made for this,” I’d teased.

“You are the reason I breathe,” he’d replied, and I melted, in the way I did so many times when he said such sweet things or looked at me like I owned his heart.

We’d made love out there under the sun, birds flying above. I’d told him I had messed up my pills that month and he should pull out. Had I known we were having a romantic lunch, I would have brought a condom. In the midst of round two, where we got a bit wilder, he didn’t pull out.

I’d reminded him, too, but he’d held my gaze and said, “You’ve ruined me for anyone else, Sadiecakes. I’m all yours, only yours, even after death. Marry me. Be mine eternally.”

I’d cried, then came so hard I thought I’d clench his dick off. True story.

After, when we lay on the blanket and snuggled, I asked, “What if we just made a baby?”

“Then we become a plus one couple. A family. I wouldn’t mind that at all as long as it’s with you.” He kissed me tenderly, savoring the moment, and I believed our hearts fused together in that moment. Perhaps that’s also what led to the conception of Hayley. Who knows?

I’d never felt so loved or fulfilled. Easton gave me that. We gave it to each other, and now we’ll get to share that love with a baby girl.

Baby Daire squeals, drawing me from the memory. He plops down on the couch suddenly and makes a serious face.

“What’s got the little guy focusing so hard?” Easton eyes him. We all are. One minute he was bouncing all over Nana, and the next, he’s motionless.

“That would be the pumpkin pie Daire gave him earlier. I told him not to let him have more than one bite.” She scoops him up. “Time for a diaper change.”

Daire walks over the moment Everleigh stands. “Everything all right?”

“Remember when I said don’t give him too much pumpkin pie?”

Baby Daire’s stomach erupts with gurgles, his expression still intense.

“Oh no,” his father says. “Come on. I’ll help.”

Easton looks at me and his mother. “I don’t get it. He went number two. So what?”

Daire’s mother says, “That wasn’t number two.”

“More like number four,” I add.

Mrs. Livingston laughs deeply and points at me. “She’s a funny one,” she says to Easton. “Excuse me.” She rises and joins her husband in the other room.

Not many people are in this less formal part of the house. They’re mostly mingling in the living and dining rooms, whereas I’m in the more casual den.

Easton scoops me up, like he does so often—the additional twenty-five pounds of baby weight nothing to him—and cradles me on his lap. “Much better, don’t you think?”

“I always love being in your arms. It’s my favorite place.”

“As it should be. These babies were made to hold you.”

Aw. I kiss his soft lips. “I love you.”

“I’ll never get tired of hearing that.” He kisses under my jaw line. “Damn, sweetcakes, you smell good enough to eat.”

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