Hawk groaned, an ache spreading in his chest. He didn’t want to be missing those fucking precious moments with his family. And that’s what they were. Whether Jessie ever wanted to admit it or not. She would always be his family.
I can’t believe I’m missing this. Please move in with me. I’ll get on my knees and beg if I need to.
We’ve already been over this.
I’m missing out on everything. I don’t just want stolen moments with you two. I want every moment.
I’m trying. I promise. It would be so easy to say yes, Chief. But I just need to know that we’re taking that step for the right reasons.
He got it. Really, truly he did. It still fucking sucked.
*Sends picture of belly, pointing to the side, near her hip.*
This is where I felt him. Do you think it’s real? Maybe it’s just a muscle spasm or something weird.
I trust your intuition. If you think it’s the baby, I think it is too. Besides, we know Bee is already so strong.
He really is. But it’s still early. Dawn told me she felt her babies move around now, but that a lot of first-time moms can’t yet. It’s probably wishful thinking.
This is killing me. Take a video of your belly so I can see. Please?
There’s nothing to see except the little bump.
That’s exactly what I want to see. Point again to the spot where you felt it so I can watch it whenever I want.
He held his breath waiting for the next message to come through. And finally, it did. A video, dark background, with her belly illuminated from her phone’s flash. It was starting to get a little curve to it, and that made Hawk’s heart squish in his chest. His baby was right there. And he was fucking missing out on everything.
Move in with me. Full time. No more of this sneaking back and forth. Please, Jess. It’s more than the fact that you're pregnant with our baby. These moments are the foundation for our family. And I can’t imagine missing out on more of them.
Can we talk about it in the morning?
Yes! I’ll bring doughnuts with me to the shop!
Trying to bribe me?
I’d find a way to capture a shooting star and pull it down to Earth if I thought that would be the way to show you how much I want things between us to work out.
I don’t need a shooting star. But I won’t say no to a chocolate glazed doughnut with chocolate sprinkles.
Oh. The baby wants a glazed sour cream one, too.
Noted. See you and the bump bright and early.
Goodnight, Chief.
Goodnight, Pretty Girl.
Selecting this option will remove you from all classes marked ‘currently enrolled’. A ‘W’ for withdrawal will be on your academic transcript for each class. Are you sure you’d like to proceed with your selection?
God, no. She wasn’t sure. But Jessie knew she was spread too thin. As much as the nausea band had been helpful over the last few weeks, the exhaustion of trying to juggle a million things was starting to override the magic of that little piece of technology. She hadn’t even had the energy to spend time with Hawk lately, aside from accepting rides home after her shift. Something had to give, and college classes were going to be the first to go.
“Hey, what time did you get in this morning? I thought I was going to be the only one here this early.” Dakotatapped on the door frame to the office. Jessie hit ‘submit’ before she rubbed at the tightness in her temples. The churning in her stomach had been growing all morning. “You good? You look really pale and somehow green at the same time.”
She waved her hand in front of her face. “I’m fine. Probably just coming down with whatever Lach had last week. It’d honestly be just my luck.”
“You gotta take elderberry. You know my ma swears by it.”
Jessie smiled. “I remember. I’ll have to go say hi to her one of these days and see if I can sweet talk her into giving me a bottle of syrup.”
