Page 176 of Sebastian's Baby

“Definitely,” I agree.

Everyone wishes me a happy birthday again, and I hang up the call.

“That was nice of them,” Lita says with a smile.

“Yeah, it was.”

I drop my phone back on the coffee table, feeling strange that I won’t see anyone but Hayden today. Then, I look at Lita and remember that I have her and Mirabella. They’re who matter. So I put my arm around her again and pull her closer to me while I rest my hand on her baby bump.

“What’s wrong?” she asks.

“It’s just…” I trail off, then start again. “I haven’t had a birthday where I haven’t been with the guys for a long, long time. It’s just a bit shitty.”

“Well, at least you’ll get to see Hayden,” she says.

It will be nice to see him, even if it means seeingBlakeas well.

“True, and I’ve got you.” I squeeze her tightly. “That’s what’s important. You and Mirabella. Everything else is just stuff.”

Lita frowns. “No, Seb, your friends aren’t ‘just stuff.’ It’s okay to be sad.”

“Thanks, princess.”

We fall into silence, and I enjoy the feeling of having Lita in my arms again. It’s so nice, and even though she says my friends aren’t ‘just stuff,’ she and Mirabella really are my priorities now. The fear for Mirabella’s wellbeing starts creeping in, but I’m determined to set it aside as much as I can today and just enjoy my birthday, so I focus on the enjoyable feeling of being with Lita instead.

“Did you feel that?” Lita gasps as there’s a strange feeling from underneath my hand on her bump.

I blink at Lita and ask, “Was that her? I didn’t realize.”

“Yes, it was,” she tells me with a grin.

We fall silent, and I hope that it happens again because I want to feel my baby girl, and I didn’t know what it was the first time. Then it does, right underneath my hand, and I’m overwhelmed with love for our beautiful bella.

“Oh my god, that’s amazing,” I whisper.

It happens a few more times over the next couple of minutes before Mirabella stops moving, and I love the feeling of our little girl moving about in Lita’s stomach. It’s all so strangely real, and I need Mirabella to be okay.

“I still can’t believe we’re having a baby,” Lita says, and she sounds awestruck before her face falls and she looks as stressed and worried as I feel.

I sigh because as much as I can try not to worry today, I can’t help but do it, and I hug her tightly before I say, “It’s going to be okay, Lita. It has to be. Hopefully, Dr. Sanders will have good news for us today.”

“Hopefully.”

She smiles again and says, “I have something for you.”

“What?”

“You’ll have to come to my office for it,” she tells me.

“Okay, you’ve piqued my curiosity.” I laugh.

She started her maternity leave early when we got the news about the tumor, but she’s been spending a lot of time in her office lately. I didn't want to intrude, so I left that room as her private domain. It’s nice to be invited into it now.

“So, um, I’ve been working on something for your birthday present,” Lita says as she opens the door to the office and walks in with me following her.

“You didn’t have to do anything for me, princess. You’ve already given me the best gift imaginable.” I smile as I say it and remember the feeling of Mirabella moving in her belly.

“Well, I wanted to do something else as well,” she laughs and sits at her PC to turn it on.

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