Page 94 of Bonding the Band

“I’ll tell you why if you promise not to rat me out.”

I raised a curious eyebrow. “I would never rat you out.”

“I poured my smoothie down the sink when Ellie was distracted.”

That got a laugh out of me. “Do they really taste as bad as they look?”

Meadow wrinkled her nose. “Worse.”

“Well, your secret is safe with me. I’ll be sure to feed you anything you want today.”

“Chocolate cupcakes?” she asked, eyes hopeful.

“I saidanything. Let me find a good place to go.” I searched on my phone, finding a little boutique bakery and cake shop one stop from where our route had started. “Target acquired. We’ll get you fueled up there before we start working through your list.”

Meadow let out a happy squeak, clutched both of my cheeks, and dragged me in for a kiss. Her mouth tasted all the sweeter when it was graced by a smile she couldn’t contain. Meadow bounced in her seat until it was time to get off the bus. She swung our joined hands as we walked, happy as a little clam. The bakery was a bit busy, but Meadow seemed perfectly content to stand in line with me.

“Why don’t we get a dozen of the mini ones?” I suggested. “We can eat them while we walk.”

“Sounds perfect.”

With a tray of fresh cupcakes in hand, a coffee for me, and a cinnamon steamed milk for her, we set about wandering. Meadow alternated feeding me cupcakes and feeding herself, and I couldn’t fucking stop smiling. I hadn’t realized how much Iwanted to be out with her like this, like we were a normal couple, like I wasn’t part of a world-famous band, and she hadn’t gotten knocked up by my best friend during a one-night stand. I was totally at peace with both of those things, but it was nice to strip away the complications and simply be an alpha and omega out in the world together.

“God, those were so good,” she groaned as we polished off the last of the treats. “Ellie is going to feed me into a wood chipper for consuming that much sugar.”

“She’s kind of a tyrant for healthy food, huh?”

Meadow pouted. “She really fucking is. The baby doesn’t want lettuce. Nugget wants hamburgers, and French fries, and cupcakes.”

“Hamburgers have lettuce on them,” I pointed out.

“I tried to use that argument. She didn’t go for it.”

“I am a big fan of intuitive eating. Plus, I feel like if you don’t indulge a pregnant omega’s cravings, you’re asking to be stabbed.”

Meadow snorted. “Believe me, I’ve thought about it a few times.”

We spent the next couple of hours going through the Musicians Hall of Fame. Meadow dutifully read every plaque and relayed the most interesting information to me. She stopped to rest every so often, and I sat by her side, sometimes massaging her little socked feet, sometimes her shoulders.

She was reading a particularly lengthy music history plaque when I pressed up against her back, laced my fingers beneath the swell of her stomach, and gently lifted. Her fingers latched onto my arms, a practically orgasmic sound sliding from her lips.

“Holy shit. I hadn’t even realized how heavy Nugget was getting. You’re obligated to hold them like this forever now.”

I chuckled, kissing her cheek. “If I could, I would. I have heard about some witchcraft they do with taping bellies torelieve some of the pressure. We could look into that if you want.”

“I’m probably okay for a little while longer. Once I get deeper into the third trimester, I’d be down for that, though.”

“I’ll make sure we have some in stock, then. You’re gonna grow so fast.”

“It’s weird to think about. Nugget is totally person-shaped in there now. Just gotta pack on the little baby pounds to get ready for their debut.”

“Remind me when the actual due date is?”

“Around Christmas, if Nugget stays put the entire time.”

“You’re not going to give the baby a Christmas name, are you? I’ll totally support you if you do, but I can practically hear the bullying already.”

Meadow leaned against me, purring happily. “I haven’t thought about it too hard. Everything that floats through my head feels wrong. I think I need to pick when I have a little face to look at.”

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