Page 77 of Reclaimed

Our attention returns to the book in Aiden’s hands. He flips the page.

“Have you felt any kicks yet? It says here by nineteen weeks you might be able to, but some women mistake them for gas.”

“How do you know I’m nineteen weeks?”

He taps his temple. “Math, starshine. I’ve been keeping count.”

I’m struck speechless by how attentive he is. It takes a moment for me to formulate a response. “I haven’t yet. At least none that I recognized as movement.”

“Week nineteen. Your baby is about the size of an heirloom tomato.” Aiden flips the book upside down on his torso and holds his hands in the air with his thumbs and index fingers forming a large circle. “About this big.”

“I sure feel like I’ve grown a lot more than that over the last five months.”

“You’re creating a new life. Your baby needs room to grow.”

“They sure do.”

Aiden crooks his elbow and tucks his left arm back behind his head. “Have you scheduled your twenty-week ultrasound?”

“It’s next Wednesday. I’ll have my visit with the doctor after.”

“Good. Are you going to find out the gender?”

“I think so. I need to know what clothes to stock up on.”

“What’s wrong with gender neutral?”

I frown. “It’s not the colors, Aiden. It’s about style. I need to know if I’m buying dresses and bows or tee shirts with little trucks on them. My baby will rock brown, green, and yellow.”

“I don’t doubt it. They’re going to rock brown, green, and yellow all over the place.” He makes a face. It takes me a minute to catch on that he’s joking about diapers, and I laugh so hard I snort.

“Ugh,” I groan, covering my eyes. “I’m not ready for that.”

Aiden turns his head on the pillow and laughs lightly. “It won’t be so bad.”

“How would you know?”

“You think I haven’t changed a few dirty diapers in my time? When Ollie was a baby, I bent his legs back to wipe his butt and he fired mustard-yellow poop across the wall like a little BB gun.”

His story makes me snort again.

“So you’re saying I can call you when I need an extra pair of hands?”

His eyes seem to flash. “Keep me on speed dial, starshine.”

Aiden tucks his bookmark back into the book and rolls over to place it on his bedside table. Just like when we were staying in my house, the two of us have been sleeping together in his bed. This is just the first night he’s left the book out after he’s read it. Seeing it on his side, clearly more than a piece of decoration, sends my stomach swooping with emotion.

The click of the lamp plunges us into darkness. Aiden’s skin against mine is warm and thrilling. I splay my palm on his chest. His heart thunders beneath my hand.

“Are you nervous?” The darkness requires a soft murmur.

Aiden quietly hums a laugh. “This is another first.”

“Because we’re naked?”

“I’ve never slept with anyone. Not in my bed. Not naked. Not just sleeping. Only with you.” The raspy confession lingers after he’s finished.

A thrill races through me. “Can I ask you a question?”

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