At that time next year, my life would undoubtedly be changed beyond recognition. While I was apprehensive about becoming a mommy, I knew with Josh by my side, I couldn’t fail. I was finally in a place where I was able to believe that everything was going to beokay.
It waslate January and Josh had officially moved all of his stuff into the cottage. Although we’d never spent a night apart since we got together, it was nice to know things were official and he would be there when I fell asleep and there when I wokeup.
The situation with Josh’s parents was still awkward, even more so now that we were living together. Wanting to clear the air, we had invited them over for a meal, asking them to see the furniture Josh had made for the nursery. I was apprehensive about them coming to the cottage and wasn’t sure they would accept the invitation, but to my surprise, theydid.
Conversation was difficult, and at one point we were discussing the weather and Josh’s night out with Mason and Brody the following evening in an attempt to avoid awkward silences. It was clear Grace didn’t want to be there and had probably been forced to come by Robert. Every time Josh touched me, I saw her roll her eyes or scowl, always managing to change her expression when Josh lookedover.
She seemed less than impressed with the cottage, and commented on more than one occasion about how small it was, how cramped it would be when the baby arrived. Josh assured her that the cottage was plenty big enough for now, telling her that eventually we would move to a bigger place, which I had to admit was news to me. I didn’t question him on it, as I was sure he just wanted acceptance of our relationship from her and would have said anything to getit.
Josh’s dad was the complete opposite of Grace, complimenting me on how I looked—even though I looked enormous—and talking to Josh about the possibilities of adding on to the cottage if we wanted to stay rather than move, saying how he could help if we needed him to. After an awkward couple of hours, they left and my heart hurt for Josh as I knew it wasn’t the outcome he had hopedfor.
The following night, Josh went into Marble Falls with Brody and Mason while Libby, my mom, and I had a girls night with takeout at the ranch house. My back had been bothering me all day and I was currently walking around the small front garden as I waited for Josh to get home from work. It was fairly chilly and I was wearing one of Josh’s hooded sweaters, loving how big it was on me even though I now had a huge bump. Looking up at the sky, I noticed how dark it looked and wondered if a storm wasapproaching.
Just then I heard a car pulling up outside, and while I couldn’t see from there who it was, I was guessing it was Josh. Still pacing up and down, I heard a voice call my name. Turning, I saw him jogging toward me. Despite the fact that I was heavily pregnant, I couldn’t get enough of him and my mouth watered at the sight of his tanned arms bulging out of his tight t-shirt, his messy hair, the dark stubble on hisface.
“Hey gorgeous,” I called out, and he grinned atme.
“What are you doing out here? Are you okay?” he said as he reached me and brushed his lips againstmine.
“I’m fine, just a bit of back ache.” I shrugged. “Walking is easing it.” I watched as his facepaled.
“You’re not in labor, are you?” he asked in a panic. “It can start with back ache, the book said so,” he told me, looking me over for signs that I wasn’t going to start pushing at any moment. He had bought a book about pregnancy and childbirth and had read it from cover to cover. Every twinge I had would send him reaching for the book, looking for an answer as to what the twinge meant, and this was the third time that week he’d asked if I was inlabor.
“I’m pretty sure I’m not in labor Josh. I’m not having contractions,” I told him with a giggle, secretly loving that he cared enough to have read a pregnancy and labor book from start to finish. I was the one who was actually having the baby and even I hadn’t read itall.
“I think I better stay home tonight, just in case,” he announced, his face full ofconcern.
“Well you can stay here, but I’m going out,” I told him, pacing the small gardenagain.
“You’re only going to your parents, and I’ll come withyou.”
I stopped pacing and stared at him, my hands going to my hips. “Josh, you are not coming with me. It’s a girls night, probably the last one I’ll get before the baby arrives. You’re going out with Mason and Brody and that’sfinal.”
“God you’re sexy when you’re assertive,” he groaned, pulling me into his arms and kissing me. I whimpered as he kissed over my jaw, gently nipping at my neck before soothing my skin with histongue.
Pulling out of his embrace and stepping back before I got lost in my lust, I pointed at him. “I know what you’re doing, Josh Miller,” I told him, still breathless from hiskisses.
“And what’s that?” he asked with a smirk, taking a step towardme.
Taking another step back, I shook my head. “You’re going to get me all worked up with that mouth of yours—so worked up that I’ll agree to anything, even you coming on my girls night!” Iexclaimed.
“Now why would you think I’d do that Savannah?” he askedinnocently.
“Because you did it last week when I wanted to drive to Austin to meet Libby for lunch!” I exclaimed, throwing my hands up in the air. “You used that magic tongue to work me into a frenzy, refusing to let me come until I’d agreed not togo!”
“Magic tongue huh?” That stupid smirk returned to his gorgeous face, and feeling my face flush, I rolled myeyes.
“Whatever!” I told him. “You know I love your mouth on me, but I’m not falling for it this time. You are going out, and I am not in labor.” He laughed as I stalked past him into the cottage, heading straight upstairs to getready.
30 minutes later, we were ready to go. Josh was meeting Mason and Brody at the house and as he locked the cottage door, I noticed that the sky had grown even darker. By the time we made it to the house, the rain was bouncing off the ground, and we just managed to get inside before we got drenched. Mason and Brody were waiting for Josh in thehallway.
“I’m not going out in this. We’re going to get soaked,” Brody announced as we shut the door behindus.
“It’s just rain Brody,” Mason said. “Or do you melt in the rain?” He laughed, elbowing him in theribs.
“Ha ha. No, I don’t melt,” he replied, shoving Mason. “There is plenty of beer here, and I’m sure we can find some game to watch in the den. I just don’t see the point in going out if we can drink here. We’ll just make sure we stay away from the sitting room—they’re planning on putting that sadistic Mr. Greyon.”
“Fine by me. I’m happy to stay here and hang in the den,” Josh said, grinning down atme.