“You know? Cravings! The books say that you pregnant ladies get cravings.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal that he has been reading baby books.
“Yeah, and don’t forget that, at around this time, you could get fluid retention.” I stare at the words that have just come out of Rafe’s mouth, because he, too?
“Breast tenderness as well. Ice packs, baby!” Ethan sounds so proud of his knowledge.
“Also, get some of that cocoa butter to help with the stretch marks.” Cas nods, as if this is the most normal conversation in the world.
“Ah, but next week, you may get an increase in your activity levels,” Nate chimes in.
I look at Cole, who shrugs, but Archie pipes up with, “We’ve all been reading the same book. Cole made us…not that we didn’t want to help, but it was his idea. He said we should all know what to look out for to help anyway we can.” I look back at Coleand see him in a completely different light than I ever have. This man. This fucking man is either going to be my home or my heartbreak.
I don’t know which one yet.
We drive back to my place in silence. It’s not the uncomfortable silence that plagues most people. No, this is a comfortable silence, born from two people who can enjoy each other's company without unnecessary words.
When he parks up, he asks me to wait and gets out to round the truck and open my door. He grabs my bag from me and the extra trifle that May made all for me. We walk up to my door, and I turn the lock. A wild thought crosses my mind.I don’t want him to leave.
I hold up the trifle and give it a wiggle. “Movie night and trifle?”Oh god, please say yes.
His face looks pained, and he rubs the back of his neck. “Shit. Lace, I want to, but I promised Gabby I would go over and get my things. She’s been asking me for weeks, and I’ve been putting it off.”
Heart shatters. Also, fucking Gabby!
“Oh. God, yeah. Sorry, you’ve been running around after me; you should have said something earlier. Okay. Well, it’s been a fun day. Thank you very much, and I look forward to seeing you later. Bye!” I slam the door shut in his face and lock it before I can think too much about it.
God, this place is depressingly quiet.I set the trifle aside as I pass through the kitchen to my room and head straight for my comfiest PJs. My limbs feel like lead as I peel off my clothes. I walk over to the mirror on the back of my door and look at my body. My breasts are fuller than they were a few weeks ago. My hips look a little wider, and as I stand to the side, I can see the slight swell of my stomach where my little Peanut is resting. Ican’t help but smile as the bloom of happiness spreads across my face.
I grab my PJs and pull them on, the fabric soft and smooth against my skin. I run a hand over the fleece material. They’re pink with little white ghosts; some may think they’re a little childish, but they’re my favourite.I wonder if I can get a matching pair for Peanut.I make my way back into the living room, grabbing the trifle and a spoon on the way. If I’m going to wallow, I may as well do it while watching Damon on the big screen.
As I sit down, spoon in hand, ready to devour my dessert, a pounding at the door has me stopping midway to my mouth.You have got to be fucking kidding me!
“Don’t you know it’s rude to interrupt a pregnant woman and her food?” I yank open my door, and the words die in my mouth. Standing on the other side is Cole, his arms on either side of the frame. His hair is tousled, as if he’s run his fingers through it a million times.
“Is the movie night still on offer?” He grins sheepishly at me.
I cross my arms over my chest. “Well, that depends on you. I thought you had to ditch me?”Do I sound childish? Yes. Do I care? Nope!
He shakes his head, and a sorrowful look crosses his face. “I can always get more stuff, Lacey, but I can’t get another you.”
I drop my arms and open the door wider, my walls cracking that little bit more. He walks by me, and I breathe in his scent; it’s a mix of leather, a woodsy fragrance, and a splash of fresh oranges. I lock the door and see he’s kicked off his shoes and settled himself on the couch with one of my favourite Halloween blankets draped across his legs. He pats one side of him and nods once at me.
Reluctantly, I stomp over to where he is. I can’t have him thinking he’s completely off the hook for ditching me earlier. Isettle in next to him and grab the trifle and spoon some into my mouth. I catch him staring at me out of the corner of my eye, and I roll mine.
“Go get a spoon, you’re not sharing mine. Oh, and I hope you’re ready, Cole, because tonight we are headed to Mystic Falls, and I restarted the whole thing.” I smile sweetly at him, and instead of the usual grumblings about my taste in TV shows, he shocks me by kissing my cheek before grabbing himself a spoon and settling back down next to me.
Stupid heart, don’t fall for your best friend.
Chapter 8
Cole
‘The purpose of the dating scan is to check how many weeks pregnant you are, work out your due date, and whether you’re expecting more than one baby. It also verifies if the baby is growing in the right place and your baby’s development.’
I’ve read those words over a hundred times, but it doesn’t calm the storm brewing in my stomach. My coffee sloshes around and threatens to come back up. I hope everything goes okay today at Lacey’s first scan.
I unlock my phone and the group chat I share with my brothers.
Me
