Page 108 of The Proposal

Me: I’m still able to have sex with my wife while she’s pregnant, right?

Alexander: No! You have to abstain for the entire duration of the pregnancy.

Me: Abstain … bullshit.

Alexander: True story, little brother.

Me: Fuck!

Me: Is that why I haven’t heard that creepy Leo the Lion roar of yours since I’ve been here?

Alexander: Fuck off. Stop being a dick.

Me: If I have to abstain for the next nine months, I won’t even have a dick by the end. It’s going to shrivel up and fall off. Chloe’s been pregnant for months. I bet your balls are blue … or are they already dead?

Alexander: Stop talking about my balls. It’s creepy and weird. GO TO BED!

I’m about to put my phone down, feeling completely deflated, when my phone dings again. I glance down at the screen and see a message from Chloe.

Little Sis: Your brother is lying. You DO NOT have to abstain. Just take it easy on her; I know what you Mancini men are like.

Me: I doubt your husband even compares, Chlo. You had your chance to upgrade before you married him, but alas, you chose the inferior of the two. You snooze, you lose, pretty girl.

Alexander: If you don’t stop flirting with my wife, you won’t even be around to see the birth of your child.

My shoulders bob with laughter. Revving my brother up is still one of my favourite things to do.

I reply to Alexander’s message first before asking Chloe another question. At least I’ll get a sensible reply from her.

Me: Oooo, I’m shaking in my boots.

Me: One more question, Chlo. When you say take it easy, what do you mean? Is it possible I could harm the baby?

Little Sis: This is Alex. I’ve commandeered Chloe’s phone. I warned you.

Me: I wasn’t flirting. That was a serious question.

Little Sis: Unfortunately, I’m forced to take it easy with my wife. I don’t want to risk my child being born with dents in his or her head … if you get my drift. You won’t have that issue, so don’t fret, little brother.

Me: Fuck you!

I should’ve just asked Google.

Last night, when my wife finally exited the bathroom, I made her come with my mouth. Despite her wanting to take things further, I relented and just held her tightly as she fell into a deep sleep.

Unfortunately, rest didn’t come easily for me. I lay there thinking about everything I have to do when we return to Griffith, like double, triple, or maybe even quadruple her security detail.

I can’t begin to fathom how I’d cope if she were taken from me like Mamma was taken from Papa. It gives me a whole new understanding of what he must’ve gone through.

I’m currently lying on my back, staring up at the ceiling as Arabella sleeps peacefully in my arms. I pull her a little closer as I lift my head off the pillow and plant a soft kiss on the top of her head.

“Morning,” she murmurs into my chest.

“Morning,Bellezza,”I reply, softly stroking my hand over her hair. “How are you feeling?”

She lifts her head off my chest to make eye contact. “Good. Are you okay?”

I adore her sleepy morning look.I love everything about her.And she knows it now because I finally got my shit together and told her how I feel. It didn’t go unnoticed that she didn’t say it back. Hopefully, one day, she will.

---