Page 105 of Pieces

She drops her suitcase as I wrap her in my arms, lifting her off the ground. Her laugh bubbles out, warm and familiar, and I bury my face in her neck, breathing her in like I’ve been holding my breath for a week.

“Miss me?” she teases, her arms tightening around my shoulders.

“You have no idea,” I murmur. Setting her down, I keep her close. I step back just enough to look at her, my hands resting on her hips. “Let’s not do that again. Being away from you was my least favorite thing.” Grabbing her suitcase with one hand, I slide my other arm around her waist.

“I saw you every day on my phone screen.”

“Yeah, and I watched your reel at least a thousand times,” I admit. “But video calls aren’t you being here, smelling so good.” I turn, dipping to taste her lips quickly. “Tasting you and just having you here.”

The flush of color staining her cheeks makes my own heart beat faster. “Huh, so you’re the reason that reel’s views went so high?”

I pull her to me again, smiling like a loon. “C’mon. Let’s get inside before we freeze.”

Once we’re inside, the warmth hits us, and Daphne shrugs off her jacket, tossing it onto the back of her chair. The motion pulls her sweater taut, and that’s when I see it, her bump.

My breath catches, and I stop in my tracks, staring at the subtle curve now visible. It’s not huge, not by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s enough to notice a little more than before she went away.

“You’re really showing now,” I say as I set her suitcase by the door. “My baby has changed.”

She glances down at herself with a shy smile, resting a hand on her belly. “I know. I noticed it a little while I was home, but I wasn’t sure if it was just me eating a lot.”

I step closer, needing to touch her.

Daphne laughs, her fingers brushing over the tiny swell like she’s still getting used to it. “It’s weird, isn’t it? Knowing there’s a person growing in there.”

“Not weird,” I say, crouching in front of her. “Amazing.”

She tilts her head, her smile widening as she watches me. I lift her sweater just enough to press a gentle kiss to her belly, my hands resting on her hips. “Hey, booger,” I say quietly. “You’ve been busy, huh?” I press another kiss to her skin and look up at her. “C’mon. I want to see you. All of you.”

She raises an eyebrow, but she lets me guide her to the bed. When she sits, I kneel between her knees, my hands resting lightly on her thighs. For a moment, I just look at her, taking in every detail. The way her hair falls over her shoulders, the flush in her cheeks, the way she seems more comfortable in herself.

“What?” she asks.

“Nothing,” I say. “Just missed you. Missed getting late-night snacks with you and just hanging out together. Kissing you. Holding you. Missed it all.”

She rests her hands on mine. “I missed you too.”

Then my hands slide from her thighs to her belly, resting gently over the small curve. I let my fingers trace the subtle swell. “Hi, baby girl, were you good for your mom? I hope so.”

Her cheeks flush a deeper pink, and she laughs lightly, her hand drifting to rest over mine on her belly. “Girl, huh?”

“I got a hunch.” I shrug, then remember that I have something for her. “Can I give you your presents now?”

Her eyes go wide. “Plural presents?”

I grin but don’t answer, already moving to my duffel bag. “Just…trust me.”

She watches curiously as I return with her presents, wrapped by me, which leaves a lot to be desired.

I place the first one on her lap. “Start with this one.”

With a giddy smile, she peeks inside the bag and pulls out a pair of thick, fuzzy socks with a gasp.

“Your feet are always cold.”

She presses the socks to her chest, eyes crinkling. “You noticed that?”

“’Course I did,” I say, reaching for the next thing.

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