GlitterDoctor: an actual doctor
Damien cackled, earning him a dirty look from both Matthew and Emily, who were snuggled up together and looking adorable while they watched an episode ofDance Cats.
“Sorry.” Damien waved his phone. “Talking to my friends.”
Emily muttered something spiteful about indoor voices, but didn’t otherwise complain.
KnotMyProblem: Anatomical disagreements aside, do you guys want to come to the housewarming party? It’ll be April 27
Gwynning: So close to Matthew’s due date?
KnotMyProblem: Yep. Two weeks before he’s due. It was as soon as we could comfortably schedule it. We’ll be moving in just five days before that. I’m paying to have the movers unpack for us, so there won’t be much unboxing to worry about, but we’ll have our hands full getting Emily settled, checking in with Matthew’s Aurora-based obstetrician, getting utilities switched over, finding time to do groceries…
KnotMyProblem: You can probably tell I’ve been giving this a lot of thought
TeenDad2: I’ll be there, Knot!
GlitterDoctor: Me too
xVerity: As will I.
LoveHarley: I think ill be able to fly in but ill need to get back to you
Gwynning: And of course you know I’ll be there
KnotMyProblem: Sweet! Sounds like a party
KnotMyProblem: I’ll see you guys then
47
Matthew
The house on Evergreen was a thing of beauty not because of its charming masonry, its pruned front gardens, or its adorable gable roof and dormers, but because it was theirs. From the first time they’d flown to Aurora to view it, Matthew had been in love. While Damien had made a fuss about the backsplash tile in the kitchen, the types of sinks in the bathrooms, and the color of the accent wall in the master bedroom, Matthew saw past its small cosmetic imperfections. Within its walls he envisioned a home.
The thought returned to him now as they approached the house from down the street. Five days had passed since they’d moved in, but Matthew had already settled. It hadn’t taken him any time at all to adjust to their huge new kitchen or their comfortable den. Matthew adored their bedroom, and he loved that Emily had a room to call her own as well, but most of all, he loved the nursery he and Damien had set up together. It’d been painted in neutral shades— creamy whites and dreamy grays that reminded Matthew of Damien’s eyes—and was accented by mint and gray-blue throws and pillows. The crib, a beautiful wooden construct stained black, was pushed against the left-hand wall, while a small dresser and changing table filled the space to the right. To make sure that both of them were comfortable on nights when the baby decided that sleep was optional, Damien had placed a double-wide armchair beneath the room’s sunny window. Matthew could hardly wait for the day when he sat in that chair and held their child while sunlight drenched them both.
Lost in thought, he rested his head against the window and closed his eyes. They were seconds away from arriving at the house, but Matthew’s eyelids refused to stay open. The darkness he found there wobbled like the world itself was folding in two.
Weird.
Pregnancy was weird.
With Emily everything had been so easy, but that wasn’t the case with this baby.
Matthew should have known to expect it from Damien’s child.
As brains close to sleep were wont to do, Matthew’s mind took the thought of Damien and teased it out in vague, loosely connected ways. An impish smirk, a kiss that left Matthew boneless, and the memory of their New York bedroom swirled in his head until they’d all blended into one. It should have been a good dream, but there was an underlying itch of discomfort that wouldn’t leave Matthew alone.
He whimpered aloud, stirring himself from his partial slumber. God, did he feel disoriented. Dr. Triassi had mentioned that it could be a symptom of hyperemesis gravidarum—his extreme morning sickness—and that if it persisted for longer than a day or two, it was worth a doctor’s visit.
For now, Matthew wouldn’t worry about it. Today was Damien’s highly anticipated Single Dad Housewarming Party… Ring and Matthew wasn’t going to be the buzzkill who called it off because his head felt like it was orchestrating space and time and doing a shoddy job of it. All he needed was a nap and he’d be good to go.
The front tires rolled over the lip of the driveway. The car jostled as they did, causing Matthew to bump the side of his head against the window. He winced.
“Are you doing okay, baby boy?” Damien asked. The car crept up the driveway and rolled into their open garage. When it was parked, Damien slipped his hand onto Matthew’s thigh and squeezed it gently. “Do you need another ginger candy?”
“I will literally barf all over our new car if you bring up ginger one more time.” It was a particularly cruel joke that life had made ginger so good at cutting nausea, but so absolutely disgusting according to Matthew’s new life manager, the baby.
