Page 149 of I Stop Somewhere Waiting For You

“He parks his ass at our house,” J snickers as her hand rubs my back, “or at T and Ace’s.”

“He’s lucky they got baby fever and jump at the chance to have him. Eventually they’re gonna have their own and be exhausted like the rest of us.” I pull her in tighter to me, pressing a kiss to her temple. “You should get out there. Give your brother a real run for his money. It’s been a while since you showed him up.”

“Eh,” she shrugs, “probably best if I don’t. It’s not safe.”

My face scrunches up as I glance briefly at her with a look of incredulity. “Is this what inching closer to your thirties is doing to you? Making you safety aware?”

“Oh, no. Not permanently at least. Only for like the next eight or nine months or so.”

My head snaps to her attention, my heart stuttering in my chest as I take in her playful smirk. “Are you…?”

J’s smile widens as she pulls the little white stick from her back pocket, offering it up to me.

Snatching it from her hand, I gasp as I take in the sight of the two identical pink lines. “We’re having another baby?” I whisper, my eyes still glued to the strip of plastic in my grasp.

“Yeah.” She nods. “Congrats, Daddy.”

I dive for her, scooping her up and forcing her legs around me before I pull her face into mine. My lips crash against hers, kissing her like a man starved. “I love you. Thank you. Thank you for giving me this beautiful family.” I support her with one arm looped under her ass while my other hand presses to her stomach. “Thank you for growing me another child. Thank you for putting up with all my shit.”

“Hey, now,” she jokes, brushing my hair back from my forehead, “I’m no peach either. You deserve some credit for putting up with me all these years.”

“Every day I get with you is nothing short of a fucking gift. Even when I’m mad at you. Even when you drive me crazy. I wouldn’t trade a single second of our life together. You are my Queen.”

“Yeah, well, your Queen is about to get fat again. So, enjoy carrying me around like this while you still can.”

I lean back, pinning her with a glare. “Has it been so long that you don’t remember what the sight of you pregnant with Bentley would do to me? Rest up baby, because once that belly pops, you’ll have to beat me back with a stick.”

She playfully swats at my chest, but I ignore it, pulling her in for another kiss.

“So,” she murmurs against my lips, “what are you hoping for this time? Boy or girl?”

I fail to suppress the smile that breaks out across my face. “As long as the baby’s healthy and I’m having it with you? I will happily take whatever the universe gifts us.” I tilt her face to the side, pressing my lips to her bishop tattoo. “It hasn’t let me down yet.”

***