Page 17 of The Secrets that Surround Us

Mateo wraps his arms around her waist as he kisses the top of her head. “That one right there. I want to print it out and hang it up,” he says as he points to a different picture, one of him and Cecilia standing, smiling at each other on the mats. Both of them look madly in love.

Suddenly feeling exhausted and ready to get back home so I can climb into bed or even nap on the couch, I try to get things back on track. I yawn. “How about you guys look at these some more tonight and let me know what else you like?”

They nod and I yawn again. Both Cecilia and I glance over at the clock and see that its getting late. “Shit. Mateo, we need to get Fiona back and pick up Oliver. It’s almost dinnertime.”

“Calm down, pretty girl. We can go right now.” He looks at me, and his eyes soften.

“Besides, it looks like Fiona could use some rest.”

“I am tired. It seems like that happens more and more every day,” I confirm what he’s saying.

Cecilia nods. “That’s going to happen, you know? You are growing a baby. It’s tough work,” she retorts as she packs up the different workout outfits they brought with them. I take that as my clue to finish packing up my camera bag as well.

We make our way out of the gym and back into a car in the blink of an eye. I can tell Cecilia doesn’t like that she’s been away from Oliver for so long, and Mateo is doing everything he can to get her back to him quickly.

When I open the front door to the house, I’m assaulted by the wonderful smell of garlic and tomato sauce. And I can hear laughter coming from the kitchen. I make my way toward the kitchen, and it seems Alex has cooked dinner once again. That’s something I’ve learned about him over the past few weeks. He loves to cook.

One night I asked him about it, and he explained to me that he had to teach himself to cook when he was a teenager, or he would only end up eating a handful of items that Mateo knew how to make.

When we enter the kitchen, Alex and Mateo are sitting at the table eating and conversing.

I lean up against the doorway as Mateo and Cecilia come up behind me. “Do you like it buddy?” Alex asks Oliver about dinner. Oliver just hums while he continues to eat.

“Did you know your dad taught me how to make this spaghetti when I was a kid?” Alex’s voice drops when he says, “Don’t tell him, but mine’s better now.”

That’s when Mateo steps around me and Cecilia, entering the kitchen. He raises an eyebrow at Alex as he walks toward Oliver. “I don’t think so. No one makes better spaghetti than your old man,” he informs both of them as he kisses Oliver on the top of his head.

Alex glances over and smirk sat me, watching him with Oliver. “Are you just going to stand there or are you going to come eat, love?”

At his question, we all join him and Oliver at the table, eating a wonderful dinner. Looking around the table, I can’t help but smile. At my parents’ house we all ate together, but it was always in a tense silence. Everyone was trying to make sure they didn’t say the wrong thing in front of dad.

This is more than that.

The laughter.

The smiles.

Good food and warm feelings.

I glance at Alex and watch him interact with his family. I want this. This is how I want our child to grow up. A warm feeling fills my chest and when I study the father of my child, I know I’m falling in love with him. Is it wrong to love the father of my child?

Chapter twelve

Alex

Today marks the day that Fiona is twenty weeks pregnant. Glancing at the clock, I call out, “Love, we need to get going or we’re going to be late.”

“Okay, okay. I’m ready," Fiona says as she walks into the kitchen. She’s wearing a long sleeve blue dress that hugs every curve she has on her luscious body. Pregnancy has done wonders to her body. My cock hardens as I’m drawn to her perfect breasts that have filled out even more, where they used to be the perfect handful. Now I can tell they would overflow my palms. But I’m not complaining. When it comes to Fiona, I’d worship any part of her body she would let me. When she moves, I notice the small swell of her stomach, and I can’t help but smile at it. It’s so crazy to think that my child is in there.

Part her.

Part me.

My feet move without me realizing it and I instinctively wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her into my chest and pressing my lips into the curve of her neck.

“Mmm…Alex. What are you doing?”

“What does it look like?” I mutter against her porcelain skin, kissing my way down her neck to her shoulders. My hands cup each of her breasts, as I lightly graze my fingertips over her nipples.

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