Page 24 of Royal Baby Maker

I crouched, grabbing the leashes, whistling for the dogs. “Sure it is. You walk them, I walk you, and we all win.”

She's having my child.

I'd definitely won.

- Chapter Eleven -

Nellie

Our fingers were loopedtogether, strong enough to hang us from the top of a mountain. I wanted to believe we couldn't be pulled apart—that we were inseparable in the face of simple things like family politics.

I had faith in Bishop... inus.

That didn't mean I wasn't trembling as we stood in front of his mother.

“Mom,” Bishop began, giving my fingers a squeeze. “We have something to talk to you about.”

She was bent over a notebook on the back patio, her eyes flicking up once—pointedly—to take in my obviously round stomach. Four months was a long time in the world of pregnancy. I'd ridden it out with Bishop at my side, our fears and joy mingling before and after every doctor visit. I always,alwaysthought something was terribly wrong. Most of the time it was just heartburn. Or gas.

He'd endured each of my paranoid phone calls with loving patience.

One night, he came by with a DVD copy of Jaws and a pint of Chunky Monkey ice cream. It was the first time he'd visited me at my apartment.

Gigi found us sleeping on the couch the next morning. She'd given me a look, then started dropping hypotheticals like, “If you had a kid, who would the godmother be?” and “Is purple and gold an okay color scheme for a baby shower?” I didn't mind her not so subtle hints, because after that, she let Bishop sleep over any night I wanted him to.

“Mom,” he said again. That time she didn't look up.

“Miss Callehurst... please, you know what's going on. Let's talk about it.”

“Talk about what?” she muttered, texting someone on her phone, then making a note in her book. “I'm in the middle of arranging a social event, so if you'd both give me some space.”

I blinked. “Social event?”

Her eyes rolled up to mine, her voice scathing. “Aparty,dear.”

Bishop grabbed the top of the long patio couch. “Enough. No more pointless parties or arranged setups. I'm having a baby with Nell, this is happening.”

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