Page 99 of Love and Memories

Their friends started making their way over for hugs and celebration, but Bella put down the piece of cake and wrapped her arms around Travis first. He’d been with her all day, and even though they’d already shared the excitement together, she wanted to shower him with her overflowing joy first.

He pressed a kiss to her head and leaned down to her ear to be heard over the cheers. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

She released him and met their friends with hugs. After everyone had shared their congratulations and indulged in finger foods and cake, the crowd started to dwindle until only Hadley, Gage, Anna, and Olivia remained.

Hadley and Gage were throwing out girl names while they wiped down tables and straightened chairs. Bella sat beside Travis and let out a big yawn.

“You ready to go?” he asked.

“Wait! We haven’t decided on a name for the baby yet,” Hadley said.

Anna stopped sweeping and rested her hand on the top of the broom. “There is no way they’re naming the baby tonight. Give them time to think about it.”

“We’re just giving them options,” Hadley said with a smirk to Gage.

“I appreciate all the name suggestions. We haven’t really talked about it yet,” Bella added before covering her mouth to yawn again.

“You need to go home and rest,” Anna said. “I’ll call you in the morning.”

“Yeah, and I’ll call you to see what name you decided on,” Hadley added.

Travis took Bella’s hand as they stood. “We’ll be sure to post it in the newspaper once Bella decides.”

“Once we decide,” she corrected.

Travis wrapped an arm around her waist and waved to their friends.

When they stepped out into the cold, dark night, Bella wrapped her coat tighter around her. “Have you thought about baby names?”

Travis opened the passenger door for her and shrugged. “A little.”

Why did her heart want to break out of the cage of her chest and fly at the thought of Travis coming up with names for the baby?

“What do you think?” she asked as she slid into the seat of his truck.

He rounded the front of the vehicle and got in on his side. “I thinkyoushould name your baby, and I don’t want to take that away from you.”

Bella grabbed his hand, catching his attention before he could start the truck. “I want us to do this together.”

He squeezed her hand back and lifted it to his lips to kiss her knuckles. “Anything you want. I just don’t want to overstep my bounds.”

“I don’t want any boundaries between us,” Bella whispered.

Travis leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. The brief touch left her head spinning and wanting more.

“What are your favorite names?” His low whisper rumbled through her.

She sat back as he started the truck. “Well, I have a few I like.”

That wasn’t the whole truth. There was one she really liked, but Travis’s reaction would tell her whether it was the one or not.

“Start with your favorite,” he said as he turned onto the main road.

“I want to give her a name that means something, but I don’t have any family names I’d want to pass on. Do you?”

Travis huffed. “Nope.”

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