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"I should have stayed home tonight," she whimpers as I pull her to my chest. "I feel awful."
"You're getting close." I run a hand over her stomach, checking for contractions.
"Yeah," she agrees, blinking up at me. "I'm so fucking scared, Jude."
I study her face, trying to discern where that came from.
"Are you talking about labor and delivery?" I ask.
She shakes her head. "No. I mean, okay, a little. Not any more than any other super pregnant chick. At this point, I fully understand the baby has to come out."
I chuckle. She's very cute at the most random times. I've never had such a visceral reaction to another living being.
"My parents are awful. I don't know how to raise a baby." She swallows thickly. "I was so lonely as a kid. I don't want to do that to a baby. I'm going to mess this all up."
"You won't," I tell her, swallowing. It feels like there are rocks in my throat. She's finally opening up tome."All parents have worries and fears. You won't screw up worse than any other first-time parent. I have faith in you."
"Thanks, Jude," she says, leaning up and kissing my cheek. She's so close to my mouth my heart races. My hand digs into her back, holding her to me.
"You have me and Vince. We aren't going anywhere," I say, smiling. "I have tons of experience with kids. We're here for you. You have a support system."
"You won't get called off on another job?" she asks, studying me carefully.
"Nah, darlin'. You're stuck with us for the foreseeable future," I say, wrapping my arms around her for a real hug. I don't exactly know how I'll make that happen at this point, but I'm not leaving her even if I have to quit and live off my savings for a while.
Love's warm breath fans over my chest through my t-shirt. She nods against my pec. My hand cradles the back of her head, and she stares up into my eyes. My head dips, and I brush my lips over hers. Love closes her eyes, kissing me softly.
My heart pounds away in my chest, and I have to bite my tongue to hold back from busting out, 'I love you'. Now is not the time, but soon.
"Let's get comfy," I suggest. I guide her back over to the couch and pull her down into me. "They shouldn't be much longer."
I link our fingers, and Love puts her head on my chest.
"Are we officially a couple?" she asks so softly I barely hear the words.
My heart tries to race right out of my goddamn chest.
I swallow thickly. "Yeah, I mean, I thought we were…" I frown. "Was I supposed to ask that? I've got very limited experience when it comes to this stuff. If I make a mistake, please understand it's not—"
Love tips her head up, hushing me with a tantalizing kiss.
She grins. "You didn't do anything wrong, I was just asking for clarification. It's kind of hard to understand why anyone would want to date a pregnant chick—"
"Enough," I growl, tipping her chin up so she'll look into my eyes again. My hand runs over the baby belly. "I'm not some punk twenty-year-old kid. I've got real, true feelings for you. Honestly, that baby you're busy growing feels as much mine as you are."
Love slams her mouth to mine again, and we smile through the kiss. Now to get the guys back over here so we can get home. Fuck, I'm on edge. I really wish we'd stayed home today.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Baby Love McKinley
This performance wasn't even on Matted Whine's schedule. It's not part of the original shows Rook approached the guys about doing for the pro-pack fundraising rally. The guys made the choice to skip the first few of those since they're too close to my due date.
But another band came down with food poisoning last-minute.
Jamen called the guys today and asked them to do the short performance, because the venue is only three hours away from the penthouse.
The next closest comparable band would have had to be flown in.
