“Lala,” she babbled.
“Are you on your way?” I asked.
“Yeah, baby. Want me to pick up food?”
“Yes, please.”
“Tacos?”
I grinned. “You read my mind.”
“Okay, see you soon.”
“Thanks, honey.”
I hung up and carried Reagan into the family room, setting her in her baby bouncer and pouring some Cheerios on the little tray. She grabbed a handful and shoved them into her mouth, gumming them with vigor.
I took advantage of her moment of distraction and loaded the dishwasher, closing it just as I heard the beep of the alarm.
“Hey, baby, it’s me,” Aero called out.
Another four beeps resetting the alarm, and Aero was strolling into the kitchen, a large paper bag in his hand.
“Extra chips?” I asked, hopefully.
“Is this my first rodeo?” he retorted, setting the bag on the island.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and kissed his neck. “Love you best.”
“I’m aware,” he said, kissing me gently, then making a beeline for Reagan.
She squealed, raising her hands, and bouncing excitedly. He leaned down and lifted her out of the seat, blowing a raspberry on her neck while I pulled the food out of the bag.
“She’s totally in love with you,” I observed.
“The feeling’s mutual,” he said, chuckling as Reagan grabbed his beard in her fists and tried to yank it into her mouth. He met my eyes. “I want one.”
“You want what?”
“A kid,” he said.
I set his tacos on a plate and slid it toward him. “Now?”
“If not now, then soon. Yeah.”
A lot had changed since Aero had earned his patch. I’d graduated with honors, gotten hired on full time with the zoo, and was making decent money. Aero was working with Rocky at the shop, not to mention he received a percentage of the cannabis business, we’d be in a good place financially... soon. We just needed a little time to find our place in the world.
“I’ve been in my job for less than a year, honey. I don’t feel comfortable getting knocked up and taking maternity leave yet.”
“I get it,” he said. “But what about in a year?”
“From now, or a year at my job?”
“Either.”
I smiled. “A year from now I could do.”
He held his pinky up and I wrapped mine around it.
