Page 30 of Accidentally in Love

Avery walked back into the living room wearing a pair of Christmas-themed leggings that made her ass look fantastic and a matching long-sleeved top. The shirt clung tight across her middle, showing off the bump of our baby growing inside her. She was starting to show a little more, but only if you were really paying attention. She had been wearing clothes to hide it, but tonight, I saw the evidence of the life we created together. My inner caveman beat at his chest because that was my baby.

She situated herself beside me on the futon and pulled a blanket around her legs. I put one arm around the back of the futon and laid my other hand on her stomach. I didn’t think we could feel the baby yet, but I ached for that connection with my child. Avery didn’t know how much I wanted to be a father. Sure, raising my kid brother had been hard, but I always wanted a family of my own.

“Thanks for hanging out with me tonight. Being pregnant makes me boring. I mostly sit on my ass anymore,” she said.

She put the rest of the blanket over my lap, and she pressed herself into my side. It was nice cuddling on her futon with her, but it made my heart get big, stupid ideas. It made me imagine we were an actual couple cuddling up together for a night-in.

“Tell me about this ridiculous movie you’re making me watch.”

I felt her laugh against my chest. “You really want to watch this with me?”

I rubbed my hand over her belly. “I’m here for you, and if that means watching some cheesy movie, I’ll do that for you.”

She looked up at me with that bright smile that made my chest constrict. “Really?”

I nodded.

She paused the movie before we got past the credits. “Okay, it’s like the parent trap.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“She looks like this Princess, and the Princess wants to enjoy being a normal person for a day. So they do the whole switcheroo thing.”

I groaned. “Avs, this sounds so dumb!”

She pinched my side. “Appease your baby mama, ya Grinch!”

I turned and smiled at her. “Okay, Avs, for you.”

Her face lit up with that beautiful smile again as she pressed play. When she smiled at me, I wanted nothing more than to keep it on her face. To do everything in my power to make her happy. I’d give her the world if I could.

“Why haven’t you put your tree up yet?” I asked when I noticed her apartment wasn’t decorated yet. Avery usually started her decorating the day after Thanksgiving. It was now two days after Thanksgiving, and it wasn’t like her to be behind schedule. Especially since last year, she had it up before Halloween.

She shrugged. “Eh. Incubating this baby made me too tired to do it yet. I’ll get to it.”

“I’ll help if you want.”

“Okay,” she whispered as she laid her head against my shoulder and glued her eyes to the TV.

“I’m serious. You love Christmas. Let me help you set it up.”

“Thanks, Nolan. I appreciate it. I’ve just been too tired.”

I kissed the top of her head. “I’m here for whatever you need.”

“I haven’t even started making my Christmas cookies yet.”

“What? Woman, you’re behind!”

She laughed. “I know, but I’ve been exhausted.”

We cuddled together on her shitty futon for twenty minutes before I realized she had fallen asleep.

“Avs, come on,” I whispered.

“Hmm?” she asked sleepily.

“You want to go to bed? You fell asleep.”