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My back has been my biggest complaint the last two days. It’s spasming constantly.
"This house has a lot of stairs," I say, with a grin, glancing over at Nathan as he comes into the living room from the kitchen, carrying two glasses of water. "I think I can handle the arena."
"You’re using my own words against me. That hurts." Nathan hands me the water and sets his down on the coffee table.
"It’s good for me to keep moving," I tell Michael. "You said that yourself."
"You’re right, you’re right. I just want to make sure you feel up to it."
"I’m young, I’m healthy, it’s important to me to support my husbands and the Racketeers. Besides, once the baby is born, I probably won’t step foot out of this house for two weeks. It’s going to be January in Chicago and I’m going to be sleep deprived and learning to be a mom. The days are going to fly by. I want to see Luna and Elise tonight."
Nathan is suspiciously looking out the front window. "It looks like it’s going to snow. I don’t want you going to this game, Danielle."
"Just relax and let her go if she wants," Crew moans. "She’s having a baby, not a kidney transplant."
Exactly. "Thank you, Crew." I blow him a kiss.
"She’s twenty-five and in great shape. She could pop this baby out tonight and be back at yoga on Monday." Crew grabs his overcoat and slips it on.
That makes me laugh. "Well, that may be overestimating it just a little, sweetheart, but I appreciate your support and confidence in me."
"You can do anything," he says, simply. "I know you can. Have fun hanging out with the girls at the game. Is Cam going to be there?"
I nod. Luna’s boyfriend is almost always there with her and tonight is no exception. "I’ll see you on the ice."
Michael grabs his coat and kisses me on the top of the head as he heads to the door. "I'll be just a few rows away from you at the game. Text me if you need me."
"Of course. Bye."
Then they leave, a gust of cold wind blowing through the front door on their way out. I shiver and snuggle in next to Nathan, who has settled down on the couch beside me. "It’s freezing out there."
"We could just stay home with a roaring fire." He wraps his arm around me and draws me against his chest.
"A gas fireplace doesn’t exactly roar."
"But it’s cozy here." He squeezes me closer. "The three of you did an amazing job decorating for Christmas."
"For a man who doesn’t even like this house, you sure like being in it." Pre-Cookie & Co. Nathan was on the go all the time. Charity events, business meetings, corporate dinners, fundraising benefits—he told me he was almost never in his penthouse before midnight. These days I’m hard-pressed to get him to leave.
I get it. The house is very cozy right now. We have a beautiful live Christmas tree loaded with presents beneath it, garland running down the banister, cinnamon scented candles burning, and a classic wreath on our front door.
"The house has things I would change. But I love the people in it." Nathan runs his palm over my stomach. "I could go two weeks without leaving this house if we’re all in it."
"That’s probably going to happen sooner than later."
"Which is why we should stay home tonight, in case you go into labor."
I laugh. "No! That’s the exact reason we should go out."
"What if you start having contractions?"
"We’ll call the doctor. It takes hours before they even want us to go to the hospital. You know that."
He makes a face. "I’ll watch The Holiday with you if we can stay home."
Now I really laugh. "No, you won’t. You’ll claim you’re going to watch The Holiday and by the time Cameron Diaz is dragging her bag up the lane to Kate Winslet’s charming country cottage, you’ll be trying to have sex."
He makes a face. But he doesn’t deny it.
