“Is that?”I begin before stopping as I feel it again.
“Yeah, Matt.That’s our baby,” she says, her voice almost a whisper as I kneel down in front of her and press a kiss against her stomach.
“Hey, Little One.This is your Daddy.I don’t know if you can hear me, but I love you more than you know already.I can’t wait to meet you and watch you grow and learn every single day,” I say, keeping my mouth close to Peyton’s stomach as I watch her stomach while moving my hands along her soft skin.
Looking up again, I see more tears falling from Peyton’s eyes.I quickly get off my knees and pull her into my arms.This whole pregnancy thing is kind of weird.I mean, she’s growing a human inside her and it’s causing her to cry at the simplest gestures.She’s been craving ice cream and fruit, once in a while a burger in the middle of the night I’ve gone out to get her, and her entire body is changing as I step back again and take in every single detail of her body once again.
“Get dressed while I go check on the kids.If you need me, just call out and I’ll be right back in,” I tell her, placing a kiss on her forehead before pulling myself away from her and turning to walk away before I take her to bed.
Walking into the living room, I find Cedric and Caydence sitting on the floor watching the movie I put on for them while Peyton was in the shower to get ready for the day.Cedric barely glances in my direction while Caydence stands up and toddles over to me.She just turned two years old and Cedric is four, almost five.Sitting on the couch, I wait for Peyton’s daughter to make up her mind about me.She’s been working on getting closer and closer to me a little throughout each day.I’m taking her cues and waiting for her to make her mind up one way or the other if she trusts me.It seems like right now is the time she takes that final step.
Caydence climbs up in my lap with my help and rests back against my chest.I watch as she puts her thumb in her mouth and grabs part of my tee-shirt with the other hand.Reaching to the side of us, I grab her blankie and cover her little body up.Caydence still doesn’t let go of my shirt and I don’t mind.It only takes Cedric a few minutes to join us on the couch as he sits right next to me.I don’t speak or move as the kids finally show their trust in me.This is a huge moment and I won’t take a second of it for granted.I’m still new to the kids and Peyton has told me they’re shy.If I’ve won them over this soon, I know I must be doing something right.
***
Sitting around thetable in the kitchen, I take in everyone surrounding me.Peyton sits directly on my right with Cedric on my left and Caydence in a highchair next to Peyton.Her sister, Jennifer, and her husband, Kent, sit across from us.Brent, Jennifer and Kent’s son, sits across from Cedric.Peyton’s parents each sit at the end of the table.We’ve had nonstop laughter as stories are shared about Peyton growing up.Now, I can see their attention turning to me.
“So, Matt, what is it you do these days?”Jennifer asks me, a smile on her face as she looks at me with innocent eyes.
“I’m the manager of Down n’ Dirty,” I answer them honestly, not ashamed of my job.“Plus I’m the Vice President of the Dirty Slayers MC.I’ve been a member since I graduated high school.When I’m needed in other jobs, I fill in no matter what.The only place I don’t work is Slayer’s Pit.It’s the strip club the MC owns.I used to fill in there when Tease needed me, but I refuse to step foot in the buildin’ knowin’ Peyton wouldn’t like me in there.”
“Really?”she asks me, turning and leaving her fork hanging mid-air in shock.“You won’t work there because of me?”
“I’m not ever gonna put myself in a position where you have to question my loyalty.When it comes to you and the kids, I’m all in and this is where I want to be,” I tell her, forgetting about everyone else around us.
“Thank you, Matt.That means a lot to me,” she responds, leaning in for a brief kiss.
“Matt, I know Peyton tutored you in school.I could never figure out why you needed her help.You weren’t the top student in your class, but you were in the top five.I paid attention to all of that.Why did you need help with the grades you got?”Jennifer pushes and I guess it’s time for me to be honest with my girl.
“I’ve had a crush on Peyton for as long as I can remember.The first day of her freshman year probably.She stood out because she never cared about fittin’ in with everyone else and only wanted to be true to herself.She always had a book in her hands and was readin’ every second class wasn’t in session.The only way I could get close to her was to get her as my tutor.So, I pretended I needed the extra help so I could spend time with her every week,” I tell everyone in the room with us but never take my eyes off Peyton where she remains sitting speechless.
“That’s really sweet, Matt.Did you know about this plan, Peyton?”Mrs.Mills asks her daughter.
“No, I didn’t.I didn’t really pay attention to rankings unless it was where I was among my own class,” she says, her voice small as her neck and face turn a lovely shade of pink.
Yeah, my girl blushes at times and I find it adorable and sexy depending on the situation.
“I did whatever it took for me to spend time with her.Even if I knew I wouldn’t say anythin’ about my crush.Your daughter has always been way too good for me.Now, I’m a selfish man and Peyton has agreed to be mine.I’m not lettin’ her go for any reason,” I state, my voice loud and full of intention as I turn to face her dad.
Mr.Mills smiles at me and I can see the approval in his eyes as he nods his head once in response to my declaration.I’ve never wanted anyone’s approval so bad in my life.Today, I want the approval of every single person around this table because they have the power to make or break my relationship with Peyton and the kids.I have no problem spending time with them because they’re great people either.If Peyton’s family treated her like shit, this would be going a lot differently today.No one will disrespect my woman or kids.All I’ve seen today is nothing but love and jokes that clearly show affection between family members.
We finish our meal and spend a little more time with her family before heading back to Peyton’s house.I want her and the kids in my space, but refuse to push it before she’s ready.I promised her this relationship would move at her pace and I won’t go back on my word to her.That’s not who I am as a man.My word means everything to me and without it, I’m nothing.
By the time we get back to the house, the kids are practically asleep after a day filled with family and running around with Brent.Peyton and I put them to bed together after washing them quickly and changing them into their pajamas.Once they’re asleep, we head out to the couch and sit watching a movie together.It doesn’t take long for Peyton to fall asleep in my arms and I don’t move because this is exactly where I want her to be.My girl is exhausted and doing way more than she should.If I could talk her into quitting her job, or even cutting back her hours, I would in a heartbeat.That’s not something she’ll accept though.Peyton knows when she has to cut back and put herself and our baby first.For now, I’ll follow her lead and take our relationship day by day.
