Page 91 of Twins For My Bestie's Brother

“Good boy.” There’s a wave of movement in my belly. I stop and touch the spot, smiling to myself

“Which one?”

I glance back at Jackson. “Lefty.” At almost six months pregnant, the babies have started moving around all the time, and I’m usually able to tell which one is causing the ruckus.

He rolls his eyes. “We really gotta come up with better nicknames.”

“Or names in general,” I say, rolling back to Jackson. I work on covering up the tattoo.

“Feels too early,” he says with a sigh as he looks up at the ceiling.

“You know it’s going to go fast, and then you’re going to be like, ‘Why didn’t we come up with names?’”

Jackson laughs. “Maybe. Probably.”

“There. All done,” I say, the cardinal all covered from view. I start to roll away again, but Jackson grabs my hand and pulls me back to the bench.

“Don’t go yet. Come here.”

I laugh and let him trap me up against the side of the bench. Jackson reaches down on the top of my belly, his big hand looking not as big as it used to. “I know; you can say it. I’m huge.”

“Yeah, that’s a good thing, Lily,” he says.

“Yeah, until I remember they both have tocome out.”

Jackson smirks, “It can’t be as bad as getting a tattoo, can it?”

I lift my hand and almost smack him right on the shoulder until I realize I’d be coming down on his fresh tattoo. “You’re not funny!”

I escape from his touch and get to my feet to start tidying. The shop has been open only a couple of weeks and still has that new shop smell. It’s less severe than most of the shops I’ve been in. Light and airy with high ceilings and big windows that, during the day, let all that good natural light in.

Our books are full for the next couple of months, which is fantastic. I owe Carina for the way she promoted me over the past couple of months. But also, it’s been word of mouth. Therumor mill in town for once has worked in my favor. Hell, even Tia has begrudgingly agreed to a session with her husband. That will be a funny day.

It doesn’t feel quite real. Any of it. The shop. My pregnancy. Jackson.

But it’s good. It’s so good.

Jackson comes up behind me, sliding his hands over my belly. “Hey, come here.”

“I have to clean.”

“Just a second, huh?”

He moves us over to the full-length mirror where many a client has already stood, admiring all the angles of my work. “Lemme see,” he says, adjusting my shoulder to show off the female cardinal, her orange beak bright and proud.

I grin, leaning my head back on his chest as he admires our reflection.

He peels back the bandage on his, and we look at the pair of cardinals side by side on our left biceps.

“Mated for life!” I say with an edge of humor. It’s still a concept . . . forever. It hasn’t even been a year. Rationality gets in the way of feeling. Because I’m certain I’ve found my person. I slide my hands down the front of my stomach. Always connected, the two of us.

“Yep, it’s in ink. Can’t go back now.”

I snort and put his bandage back in place. “Don’t tell me you are suddenly getting commitment issues, Mr. I’ve-Been-In-Love-With-You-Since-High-School.”

Jackson wraps his arms around me. “No. Not at all. The opposite, Lil. The exact opposite.”

I melt into him. Still do. Every time. I wait on pins and needles for the moment his touch won’t make me flutter. But it does every time.

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