Page 43 of The Secret Clause

“If you say it’s his bloody birthday,” Ryan snaps, and I bite back my answering laugh, “I may actually smother you.”

“You’d be lost and miserable without me, baby.”

“I’m not so sure right now,” she utters.

I slide out of bed, closing the distance between us. Cupping her cheeks, I tip her head back, stealing a kiss before pressing my forehead to hers. “Why are you stressing?”

“I just want today to go smoothly.”

“It will.” I thread my fingers through her head, massaging gently at the roots. “Also, if you don’t think Mum was up three hours ago shoving that turkey in the oven, then that brain fog of yours is worse than I give you credit for.”

She wrinkles her nose, pouting. “I know, but I should have set an alarm. And I’m annoyed at myself for forgetting. What kind of person forgets to set an alarm for Christmas Day?”

“The kind whose husband is so attentive to her needs that she forgets all about what day it even is.”

“Stupid bloody husband,” she mumbles, though her lips twitch at the corners, betraying her amusement. She kisses me, exhaling heavily before peeling away from my hold and moving to the door.

“Baby?” I call when she pulls against the handle, already peering out into the hallway.

“Yeah?”

I gesture down to her bare legs, a smirk on my face. “I think you’re forgetting something.”

She grumbles expletives and stomps back across the room to grab the leggings from my outstretched hand. She tugs them on with a huff and shoves her hair back from her face, a scowl on her lips.

“How much longer until I get my brain back properly?” she asks, whimpering softly as her eyes shimmer with emotion.

“You’d have to ask my dad. He’s the one who’s been reading all the baby books.”

“If it wasn’t for that man filling my head constantly with talk of babies, we wouldn’t even be in this position,” she whines, glancing down at her growing belly.

“I’d like to think I had some part in this, you know,” I say, coming up behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist. One of the babies kicks, pressing against my palm, and my hands drift over her waist, chasing the movements of my child.

“Yes, yes,” she huffs, growling under her breath. “You and your super sperm managed to get two stuck up there. But you aren’t the one who has to carry the little terrors while they try to break my ribs.”

“You’re the one who said you wanted a football team.”

“I was joking. You didn’t have to take it seriously.”

“What have I always said, Ry?” I ask.

“Anything for me,” she says, relaxing against me.

“Anything for you.”

She peers up at me, batting her lashes sweetly. “So you’re going to push them out for me when the time comes, yes?”

I snort and kiss her cheek as I breathe her in. “Anything but that.”

The End

---