Page 85 of Pack Plus Three

I was looking forward to organizing the nursery. Jeremy had instructed Devon to bring the crib in from the workshop to the nest while he was gone. It was truly starting to hit me that, any day now, I was going to have two babies.

“Go kick hockey ass.” I laughed, pushing Jeremy away. “You're already late again.”

The team bus had actually left right after my contractions had started and they had rushed me to the doctors. Because of that, Jeremy was going to have to rush to catch the coach to the away rink. He’d insisted on staying until I was settled, though.

“I love you. Keep yourself and my ducklings safe, okay?”

“With Devon and Nate watching over me like guard dogs, I don't think it's possible not to.” I laughed, playfully shoving him out of the nest.

As Jeremy walked out of the room, Nate walked in. Or, at least, I thought it was Nate. It was hard to tell, considering his entire face was covered by a small mountain of fabric.

“Pillow delivery!” he exclaimed as he lightly tossed the items onto the end of the bed.

“What are these?” I asked with furrowed brows. My nest was already jam-packed with pillows, though I would never say no to more. Pregnancy nesting was a whole other level of nesting.

I was quickly becoming spoiled. A mere few months ago, I didn't even have a nest, and Jeremy had given me a phenomenal one… yet the desire to add more was still there.

“I took a detour on the way home to the nesting store and got every other pillow that was left on your wish list.”

I stared at him for a moment too long as his words sank in.

“Nate!” I cried. “One of those pillows cost over two hundred dollars!”

“So?” he asked with a shrug. “You want it, and it'll make you comfortable.”

I blinked a few times in his direction before turning to Devon, who was now at the edge of the nest, a few blankets in hand. “I think we need to take him to the hospital. Or maybe he needs to see a priest. His personality has changed so much, I'm convinced he’s a changeling, in need of an exorcist, or he has a concussion.”

They all laughed, except for me. I was serious. I placed that pillow on my wish list as a far-off dream. I never actually expected anyone to buy it for me. Honestly, I didn't even realize they had access to my wish list. I made a mental note to go online and make sure I took off all the expensive items...if there were any left after Nate’s shopping spree.

“Nate can be slow on the uptake, but once he’s on board, he’s all in.” Devon laughed. “Are you hungry?”

“I can eat.”

“I’m thinking steak tonight,”

“With baked potatoes?” I asked, already salivating at the thought.

He nodded sagely. “With loaded baked potatoes.”

“Daisy?” A hand gently shook me awake. Cracking open an eyelid, I saw Nate crouching at the edge of my nest.

“Nate?” I asked, my voice thick with exhaustion.

“You’ve been asleep for hours and haven’t eaten anything.”

“How long have I been out?” I asked, sitting up. Surely, it hadn’t been that long?

“It’s nearly nine, so a good fifteen hours.”

“Oh crap, really?” I exclaimed, turning to look at the clock on my bedside table.

Nate nodded. “You completely passed out yesterday, but I didn't want to disturb you. Don't worry, I already texted Jeremy to let him know that you had conked out.”

“Thank you!” If I hadn't messaged Jeremy back for that many hours, and he had no idea I was asleep, he probably would have freaked out and turned around and came straight back home. “I need to pee!” I said, rolling out of bed and quickly going to do my business before Nate insisted on carrying me. “Where’s Devon?” I asked as I crawled back into bed.

“He had to go to a quick contractor meeting, so it's just us for now.” He sat on the edge of the bed, passing me a bowl full of oatmeal mixed with various fruits. “Jeremy told me what sort of food you've been eating lately.”

I took the bowl off him, my stomach gurgling with hunger as I smelled the sweet fruit.

---