Max goes to grab my Korma aloo, but I snatch it back, glaring. He holds his hands up in surrender. “I eat my feelings when I’m anxious.”
“It’s not you pregnant. And we aren’t telling the others, Max, not yet.”
“Like they aren’t going to find out,” he snorts.
“I can’t believe you are getting this worked up over it. It’s not like it’s Lake who’s pregnant.”
“I wrap it, unlike some,” Max retorts. “And she wouldn’t steal my food. She lives to please me.”
“Of course,” I mutter, plying more food onto my plate. My mouth waters at the aromas, and my stomach rumbles with hunger.
“We’re twins. She could have twins. She’ll be feeding for three then.”
Max narrows his gaze on his brother. “Why the fuck would you curse that kind of shit on me? If Lake and I have a kid, it will be one. Just one. She wouldn’t do that to me. You guys can have a football team, but no thank you. Not me. I’m looking out for number one and Lake is on board with that. She understands that no one touches my food, unlike you crazies.”
My bottom lip quivers and his eyes begin to widen. “I’m pregnant, Max. Pregnant. You know what this means to me; how long we’ve been waiting after the doctors said it might not happen again for us. You were there with us. Why can’t you be happy for me?”
He sags in defeat. “I am happy. I’ll love it no matter what.”
“My baby isn’t an it,” Myles snaps.
Max turns from Myles to me, then sighs. “I’m going to give you some breathing room. I need some breathing room. This is huge news, and I need to process it.”
“Again, not you having the baby.”
“But it’s my food she’ll be eating,” he snaps, before exhaling. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’ll be back. Please, just—just don’t eat my food before I do.”
He heads to the front garden in a huff. I drop my fork, turning to Myles. “He’s going to tell everyone.”
He leans back in his chair to peek out the window. “He’s telling God first, by the looks of it.”
I can hear him ranting about how unfair it is, but I tune him out, taking Myles’ hand. “It’s all going to be okay, right?”
“Yeah, and if you want, we can lock Max in the cellar until the next scan.”
The thought holds merit. “I’ll think about it.”
As the evening wears on, and sleep threatens to pull me under, Myles and I make our way to bed. Max can be heard screaming, even through the double glazing, so we head over to the window, pulling back the curtain.
“We need to get him to a psych ward,” an officer yells as he pins Max down on the front of the car.
“I just want my damn food,” Max moans. “You are all crazy.”
I bite my lip. “Um, maybe we should go and explain.”
Myles shrugs, dropping the curtain. “He might think about his life choices.”
I sigh. “I’ll let Lake know he hasn’t been murdered.”
He grins as he places his hands over my stomach. “You are going to be a fantastic mum.”
I melt into him. “And you’ll be a great father.”
And I know with my whole heart that, together, we will raise beautiful and loving children. I know it in my bones. Because they are a part of Myles. And I don’t know anyone as beautiful and loving as him.
CHAPTER THREE
Lily
Charlotte drops the bags on the doorstep before turning back to the street, where Mum is still parked.
“See you in a bit, honey. Don’t do anything until I’m back.”
I smile at her worried words. “I promise, Mum.”
Kind of.
“Later,” she calls, before driving off.
We wave goodbye to our mums and Hayden before both of us finally let out a breath.
“That was intense, even for Christmas Eve,” Charlotte breathes out.
Hayden got into it with a woman who picked up the last leather jacket on the rack at the same time as her. Luckily, no one called security, and everyone remained unharmed as Hayden left the store with the jacket. But for a moment there, I really thought we were going to have to wait for her to be released from the police station after Christmas.
As exhausting as the day has been, it’s been good catching up with them. Lately, everyone has been preoccupied and we haven’t seen much of anyone. Tomorrow can’t come quick enough because we are all spending the day together, including Jaxon. I want to make it as special as I can for him, since this is our first Christmas together.
However, my day isn’t over. I have other things I need to do before our guests arrive. I’ve invited Blanche and the kids over to open their presents as I won’t see them tomorrow. Blanche can’t make it, but before she leaves to visit her friend in the care home, she’s dropping the kids off with me.
Mum and Dad are coming too, since they have gotten close to the kids. They want to be here for when they open the presents they’ve bought them. So instead of eating takeout and watching Christmas movies this year, I’ll be hosting a small get-together with finger foods.
“My back is killing me,” I admit.
She chuckles before glancing over at the girl leaving Blanche’s house. I wave to the pretty brunette, recognising her as the girl Miah has been studying with. Jaxon says ‘studying’ like it means something else though.
“Have you seen the kids yet? I bet they are excited.”
“I haven’t yet. But Blanche is going to bring them over later. I’m hoping to get a chance to spend time with Jaxon after. I miss him. I didn’t plan on being gone this long.”
Her expression softens. “He has been working a lot. Did you want me to stay?”
“He has,” I grumpily admit. “Thank you for the offer, but it will be fine. He shouldn’t be long.” I take a deep breath. “What are you doing later?”
“I’m going to Drew’s dad’s house. They do a little party or something on Christmas Eve, with Chinese takeout, and since he’s willing to spend most of Christmas Day with our family, I don’t want to let him down tonight, which is why I said I can’t make it tonight. I’ll drop the kids’ presents off before I leave though.”
I smile. “Sounds fun,” I tell her, right as a sharp twinge vibrates through my stomach. “Oh, that was a strong one.”
“You okay?”
I take a deep breath before nodding. “Yeah, but I think I need to sit down for five minutes.” I begin to search my bag for my keys, grimacing as the baby presses down on my bladder.
She clears her throat, nervously running her shoes along the mat. “What’s it like?”
I glance up at her. “What do you mean?”
“Being pregnant. What’s it like?”
I drop my bag to my side and beam at her as flutters erupt throughout my stomach. The baby moves less and less lately, but when he or she does, it hurts something fierce. Still… “It’s the best feeling in the world. It hasn’t all been pleasant. You know about all the morning sickness. But I…” I stare down at my bump, my lips tugging into a wide smile. Emotion swells inside me as I let everything I’m feeling bubble to the surface. “It’s a love like I’ve never felt before.”