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He looked up at me and smirked. “I wasn’t talking to you
. ”
Smiling, I swatted his shoulder and said, “Well then, it knows. ”
“Stop calling our son an it!”
“You stop calling it a him! What if it’s a girl, Jack?” My eyes widened at the thought. “Holy shit, Jack. What if it’s a girl?”
His head tipped back as he laughed full and hard. “Then I’ll kill any guy who comes near her until she moves out of our house. ” He took a breath before continuing, “Which will be, never. ”
“Uh-huh,” I said, knowing damn well that if we had a girl, Jack probably would go nuts every time she left the house. He reached for my hand and pressed it against his lips.
“And if we do have a girl, Kitten, I hope she looks just like her mom. ”
My eyes filled with tears. “Stupid pregnancy hormones. I’m going to spend nine months crying. ”
“Then I’ll spend nine months wiping your tears. ”
I sniffed, wondering how in the world I’d gotten so lucky. I knew we’d been through hell and back, but all of those times felt so far rooted in the past in this present moment. We were going to have a baby, and I couldn’t think of anything more amazing or wonderful.
“Kitten?” Jack’s hands burrowed into his hair as he tugged at it. “You think I’ll be a good dad?”
I pressed my hand against his cheek. “I know you will. ”
“No doubts?”
“Never,” I said softly, longing with all my heart to reassure his worried mind.
“How can you be so sure?”
“Jack, I get to live every day surrounded by your love. It’s deep, it’s passionate, and it’s intense. But it’s honest and true. I know you’ll love our baby the same way. No matter what sex it is. ”
“Damn straight!” he proclaimed, rubbing my belly as if it were a Buddha. “There’s a little Carter in there. And I’ll do anything to keep you both safe, protected, and provided for. That’s my job. ”
“See? Right there. What you just said. That’s how I know. ” I placed my hand over his and squeezed lightly.
Jack pushed himself from the floor before reaching for my hand and pulling me up with him. He wrapped his arms around me and held me so tight, I could literally feel the love radiating between us. With a firm grip on my hand, Jack pulled me toward the bed and sat down before making room for me between his legs. I sat on the bed in front of him and settled in, feeling the muscles of his chest press against my back as he spoke.
“When are you planning on moving, Kitten? I can’t have you all the way across the country. I’ll go fucking crazy knowing you’re alone. I need you with me. ” He planted soft kisses along my neck and shoulders.
“I know. I’ll hire movers as soon as I get back. ”
“What about your work? Does Nora know you’re leaving?”
I turned my body to glance at him. “Shit! I forgot to tell you. Nora told me I could work on an assignment basis. I had to give her a resignation letter and everything. ”
“So, what does that mean? Do you still get to do the shoot with Matteo and Trina after the baby’s born?”
“Yes, I just have to fly back to New York to do it. And whenever an assignment comes up that I’m qualified for and interested in, I just accept the offer. But I don’t have to accept anything, or I can accept everything. ” I shrugged my shoulders. “Now that I’m pregnant, though, I’m not sure what I want to do. ”
“What do you mean, Kitten? You want to stay home with our son?”
“Jack, stop!” I giggled and rolled my eyes even though he couldn’t see, then turned my body around to face him. “But I think I do. Want to stay home, that is. Plus, I really want to be there for you and travel together as much as possible. ”
Looking deep into his eyes, wanting to be sure he saw the sincerity in mine, I said, “You see, I had this epiphany on the train home the other day. You’re my home. I don’t want to be where you’re not. And I know those feelings are only going to magnify once the baby comes. I’ll want to keep our family together as often as possible. So, if my career sits on the back burner for now, I’m totally okay with that. ”
Jack held a hand in the air to stop me. “Are you sure? You’re okay with not working? I know how much you love photography, and I don’t want you to resent me or hate me somewhere down the line. I’m in this for the long haul, Kitten. I’m not planning on ever letting you go, so I can’t have you hating me in five years. ”
