I chew on my lip. “I can’t decide. Maybe Nash would like to have a say?”
Nik groans, dashing his hand over his eyes. “Unless you want our son to be named after a ninja turtle, I’d suggest keeping Nash far away from any baby-naming.”
Later, at dinner, I tentatively broach the subject with Nash despite Nik’s concern. He looks up at me, his mouth dropping open in excitement. “I can name him?”
“We-e-ll,” I say. Belatedly, nerves hit me at the thought of my son being named after a large green TV character with a penchant for bandanas and sewers. Luc smothers his laugh with a cough when I glare at him. “Why don’t you come up with a name that you like and we can see if it fits?”
Nash nods determinedly, and I send a brief prayer skywards that I don’t end up with a son called Donatello. He’s silent all through the rest of dinner, and I even manage to finish a small second helping of chicken and rice. Luc scoops it onto my plate, his eyes gleaming, and I nearly choke when he leans down and purrs into my ear. “Such a good girl.”
Oooh. I wonder if my face is as scarlet as it feels. And if we might be able to repeat some of the fun from the kitchen in bed tonight.
Nash climbs over Bastien and snuggles into my side as we settle on the couches after dinner, Max and Luc arguing good-naturedly over a games console as Leah demands a film. “Ava?” he whispers. “I thought of a name.”
“You did?” I say with surprise, giving him a big grin. “What is it?”
He stretches up, putting his little face close to mine, so close that I can see the flecks in his eye color. “Are you ready?” he asks seriously, and I bite my lip, not wanting to laugh. “I am.”
Leaning in close to my ear, he whispers the name. My eyes round with surprise, and he pulls back to grin at me. “Did I do good? Does it fit?”
We’ve got everyone’s attention now, the pack and Leah watching my face. I’m careful to school my reaction as I look around with wide eyes, and back to Nash.
“I think,” I say, drawing the words out. “That it’s a brilliant name, Nash.”
“Well?” Luc demands impatiently. “What is it?”
I ruffle Nash’s hair. “Tell them, sweetheart.”
He bounces to his feet excitedly, settling his hands on his hips. “Leo Grey,” he announces.
Leo Grey. Emery Grey.
Leo and Emery.
Bastien throws his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. “Best names ever,” he breathes into my hair, and I have to agree with him.
ChapterSixty
Ava
My feet shift from side to side as I stretch to massage my lower back, hoping to ease the aching. A pair of hands replace my fingers, and Luc’s voice rumbles in my ear. “You’re hurting.”
Shaking my head, I look up at him with a small smile. “I’m fine. I’m just feeling it a little more now.”
Luc watches my face with a crease between his brows. “Ava,” he hesitates. “We can still wait and do this afterwards.”
After I’ve given birth to the two giant-size babies currently kicking each other in my stomach.
“No.” My voice is firm, not wanting to hash out the argument again. “We can’t wait any longer, Luc. It’s been two weeks since Christian’s video, and if we don’t do it now, we’ll lose the momentum.”
“I still don’t like it,” he groans.
You and me both.
Turning, I look around at the hive of activity around us. Bastien is setting up his gear, Max and Nikolai helping him as we wait for the Winter pack to arrive. Lifting my finger, I chew on my thumbnail nervously. “When did we last hear from them?”
“Yesterday.” Luc hits a particularly sore spot on my back, and I can’t stop my groan from slipping out. He pauses, and I push myself into him. “Don’t stop. It feels amazing.”
He resumes his massage, and I tilt into him a little. “I hope they’re okay.”
