“I wanna have this baby,” she said quietly. “With you.”
Xander released his breath as if he’d been holding it for weeks, for as long as it’s been since they last spoke.
He pulled her to him a breath later, wrapping his arms tightly around her and lifting her up off her feet to spin her around the open space in the kitchen.
Rylee squealed and laughed so hard, her voice echoed around them.
The moment Xander put her down on her feet, he pumped his fist in the air then covered his huge smile with it before shouting, “Aye, y’all! Rylee and I are having a baby.”
The firehouse didn’t miss a beat with their response. Voices erupted into cheering and clapping. A bell was ringing shortly after.
Rylee laughed to herself as she fisted his shirt to pull him close.
On cue, he lowered his lips to hers, wrapping his arms around her once more, holding her tight against him, and Rylee couldn’t imagine a safer place on the planet.
A few of the firefighters made their way up to where they were, giving Xander pounds and pats on the back while pulling Rylee into soft hugs—some of them pressing hands to her stomach, excited, smiling, and making her feel like she’d just hit the jackpot.
Once the excitement settled, a lot of the guys gathered around the fried chicken, plating their lunch. Xander pulled Rylee to one side of the kitchen and away from the hungry firefighters.
“We’re having a baby,” he whispered on her lips, eyes closed, so very much not caring who saw him be so soft in that moment.
She smiled big, sniffing back her tears. “Yes, we are.”
Hours later, in Rylee’s bed, sometime after midnight, Xander and Rylee lounged together.
Rylee was on her back, head propped up on her pillows as Xander lay between her thighs, his lips showering kisses against her stomach.
One of the other firefighters insisted he switch shifts with Xander to free him up to celebrate and spend time with Rylee.
Of course Xander didn’t pass up the offer. With anything else, he would have. But that day,thatnight, was definitely the exception.
The kids were asleep in their beds, Rylee’s bedroom door closed. Xander had been volleying between kissing her stomach and pressing his ear to it every few beats.
Rylee giggled at him, at how excited he was.
It was beautiful.
Xander made his way up to the pillow beside her, immediately wrapping his big arm around her and pulling her to him.
Rylee closed her eyes, snuggled up beside him, loving the feel of his arms around her. Absolutely loving the moment.
In that position, Xander was back to stroking her belly, and all Rylee could do was smile.
If he was like this already, how would he be once she started showing?
Likely, absolutely beside himself.
As his long fingers moved along the landscape of Rylee’s stomach, she could feel the awe and reverence in his touch already.
It was everything to her.
“You still scared?” he asked behind her, his fingers still moving softly against her.
“Terrified.” She smiled. “But in the best way. And not of you, or this.”
Xander moved in closer, lifting high enough to kiss her temple, then her cheek. “I’m a little scared too. I can’t even lie… but thankfully, neither one of us has to do this alone, right?”
Rylee nodded. “Right.”
