“I guess this is a bad time to tell you I planned another party for Halloween.”
He laughs. “I’m too exhausted to think about parties.”
“That’s what I figured.” I roll over to face him. “Give me your hand.”
He hands it to me and I press it to my belly. “Feel that?” I ask, looking over at him.
He nods, his eyes wide. “It amazes me more and more every time. She’s so strong.”
“She’s the most active now. She’s going to be a night owl, which doesn’t bode well for us.”
He rubs his thumb over my belly. “That’s okay, night owls are cool.”
I place my hand over his, my eyes growing heavy.
We both fall asleep, clutching my stomach and feeling the steady thrum of the baby’s kicks, reminding us that she’s there, and she’s coming.
Thea
We wake up in the same position we fell asleep, only now, the baby seems to have fallen asleep because there are no kicks.
I move Xander’s hand off my belly and go to shower.
My aching back needs it. As much as my back hurts now I’m scared to imagine what it’s like when I’m ready to pop. It’s not going to be pleasant.
After my shower I dress and style my hair, doing my makeup as well.
Xander’s awake by that time, already making breakfast, because he’s awesome like that.
I head downstairs and slide onto one of the barstools.
“I smell something delicious.”
He grins, his hair a mess from sleep. “Homemade pancakes and eggs.”
“Mmm, my favorite.”
I wait anxiously for him to finish making them and when he piles three pancakes onto my plate I barely add syrup before digging in.
“I think everybody’s coming to your game this weekend.”
Xander has a home game this weekend, which is why he’s home for the time being. Then he’ll he gone on the road again for a little while.
“Cool,” he replies, shoveling food into his mouth. “It’s fun when everybody comes. Is it crazy to say that the energy is better?”
I laugh. “No, not crazy. Home games are the best. It’s your own turf.”
“True,” he agrees. “So … another party?” He raises a brow. “You never mentioned that in any of our calls.”
I snort. “Xander, we have a party every year. It’s tradition. I might’ve purposely not said anything because I figured you wouldn’t be that into it since you’ve been gone, but I was bored and the planning made me feel better.”
He sighs. “How can I argue with that?” He sets his fork down. “What’s our costumes?”
I smile slowly. “Don’t be mad.”
He throws his head back. “Thea, what’d you do?”
I take another bite of pancake and then scurry out of my seat and run to the hall closet, pulling out a shopping bag. I hand it to him and he inhales a deep breath, bracing himself.