“Timeless. I like that idea.”
After making sure we have my next appointment scheduled, we walk to his truck and just like every time since my twelve-week appointment, we go to the grocery store and get the items on our lists.
As we’re walking through the store, this time sharing a cart, I glance over at Nik, watching him without him knowing.
The way he described the name that we will choose for our baby… he’s been thinking about it. I knew this already, in fact, I knew already that he thinks about us quite often. It’s obvious he thinks about more than just the baby’s name, though.
It’s not hard to see that he’s protective of us both. The way he came storming into the house today wasn’t because he was being rude. It was because he was worried. My door was unlocked and I wasn’t answering. Of course, he would wonder what was going on.
He doesn’t blink at making sure I have everything I need, and it doesn’t end with groceries and car washes. He looks online with me at houses my real estate agent sends me even though none of them are very interesting, researches what the best car seat and crib are so I don’t have to. He schedules pregnancy massages and pedicures for me on my day off just so I have time to relax.
The list is long and makes me feel unworthy of this wonderful man.
Grace had asked me if I thought Nik would stay around if the baby wasn’t a factor.
At the time, I told her that we were still exploring what we are and it was too new to answer a question like that.
As much as the question annoyed me at the time, I would welcome it now.
Because I know he would still be with me. What Nik and I have, what we’re building, is more than just two people having a baby together. It’s deeper and stronger.
“Ready to tell me its name yet?”
“Huh?”
Nik wiggles his eyebrows and all those loving thoughts of how sweet and generous he is get muddled by him being a little shit.
“Are you for real right now?” I whisper shout, looking around.
“You really think anyone here is going to know what you’re talking about if you just tell me a name?”
“Well, no, but... are you ever going to drop it?”
“No.”
He tosses some Wheat Thins in the cart, looks closer at them, places them back on the shelf and grabs the sun-dried tomato flavored crackers instead. “These are the ones you like, yeah?” he asks when he notices me watching him.
I nod and he pushes the cart forward, stopping for a container of vanilla wafer cookies. They’re disgusting and I love them. I eat two every day. Okay, that’s a lie. I eat more than two but I can’t help it. I’m craving those flavorless crumbly cookies that hold zero nutritional value. And Nik doesn’t mind one bit.
“Want me to grill a bunch of chicken tonight? We can use it this week for lunches, then.”
Again, I nod. My voice box got stolen right along with my heart.
Darn Nik and his swoony ways.
How dare he make me fall for him.
“Jamie,” I blurt out.
“No shit? Well, that makes sense,” he says, laughing. The fact that he caught on to me saying a name and knew what I was referencing, and who it is named after, makes me smile.
“I’m a wee bit obsessed,” I say, trying to feign a Scottish accent.
He bursts out laughing and stops the cart in the middle of the cheese aisle. Mmm. Cheese. “Yeah. That didn’t work. Listen,” he says, “I’m a wee bit obsessed.” His accent is spot on. I’m actually surprised he’s not from Scotland for as perfect as his accent sounds.
“Holy shit.” I think I just had an orgasm right next to the smoked gouda.
“It’s all in the tongue.”
“Of course it is,” I agree. “Say something else.”
He rolls his eyes. “You’re ridiculous,” he says, pulling me in and kissing my forehead. “I dinnae want to wait for our wee barra to arrive,” he says. He’s full-on Scottish. With the exception of a few English words thrown in, too.
“Wowza.”
“You like that, did ya?” He grabs three blocks of cheese and dumps them into the shopping cart.
“Just a tad, yeah. You’ve been holding out on me.”
“Like to keep a bit of mystery about me. Don’t want to lay it all out there. Where’s the fun in that?”
I wrap my arms around his waist and give him a squeeze. He kisses me on top of the head and all I can think is that I can’t wait to keep finding out more of the mysteries that make up Nik Warner.
Chapter Seventeen
Ashley - Seven Months Along
“I’ll call you when I’m on my way home, okay?”
“Sounds good,” Nik replies. “Just be safe and have fun.”
“With my sisters?”
“Okay, try to have fun. Who knows, maybe they’ll be less bitchy about you being pregnant this time. I don’t like it that y’all are on the outs with each other. It isn’t right. You’re family.”
I hate bringing this on him. He has one sister and that’s it. Not much for extended family and with their parents gone, they’ve relied so much on each other. I always feel guilty when I complain about my sisters or parents but he always says not to hide it. He wants me to be able to complain to him rather than holding it in. It’s just that lately, I feel like that’s all I do. Complain, complain, complain.
My back aches.
I’m not sleeping at night.
I have to pee every five minutes.
I feel ugly.
Money is tight because I’m trying to save to buy a house. That complaint really gets under his skin because he’s made it clear that he’s more than willing to pay for anything the baby or I need. But, he’s not the only one responsible and I like that we’re partners in it.
And all the family stuff I whine about. My parents telling me I needed to move home so I have their help, then reminding me that I’m not married so I better not even think about moving in with Nik because it wouldn’t send the right message to the baby. What even is that? Are we living in the 1950s or what? Honestly. I laughed in their face for that one, but the sting settled in and festered into irritation. They don’t want to tell my grandparents because they’re afraid they’ll be disappointed. Again, are we in the 50s?
No way was I going to hide the pregnancy from my grandparents like a dirty little secret so I called them and told them myself. I didn’t leave out any details. Okay, maybe a couple because there are some things grandparents just don’t want to know about their granddaughters. But, they know that Nik and I were strangers but have since become close. They were a little surprised initially but they brushed it off and are happy for me. My grandma is making the baby a quilt. My grandpa asked if he could build him a crib. It’s safe to say they’re supportive.
It’s my parents and sisters that have been making me mad on a daily basis.
In an effort to move past their snide comments and judgment, I agreed to have dinner with my sisters tonight. I’d much rather be sitting at home watching Netflix or hanging out with Nik.
“I know, I know. They just make me so upset lately.”