I zip my lips. “Your secret’s safe with me. How are you feeling? Morning sickness?”
“No. Not at all. Not even once. Nor any other symptoms.”
My jaw hangs open at how unfair that is. “Geez, I must have had morning sickness for the entire Everhope population.”
She chuckles and reviews the screen on the back of her camera again. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have rubbed that in. If it’s any consolation, I doubt I’m going to be a unicorn like you who I think I literally saw doing the splits the other day, despite being ready to birth a child.”
To be honest, that makes me proud. “Well, we’ll see how I do if the baby decides to go off script during labor or I decide an epidural is more my thing. I have no illusions. No matter how I prepare, the baby will come into the world the way it needs to.” I affectionately drop my eyes to my stomach.
“That’s a good mindset. Still have no clue if it’s a boy or girl?”
“Nah. Carter isn’t budging and even plays games with me. One moment he has me thinking it’s a girl and the next a boy. It’s fun.”
“No offence, but there is no effing way that any sane couple can do this. Points to you guys. Anyhow, how does it feel to be the girlfriend of Mr. High Powerful Mayor?”
I laugh. “Well, he isn’t yet. He’ll take office after the baby is born and the deputy sheriff can take on his new promotion. I’m thankful that it’s Everhope. I doubt Carter will be called at two in the morning to take part in political espionage or something like that.”
“I hope not,” she agrees.
He’s happy. I can see it every time he talks about his new position. Quite frankly, I’m excited to be on the ride with him.
A knock on the doorframe causes our eyes to fly to find Carter.
“Sorry to interrupt.” His head cocks to the side as he gives me the once-over. “Actually, not really, but I heard you were here and thought I would stop by.”
“I really need to lock the front door more often.” Esme smirks to herself.
Carter takes a few steps into the room, and his eyes remain pinned on me. Our eyes both have a dreaminess that hasn’t left for days.
“It’s okay. We’re pretty much finished, right?” I turn and ask Esme.
She raises her camera in her hand. “Yes, but since the father-to-be is here. Why don’t I get a few photos of you two.” Carter and I glance to one another with lines on our faces. “Geez, you two have your mind in the gutter. Not those kind of photos on the bed. I mean, go stand by the window, facing one another and place your hands on the belly kind of photos.”
Carter doesn’t need to hear another word and is already halfway to the window when I try to control the little smile that stings my lips.
Once in position, Esme continues to direct. A touch here. Eyes there. One kiss. Another.
“Rosie, these are going on the living room wall, right?” He has a devilish grin.
“Sure. Your mom, dad, brother, my parents, all want to see me half naked on the wall.”
He slings his arm around me and pulls me into a squeezing hug and kisses my forehead. “Who the fuck cares. We don’t exactly do conventional.”
“Well, that’s true.”
“Totally do it,” Esme comments from the sidelines.
My eyes float to Carter’s, and today his eyes are the view that touches me differently. More profound. Pokes my heart then carves a feeling that will never be erased.
Esme begins to put her camera away. “I think I have plenty of photos. I’ll send you a few unedited ones later today.”
“Perfect,” I chirp.
I’m about to step away, but Carter grabs my wrist to rein me back in. “You look beautiful, you know that, right?”
It’s probably because my thoughts of him lately have cemented me to an answer that I feel is coming.
Tucking a few strands of hair behind my ear, I can’t help but blush. “You need to stop saying that.”
