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“Mmm.” My eyes close and I lean back.
“Oh Christ.” A muffled yelp from the back door. “At breakfast?”
We both look up to find Z at the sliding glass door waving at us. “Let me in.”
“There’s this thing called knocking,” Rock says as he flips the lock and lets Z in.
I glance down, checking to make sure my boobs haven’t escaped the confines of my dress. Lately I swear Rock can undress me with a look.
“Good morning, Hope. You’re radiant this morning,” Z says, ignoring Rock’s glowering and dropping into the chair to my left.
“Come on in. Make yourself at home,” Rock grumbles. “Can I get you anything?”
“He’s being sarcastic, isn’t he?” Z mock-whispers to me.
“I wouldn’t ask for pancakes if I were you.”
He laughs and eyes Rock. “Coffee?”
“Are your hands broken? You see I’m busy, right?”
“I dunno. Looked like you were molesting your wife a few seconds ago.”
“Like I said, busy.”
I silently laugh at their banter. “I think we’re definitely only having the one baby.”
Z grins even wider. “Shit, can you imagine if we’d grown up together?”
“Maybe he would’ve gotten it all out of his system by now,” I suggest.
Rock sets a bowl of oatmeal and berries in front of me. “Doubtful.”
He thunks a mug of coffee on the table in front of Z and I lean over for a whiff.
“Sorry, Hope. You want me to go drink it over there?” he asks.
“Aw, you’re so sweet. No. I’m fine.”
He pushes his chair back and rests his foot on his opposite knee. “Heidi said you’re gonna find out if it’s a boy or girl today?”
“Fingers crossed.”
Rock sets my ginger tea in front of me, then takes the chair on my left with his own plate.
“You’re cute all domesticated, Rock,” Z says.
Rock takes a few bites of his steak and eggs before responding to Z. “Did you come over here for a reason? Or just to annoy me?”
“Is, I miss both of you a good enough reason?” he asks with wide eyes.
“Aww.” I reach over and pat Z’s leg.
Rock growls and attacks his eggs.
Z lifts his chin at me. “You nervous?”
“About today? Not really.” A slight fluttering sensation stops me and I close my eyes, resting my hand over my stomach.
There it is again. Fleeting and gentle. A soft twitch.
“What’s wrong, Hope?” Z asks.
Rock’s hand brushes up against mine. “You feel the baby again?”
“I think so. It’s so subtle.” I laugh, almost giddy from the connection.
I open my eyes and find Rock watching me intently with his hand still resting over my belly.
Z’s staring at us with a curious expression and without thinking, I grab his hand and place it where I felt the last flutter.
“Is that it?” he asks, confusion clouding his expression.
I shrug. “Well, it could be gas.”
He yanks his hand away and I laugh. Rock squeezes my fingers gently before finishing his breakfast.
“Rock could feel it better last night,” I explain. I gesture to my dress. “There weren’t all these layers in the way.” I laugh a little harder, still excited by the baby’s movement.
“Keep your dress on, I don’t want to die today, Hope.” He throws a wary glance at Rock.
“Hi!” Trinity pushes open the back door, holding it for me until I’m inside. Rock follows me and Trinity strides to the front of her studio.
“Your dress is perfect,” she says. “I thought we’d do a blue and pink theme, since you’re finding out the sex today.” She crosses her fingers and holds them in the air.
I can’t help laughing at how excited she is. I’ve never probed too much about why Trinity doesn’t want children. I try to be sensitive to my non-mom friends. I don’t want to be that annoying pregnant mom who won’t shut up about every detail whether they want to know it or not. But Trinity’s been almost as excited as I am, which has made things easier.
She presses her hands together. “Your dress is perfect. Come here.”
We stand in front of one of the mirrors and she gives my hair a quick fix, tucking fly away pieces into place and fluffing the long waves. “Perfect.”
Trinity snaps a dozen or more pictures of me by myself before asking Rock to join me.
“Rock, can we get a little more enthusiasm, please?” Trinity asks.
While he’s attentive in every single way that counts—feeding me, taking me to the doctor, tending to pretty much every need and weird craving I have—Rock’s limitless patience ends at making goofy faces for cheesy maternity photos.
Unsatisfied, Trinity adjusts the lighting before taking a few more shots.
“Pretend I’m leaving and you’re about to have your way with Hope right there on my prop couch,” she suggests.
Rock turns the predatory eyes that have the power to liquefy my insides on me and Trinity hums in approval.
“Much better,” she mutters. “Should’ve started there.”
When she finishes, Rock still has me in his arms and seems reluctant to let me go.
“Sorry, I can’t make good on that, Rock,” Trinity says. “I have someone coming in at one.”
“Bait and switch, Trinity.” He gives her a teasing glare. “I’ll remember that.”
Heidi rushes in the back door. “I’m sorry I’m late, Trin.”
“No problem. Just finishing up.”
Poor Heidi seems so frazzled. “What’s wrong, Heidi?” I ask.
“Nothing, I just got held up after class and traffic was a bitch getting over here.”
“It’s cool,” Trinity assures her. “I got your text. We have a little time before the next one.”
We say our goodbyes. In the parking lot, Rock takes my hand. “I’m sorry if that was too much,” I say.
He cocks his head but doesn’t say anything.
Once we’re in the car, I try again.
“What are you apologizing for?” he asks.
“Just, all the cheesy photo stuff. I know that’s not your thing.”
He taps his thumbs against the steering wheel a few times. “Some days I just feel like maybe I’m too old for this,” he waves at the studio, “stuff.”
This is the first time Rock’s expressed any apprehension about impending fatherhood to me and my heart squeezes.
He shrugs. “Last night, feeling those flutters… every day it gets a little more real.”
“It does,” I whisper.
“I wasn’t trying to ruin it for you,” he says.
“You didn’t. Not at a
ll. I’m sorry. I’ll tell Trinity we should just do some simple shots up at the clubhouse—”
“Nah, don’t do that because I’m being a grouch.” He looks at the studio again. “I’ve known Trinity a long time. Proud of her.”
I’m cut off from asking any follow-up questions by the buzz of his phone.
“Fuck,” he grumbles. “They know not to bother me today.”
He groans even louder when he looks at the screen. For a moment it looks like he’s going to send it to voicemail, but then he answers with a terse, “What?”
I can’t tell who’s on the other end or what they want, but Rock’s definitely not pleased about the interruption.
“No, I can’t do it today.”
On the other end, Loco whines some more. “Rock, I need someone to help Malik with this gig.”
“And I’m not available.” No way am I explaining my plans. I don’t answer to this fuck.
Hope looks out the window, pretending she’s not hearing every word. I reach over and take her hand, attempting to reassure her I’m not going anywhere.
“You need to get it through your head, I don’t work for you.”
“Rock, I do a lot to help you out in Ironworks.”
“I know. And I appreciate that. I’ll check with my guys and see who’s available.”
“Try Wrath first.”
“That’s probably not happening, Loco.”
“I need someone scary.”
“All my guys are scary.” He keeps pissing me off he’s gonna witness first hand how scary my guys can be.
“Or at least send someone I can pay in pussy.”
“I think my guys prefer cash.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“I’ll have one of them call you if they can do it. Either way, I’ll have Z check back with you. I’m unavailable the rest of the day.”
“Now you got me all curious, Rock.”
“Bye, Loco.”
Hope chuckles as I hang up. “You’re so friendly.”
“He’s a pain in my goddamn ass.”
“What does he need?”
“You really don’t want to know.” I dial Z. “Give me one second.”
