I grinned against her pulse point, loving the way her heart stuttered. “Even when we’re old and grey and covered in wrinkles, I’ll still think you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
“Old and grey, huh? Think you can put up with me for that long?”
Bringing my mouth to hers, I replied, “Forever wouldn’t be long enough.”
May
With final exams out the way, I was looking forward to spending a week with Jade, and was hopeful that we’d be able to find a house before the next semester started. Jade had made arrangements with her academic advisors to complete her final semester of classes the following year when our daughter was old enough to attend daycare, although I was pretty sure our mothers were already planning on taking care of her while Jade and I finished school.
I knew Jade was still fearful of what lay ahead for both of us, but she’d settled, and was starting to get excited as the weeks passed. Her belly was rounder now at twenty six weeks, and our baby girl had started moving around a little more, reminding us – at the oddest moments – that she was in fact in there. Not that it escaped my notice. I couldn’t keep my hands off Jade, and despite her many attempts I still hadn’t initiated any sex. It bothered her, that I was holding back, but after her confession about how quickly things were changing, I didn’t want us to feel rushed either.
Dane’s truck stopped behind my Range Rover, and we both climbed out. Kennedy and Grady had taken Jade to a spa, while Dane had agreed to help me look at properties. Out of all of the listings my father had given me, the one we were standing in front of now, appealed to me the most.
The front door opened, and the realtor beamed as we made our way up the long driveway. The exterior of the single story house was made of bricks, with large windows on either side of the ornate wooden front door. So far I liked it, but I wanted to make sure it was what I knew Jade would be happy with. She had no idea what I was up to, but after talking things out, I knew she trusted me. I wanted nothing more than to surprise her with our new home.
“Good afternoon. You must be Reid.” The realtor stuck out her hand, and I shook it. “I’m Missy.”
“Nice to meet you,” I replied. I introduced her to Dane, and after the pleasantries were out the way she led us inside.
“You father was quiet specific about what you wanted,” she told me.
“It has four bedrooms, three bathrooms – two of which are en suite – and as you can see it has hardwood and stone flooring,” – we followed her through the small foyer, and into the kitchen – “The kitchen has stainless steel equipment, with granite counter tops and ample cupboard space...” She prattled on about more specs, but I was too busy envisioning myself living here with Jade and our little girl to pay much attention. It was a stunning house, and I knew right away that I wanted it.
“This place is nice,” said Dane. He walked through to the living room and I followed. The large bay windows overlooked a moderate backyard with a built in deck, and fire pit. There would be plenty of space to add things later on, like a pool, and a sandbox.
“Are you sure you and Jade are ready for this?”
I turned to look at Dane, slightly amused by his worrisome expression. “No,” I replied honestly. “But our baby is coming whether we’re ready or not, and when she does, I want her to have a home. I’d be lying if I said I’m not freaking out, but Jade and our girl come first now. And this is what’s best for them.”
He clapped his hand over my shoulder. “Okay. You know Kennedy and I will help you guys too, with whatever you need.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate that, and I know Jade will too.”
“You’re going to be a dad,” he chuckled ruefully with a shake of his head.
“Laugh it off now, Uncle Dane, because when my kid is thirteen, with horny little fucks chasing her tail, I’m calling you to help scare them off.”
“You know I have your back.”
I looked at my friend, my brother, and idly wondered when we’d grown up. We were no longer the mud-covered kids from yester-year, and we were no longer the horny teenagers screwing our way through high school. We were now two grown men standing on the precipice of the rest of our lives, both in committed relationships, and preparing for the future.
I turned around just as Missy walked in. “Would you like to see the rest of the house?” She asked.
“No, that won’t be necessary,” I replied. “I’ll take it.”
“Fabulous,” she beamed. “I can have the documents ready for you in a few days. Where would you like me to send them?”
“You can send them to my father to look over,” I told her. “When can we move in?”
“Once all the paperwork is processed and approved, you should be able to move in on the first of next month.”
“Perfect.”
We could make do with our apartment until then, and by the time move-in day rolled around Jade would only have three months left in her pregnancy. That was plenty of time for us to get the house ready, and do the nursery.
I expected to feel some kind of panic, but a strange sense of rightness filled my chest. Something my father had told me weeks ago, when I’d just learned that Jade was expecting, popped into my head, and standing in the home we would soon be living in made it seem so much more real now.
If you looked ahead ten years from now, and saw Jade standing next to you, and if you know without a shadow of a doubt that you’d put up with all the hardships that life throws at you if it meant waking up next to her, then you know.
The scary part was not that we were starting this part of our lives together so soon, but rather that I’d never been able to see this kind of life with anyone else. Knowing she was my future made the fear of not being a good partner, or good father less daunting.
Because she made me better, and she made me want to deserve the life I’d spent years chasing and was finally getting a taste of.
Chapter 15
Jade
You love me, but I want to feel like you want me
I dropped onto our sofa with a sigh, and brought my hands to rest on my growing belly. Kennedy and Grady had taken me to a spa, as per Reid’s orders, where I was pampered within an inch of my life. I felt so relaxed, and so blissfully content, and I reveled in the feeling. It wouldn’t be long before it was all uprooted again, and I was forced to adjust to yet another one of life’s many changes.
I smiled when I felt that familiar fluttering beneath my hands, a reminder that not all the changes ahead had to be bad.
Kennedy sat down beside me, her legs crossed, and grinned down at her phone.
“If you are sexting with Dane right now, I will throw your phone away,” I said, twisting my head to face her.
“Just because you’re not getting any doesn’t mean I have to be celibate,” she replied with a laugh. “And if you’re so frustrated, then you should talk to Reid about that.”
I groaned. “Every time I try to initiate anything he gently turns me down. I’m starting to think the thought of having sex with me repulses him.”
“I highly doubt that,” she snickered. “Considering your current, uh, condition.”
“True,” I relented. “But what if he doesn’t want to have sex with me because I look too big? Or what if he’s put off by this,” I gestured towards my baby bump.
“You’re being ridiculous Jade. He can’t keep his hands off you, or your stomach. I’m sure he’s holding off for a reason.”
Until we buy a damn house, I thought, thinking back to our conversation two weeks ago. Since then we hadn’t spoken much about his plans, but Kennedy had finally come clean about moving in with Dane.