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Have I had nine months to prepare myself for this? Sure.
Does that mean I’m ready? Hell to the fucking no.
They both look at me.
I pull my fingers out of my ears and dig the toe of my sandal into the porch. “Can we not talk about this right now? I’m trying to enjoy my Halloween.”
“I know, but baby, denial isn’t going to stop this from happening,” Sumner says, crouching down beside me and forcing me to look at him.
“Well, there are approximately nine thousand more children swarming the sidewalk who need candy. So maybe let’s focus on that for a little while and we can revisit this later, okay?”
He watches me with a wrinkle between his eyebrows before slowly nodding. “Okay. But the second something changes, you need to tell me. And if I think you’re hiding it from me, I’m going to pick you up, put you in my truck, and drive your ass to the hospital even if you kick and scream the whole way. We clear?”
I shiver because damn I love it when he gets bossy. “Fine.”
Colston grabs a handful of candy from the second bowl and shoves it into the pillowcase of a kid dressed as a zombie, narrowly avoiding getting hit with a plastic scythe by the kid's little brother. The foot traffic hasn't slowed down at all; if anything, the swarms are getting thicker.
“We have enough candy to survive until Easter,” Sumner says, looking back at me from where he's still crouched beside my chair. “You don't need to stay out here. Let’s go inside and we’ll leave a bowl out and let them have a free-for-all.”
This contraction steals the air out of my lungs significantly faster than the last one did.
Sumner rubs my shoulders and gives them a gentle squeeze. "Inside. Now."
"But I want to hand out candy. Look at all the cute costumes," I say, gesturing at the sidewalk.
"Goldie."
"I'm not going inside until the bowl is empty."
His mouth tightens.
I know that look. It’s the one he gets right before his protective instincts take over and he stops pretending to be civilized. He reverts back to his caveman instincts, and to be honest, I’m here for it. Anyone else trying to boss me around would get their head bitten off, but with Sumner... I kind of love it. Especially right now.
Deep down, I know I’m being ridiculous. I’m just trying to delay the terrifying, undeniable reality of what's about to happen. Having him step in and take charge is probably what I need.
"We’re going in," he says, his tone leaving zero room for argument.
Before I can protest, he reaches down, snatches the giant plastic bowl right out of my lap, and dumps the entire remaining contents into the pillowcase of a very bewildered pirate standing on the top step.
"Happy Halloween," Sumner tells the kid, tossing the empty bowl onto the porch table. "We're closed."
I glare at him until the contraction finally eases up enough for me to catch my breath. Then I plant both hands on the arms of the chair.
"Fine. But if this is nothing, I’m coming back out."
Sumner steps closer, holding out a hand to help me up. "Okay."
"You don't sound like you believe me," I mutter, grabbing his hand.
"I don't. I think we’re having a baby tonight.”
I narrow my eyes at him as I push myself upright.
There’s a strange, distinct little pop somewhere low inside my pelvis.
I freeze.
Sumner immediately senses the shift and looks me over. “What?”
