Page 3 of Waiting for Her

“You went and got me water?” I ask, my throat raw.

Max’s eyes soften as he lifts the glass and hands it to me.

“Yeah, did you think I just left you here?”

I shrug, feeling stupid that I ever thought he would do something like that.

He sighs, kneeling in front of me. “Addison, I know you want to be strong right now, and I’m so fucking proud of what you’ve done these last few months, but I’m here and I want to help. I need to help you. Okay?”

I nod, taking a sip of water, allowing myself to be taken care of because this feeling right here? This feeling of knowing I’m not alone is something I never thought I would have again.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my gaze lifting only to be met with the kindest blue eyes I have ever seen. “I guess I’m so used to doing everything alone.”

A shadow crosses over his face and for a second I think he’s going to yell, but then he takes a breath and takes one of my hands in his.

“You will never have to do this alone. Do you understand me?”

I say nothing as words turn to dust in my mouth.

“Me, your brother, even Mark, and Lucas, will help. You never have to worry about that.”

“Do you really think your brother will help?” I tease, knowing Mark has never been around a baby, let alone held one. For being twins, Mark and Max could not be more opposite.

“He’d try,” Max teases, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he places his forehead to mine. “I want to remind you that you have an army behind you. No matter if that douchebag left, it doesn’t matter. That baby will forever have a family.” My heart does a little dip as he smiles, stands, and holds out his hand. “Are you okay to stand?”

I take another sip of water before setting the glass down and taking his hands with mine.

“Sure,” I mutter, grimacing as I plant my feet on the tile floor, as the weight of my stomach falls heavy on my spine. “That never gets easier,” I joke, placing one hand on the counter and the other on my stomach.

“Standing up?”

I shake my head, facing the mirror and meeting his gaze. “The weight of the belly. I always seem to forget every time I get up just how heavy this baby is already.”

Max smiles, his arms caging me in as his chest meets my back. “I once saw a woman’s husband actually hold her belly for her, like place his hands under her stomach and lift. She looked blissful when he did that.”

I laugh just before Max shifts behind me, his hands coming up under my belly as his lips whisper over the shell of my ear.

“Like this?” He does exactly what that woman’s husband did. He gently lifts my stomach, the weight disappearing for the first time in months as my eyes roll into the back of my head and I groan. “Does that feel good?” Max whispers, his lips touching my skin ever so slightly, causing goose bumps to travel up my arms. I nod because words can’t describe what this feels like.

“Thank you,” I say, my eyes meeting Max’s hooded ones in the mirror. He doesn’t look away as he gently lowers my stomach once more, the weight pressing down once again as reality sets back in.

“Does it really feel that good?” he asks as I smile, resting my head on his chest as his hands cradle my bump.

“You have no idea,” I say through a chuckle. “That weight being lifted was probably one of the best things to happen to me in months.”

Max smiles, leaning in, and softly kisses my neck, causing my breath to hitch and his muscles to bunch before he steps away, clearing his throat.

“When I was getting your water, I noticed you didn’t have much food in the house. I’m going to make a quick run to the store. What do you want me to get you?”

The question takes me off guard since it’s a very sudden change of subject but also because I have no idea what he should get. I get cravings like any other pregnant woman, but it’s usually for takeout or ice cream.

“Addi, you need to tell me something, or else I’ll probably buy one of everything.”

I roll my eyes, turning to face him as he leans against the doorjamb of the bathroom.

“Fine, pickles, ice cream, crackers, and chocolate,” I say, smiling at the way his lips twitch. “Oh, and orange juice,” I add. Max is still quiet as his eyes rake over my body causing me to shift on my feet. “What?”

“Are you going to tell me any real food, or just junk?” I laugh, not even realizing that everything I just said was in fact junk food.

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