His hand flew to my stomach. “Was that?—”
“Yes.” I nodded as the baby delivered another solid kick against his palm.
“I can feel it.” His whole face transformed. That unguarded, wonder-struck expression that broke me open every single time. “That’s incredible.”
I covered his hand with mine, pressing both our palms against the swell where my not-so-itty-bitty sea-alien was making its presence aggressively known.
I’d need a new nickname soon. Or maybe just a name.
“Do you think it’s a boy or a girl?” I asked.
The kicks had stopped, but Caleb’s hand kept moving in gentle circles over the stretched fabric of my shirt. “Doesn’t matter.” He kissed the corner of my mouth. “It’s a gift either way.”
“Cal?” I shifted in his hold, my arm reaching around him and Logan both, pulling all three of us into a tight circle.
“Yeah, Zadie. What do you need?”
“Absolutely nothing.” My smile felt too big for my face. “I’ve already got everything. A baby on the way and you.”
The two best mistakes I ever made.
His smile was the most brilliant shade of devotion I’d ever seen. Warm and steady and aimed entirely at me.
“I love you, Cal Alexander.”
He went still. Not frozen, not shocked. Just... absorbing it. Like he wanted to feel every syllable land.
“I love you too, Zadie.” His voice was rough. “I’ve been waiting a long time to hear you say it.”
Week 42
Chapter Thirty-Three
Caleb
“I’m so mad at you,” Zadie grumbled. “I hate this. I hate everything.”
Sweat dotted her forehead, stray curls clung to her face and neck, and her tank top hugged every curve, barely concealing her chest or the enormous swell of her belly.
She was so fucking beautiful.
“If that’s what it takes to make you feel better, hate away.” I kissed her damp temple. “I still love you.”
“I’m sorry.” She pouted, pressing both hands into the small of her back. “I love you too. I’m just so uncomfortable. I don’t know how you talked me into this.”
Abby rolled slowly past us on her board, arms extended for balance, a giant smile plastered across her face.
“I thought it was your idea,” I reminded Zadie. “I distinctly remember you saying that exercise and the excitement of watching me show off might help.”
Her brow furrowed into something murderous. “Yeah, well, you’re the one who agreed with me.”
“If this doesn’t work, we can try something else.”
She looked at me with pleading eyes.
I leaned close to her ear. “An orgasm might do the trick.”
“Ugh.” She rolled her eyes so hard it should’ve hurt. “We’ve tried that. Twice today. Besides, I won’t have any energy left by the time we’re done here.”