He pulls me to his chest, and he caresses my lower stomach. We stay like this, blanketed in intimacy.
“You’re my world. I could live through anything but not losing you. You and our baby.”
I place my hand on his, his words stitching the old wound.
“We’re good. I have a feeling the baby is a girl and she’s strong.”
He kisses my temple. I want to freeze time and I want to love and experience it all, the love, the good, the dreamy.
“Like her mommy,” he says softly, melting my heart.
Knocks rap at the door, and Aubrey’s voice comes floating in. “Guys, are you in there?”
Kian curses under his breath and I laugh. He groans but doesn’t let me go.
“Why did we invite them over?” he says gruffly.
I turn on my heels and kiss his shoulder, slipping out of his arms.
“Give me one second,” I call out to Aubrey.
Kian and I finish showering and he gets dressed. I open the door wrapped in a towel and Aubrey eyes us both.
“Did I interrupt something?”
“No,” I say, rolling my eyes when I hear Kian grumble.
On his way out, he slaps my ass, and I shake my head at him. Aubrey and I embrace in a tight hug.
“She’s pregnant,” Kian says.
“Oh right, sorry,” Aubrey replies.
I put a hand on my waist. “I am not made of glass. Stop exaggerating.”
“Not risking it,” he says, his tone brooking no argument.
“Well, Mr. Safe, it’s the lack of safety that got us here.”
Two dots of red appear on his cheeks before he descends the stairs.
Tara joins us a second later. We squeal and embrace each other,
“You seem different,” Tara says after she scans me. I change into a summer dress and shrug.
“Not just that, and you made him blush…” Aubrey says with an underline of pride.
“She was in full control.”
“I’ve been through a lot these past weeks.” I take their hands and add, “I am sorry I’ve been MIA, but I needed to get my head straight.”
“Are you two okay now?” Tara inquires, but I am happy Aubrey answers.
“You should have seen them eyeing each other….”
Tara’s eyes peer into mine, and I smile in reassurance.
Even though they will always be there for me, this is mine and Kian’s problem and I’m glad I didn’t tell them. We need to fix it together. And yesterday as he stood at my side, experiencing the same pain, going through the same anguish, it bonded us.