It was hard to believe I was twenty weeks already, and while I’d felt a fluttering feeling at times, I hadn’t felt anything like an actual kick until that moment. We stood frozen in place staring at each other for a few seconds and then there went a couple more thumps.
Paxton sucked air into his lungs, a stunned look on his face. And then he closed his eyes as if to take it all in while he kept his hand nestled on my belly. When he opened his lids, a lone tear slipped down his face and I filed that memory away to always remember.
“That was… I’m having trouble putting it into words,” he whispered. “Our baby kicked.”
He removed his hand and placed it softly on the side of my face. “Thank you for giving me this. You, the baby, and our family.”
“You gave me the same, Pax,” I said softly. “And so much more.”
After leaning toward him, I gave him a tender kiss and then pulled back. “I better get dressed or I’ll be late for the sleepover.”
Paxton’s eyes widened and his gaze roamed over my completely naked body. I’d just stepped from the shower, hadn’t even had time to grab a towel when he’d spoken for the first time and then things progressed from there. So there I stood buck naked.
My man’s blue eyes darkened and flashed with desire. The predatory look he was giving me sent goosebumps trickling all over my skin.
He snatched me around the waist and pulled me into his firm, muscled body and wetness coated the apex of my thighs with the anticipation of what was about to come.
“Oh, you’re definitely going to be late, darlin’.”
* * *
I was hopeless.
It had only been an hour at the sleepover and I was having a blast, but I still missed Pax. I’d live of course, but there was no denying that when I saw him the next morning for breakfast with everyone, I’d be over the moon.
“Girl, what’s up with that dreaming, dopey look on your face?” Teal asked me.
“Oh, I know the answer to this one,” Ruby said. “She is thinking about her man and missing the shit out of him.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head like they were both out of their minds. Holding in the smile threatening to break free was a bit hard though and before I knew it I was laughing.
“It’s silly, right?” I asked, admitting she was correct.
“Hell no, it’s not silly. Weallfeel that way,” Alley said, waving her hands at each woman in the room.
We were sitting in the living room, each of us in our pajamas, whatever they may be. We all had our favorite colors, different styles, and personalities that showed in even our pajama choices. But even while our clothes and us as individuals were vastly different, we all meshed together insanely well.
In our hands were our drinks of choice. Some had wine, some had margaritas, and then you had Gemma and me with sparkling cider due to the little ones in our bellies.
The movie“Grease”was playing on the television and we had all been singing along dramatically to each song like we were the Pink Ladies ourselves.
“When you have hotties like we do who service us like well-oiled machines, how can we not miss their fine asses when they’re away?” Alley added.
Everyone gave some form of agreement in their own way. Just then the next song in the movie came on, “Hopelessly Devoted To You.”Olivia Newton-John started belting out the lyrics and we all once again joined in and then started laughing hysterically.
When we got ourselves under control, we managed to finish the movie and all had dopey looks on our faces as Danny and Sandy flew off into the sky in the car.
“I can’t even think about a life without Braxton in it,” Jurnee said softly. “Never in a million years did I think my best friend's older brother would give me the time of day, but when we reconnected all those years later, it was meant to be. Just like every one of you and your guys.”
All the women had powerful stories about how they came together with their men and I seemed to be following in their footsteps.
Everyone had someone except the one person who didn’t come to the sleepover and in that moment my heart went out to Patience.
Looking at Ruby, I asked what was on my mind. Ruby had said Patience didn’t feel good, but I wasn’t sure that was the case. “Why didn’t Patience really come?”
Ruby sighed. “Well, I can tell you again what she said, which was that she wasn’t feeling well. But if you want my opinion, I think she is struggling with Jett gone again.”
“Poor girl,” Teal said. “The first time I picked her up to help her when we found out about her, it was obvious they had a bond and she really counted on him.”
