Page 149 of Before I Loved You

“What?” I ask hesitantly.

“Lily,” he says matter-of-factly. “After your mom’s favorite flower.”

My throat tightens, my heart hammers, and my eyes water involuntarily. Of course, he would suggest this. There’s not one thing this man won’t do for me.

Including naming our baby after my mom’s favorite flower.

“I love it,” I whisper through tears.

“Me too.” His thumb rubs over the back of my hand.

Suddenly, I feel a jolt inside me. “Oh my God.” I place my hands on my stomach, tilting my head to the side for a better view.

“What?” Paul asks, alarmed. “Should I get the doctor?”

I shake my head. “No. I think the baby…” It happens again, causing the corners of my lips to tilt up. “The baby just kicked.”

“Really?” Paul asks, eyes widening.

I grab his wrist and place his palm over the exact spot I felt it before. He stands there for a minute, patiently waiting, when suddenly he jumps back. Laughter erupts from me.

“The baby just kicked…” he mutters to himself, stunned. “I felt our baby kick.” His hand runs over his face as he walks back to my side and, once again, places his hand on my stomach. The second he does, the baby kicks again.

A tear travels down Paul’s cheek as he shakes his head. “We’re having a baby girl.”

“We are,” I reply with a soft smile. “And she’s going to have her daddy wrapped around her little finger.”

He chuckles, wiping his eyes. “I can’t disagree with that.”

I sit up on the table, placing my hands on his chest. “I’m really glad I’m going through all of this with you,” I admit. “You’ve taken a huge weight off my shoulders by being by my side. And I don’t just mean here, right now, but I mean with everything.”

He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “There’s nowhere else I would be but by your side, baby girl. Absolutely nowhere else.”

* * *

Paul holds my hand firmly, still wearing the biggest smile since we left my doctor’s office. He really is so happy that our baby is a girl.

And so am I.

We walk down the hallway toward Jason’s apartment, where we know the group is meeting for Chinese food, and I start feeling nervous about what they’ll think. We haven’t even told them that Paul and I are together, and now we’re just going to spring on them that we’re also having a baby.

This should go over well…

“Don’t be nervous,” Paul coaxes.

“I’m not.”

“Your hand is trembling.” He turns to face me as we stand in front of the door. “They’re going to be so happy for us. You know they will be. And I hate to be the one to tell you this, but we might as well tell them now because eventually, it might be kind of noticeable that you are pregnant…” He pulls on the collar of his shirt, appearing uncomfortable.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I cross my arms over my chest, trying to seem insulted when I’m just giving him a hard time.

“Nothing. Not a thing. I just meant…well, umm, shit. This is one of those times when I’m just going to shut my mouth now.” He tightens his lips together, putting his hands up in surrender.

I laugh. “I’m just teasing, Paul.” I look down at the oversized sweatshirt I’m wearing that originally belonged to Paul but now belongs to me. He doesn’t know that yet, though. “I know my sweatshirt isn’t going to hide my baby bump for much longer.”

“Your sweatshirt?” His brows pinch together.

“You just called me fat, so yes, my sweatshirt.” I raise my brows, widening my eyes, waiting for him to counter as I place a hand on my hip.

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