“That’s okay. We can log into my account and watch it there.”
His eyebrows climbed up his forehead. “But then you’ll be logged in here.”
She shrugged her shoulders and pressed a kiss to his chest before facing the television. “Sounds like I’m planning on coming back.”
Twelve
Lacy waved at Jessie as soon as she stepped out of the Montgomery Defense building. There was something to be said for Hawk’s apartment being so centrally located to all his friends. Granted, Lily and Gunner, and Mae and Stone all lived off-site now, but it was still nice to know that Lacy and Sloane were close by with their guys.
“Hey, I’m so excited for this walk!” Lacy bounced on her toes, smiling as she zipped her jacket up. “I hope you don’t mind. Nash took Embrie to school, so I’ve got the baby.”
Jessie smiled down into the stroller, where Cami was bundled up like a little baked potato. “Of course I don’t mind. In a few months, I’ll have a little one tagging along everywhere with me, too.”
Lacy’s hand landed on Jessie’s arm. “You will?”
Jessie nodded.
“You and Hawk?” Lacy’s voice dropped to a whisper. God, why wouldn’t her voice work? Jessie just nodded again. Her sweet friend wrapped her arms around Jessie and gently bounced up and down.
“Oh, Jess! I’m so excited for you! How are you feeling? IsHawk taking good care of you? When are you due? Do you know what you’re having? Who else knows?”
Jessie laughed as Lacy took a step back, her hands resting on the stroller.
“That’s a lot of questions, but here I go. I’ve been feeling awful. Truly, I feel like people haven’t ever been honest with me about how sick someone can feel when they’re pregnant. But Hawk has been incredible. I’m almost out of the first trimester, and we don’t know yet, but I think it’s a boy, and Hawk has taken to calling us ‘his girls’, so I think we know what he’s hoping for.”
“Oh god, I remember feeling so exhausted when I was first pregnant with Cami. Thank goodness I only got sick a few times. If you ever need anything, you just shoot me a text and I can come over.”
“That’s really sweet. Thank you,” Jessie sighed. “I’m going to tell Sloane and Lily, too, but I haven’t figured out how to tell my family so we’re just keeping it quiet for now…”
They began walking towards the park. The sun was starting to really feel warm, the kind of heat that said springtime was only a few days away. Jessie couldn’t wait, but at the same time, it meant she was running out of time with keeping her pregnancy from her family.
“You don’t think they’ll take the news well? Dolly’s only told me about a million times since I started showing with Camilla that she’s ready to be a grandma.”
“I’m sure she is. But she doesn’t mean because of me. She means Colt, or Hayes, or even Lachlan. Beau and I… we have responsibilities to the family. And I don’t want to let her down. I’ve already been slacking with how sick I’ve been.”
“Does Birdie know? Is she taking care of you during the pregnancy?”
Jessie laughed again, but this time, it was void of emotion. “I’m hoping she will be my midwife. Hawk was nervous withthe idea, but she’s who I trust and I know I’ll feel so safe with her for the delivery. But she doesn’t know, yet. In fact, the reason I’m meeting her this morning is because I forgot to tell her I used her as my alibi yesterday when I was really sick and Hawk was stuck taking care of me.”
They turned the corner and Jessie spotted Birdie right away, her vivid copper hair and freckles standing out against her ivory skin. Jessie’s stomach churned the closer they got, her nerves starting to get the better of her. At least the bench she’d told Birdie to meet her at was close to the restroom.
“Hey, Birdie,” Lacy greeted their friend.
“Hey, Lacy. Oh my gosh, Cami is getting so big! This is such a happy surprise, I didn’t know you’d be joining us this morning.”
“Oh, I’m not. Well, not really. Not right now. I’m going to walk this little one around the park while you two chat. I’m desperate to move my body. But I’ll be around and we can catch up once you two are done.”
Lacy grinned at Jessie. “Good luck. Remember, it’s okay to need support and to lean on those who love you.”
“Thanks, Lace.”
“Well, that was ominous,” Birdie said. “Sit. And tell me why I’m taking care of you with the flu, but I’m not actually taking care of you and you don’t have the flu.”
Jessie blew out all the breath in her lungs. “I’m pregnant.”
Birdie’s mouth dropped open. “Oh, Jessie.”
The sadness in her voice hit Jess right in the gut. “I’m not upset about it. I mean, I was at first, but Hawk’s been so amazing and sweet.”
