Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 104288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
“A real baby!” Maren says. “How awesome is that?”
Katie jumps to her feet. “Where is it? Can I hold it?”
“It’s in my tummy.” Maren takes Katie’s hand and puts it on her stomach. “Right there. The baby is very, very tiny right now, but it will grow bigger and bigger until it’s born.”
“Woooowwwww,” Katie says. “Sooooo tiny.”
Maren runs her hand over Katie’s head. “You’re such a good big sister already, being so sweet and gentle. Good job.”
“I love being a sister.” Katie leans her ear against Maren’s belly. “Shh! I can hear her!”
I’m crying. Maren is crying. Even my sister, who is always even-keeled, is wiping her eyes.
“I didn’t mean to crash y’all’s beautiful moment.” Jen goes up on her tiptoes to wrap me in a hug. “But this is just—it’s the best news, Tuck. I’m so happy for you.” Then she leans in to whisper: “I’m so happy you let them in.”
“Them?”
“Maren and the baby. Fatherhood has always been a good look on you.” She pulls back to look me in the eye. “So is love.”
“Jen.” Glancing at Maren, I blush so hard I feel it in the tips of my ears. “That’s not—I’m not—”
“Sure you’re not,” Jen says.
Maren laughs, the sound a little nervous. “I . . . didn’t hear that?”
I bite my tongue. Literally. My sister just smiles.
“You don’t hear the baby?” Katie asks, keeping her ear on Maren’s stomach. “Because I do, and she says she don’t need no candy, so can I have hers? And a mimbosa? Auntie Jen likes those.”
We all laugh. Hard. Fat, happy tears streak down Maren’s face, and I catch them with my thumb. Our eyes meet. My heart beats thickly in my chest.
Oh, God.
Jen is right, I am in love.
twenty-one
. . .
Maren
Meet the Parents
On the day Tuck and I are supposed to have dinner with my parents, I wake up particularly early, feeling particularly awful.
Not only did I sleep like shit, thanks to the pregnancy-induced insomnia that hit this week. I’m also so nauseous I can’t move my head without feeling like I’m going to puke.
I cry quietly into my pillow. Dr. Yelich did say the “morning” sickness—it lasts all day for me—would peak between seven and nine weeks. I’m right there, a few days shy of ten.
I’m not sure I’ve ever felt more ill in my life.
Tuck stirs beside me, a low, growly murmur erupting from him when he rolls over and snuggles next to me.
I burrow into his warmth, tucking up my legs so that my ass presses into the cradle of his lap.
He’s hard.
Always, always hard.
“Morning.” He kisses the back of my neck, his scruff scraping the skin there. “You’re up early.”
His hand finds my breast. He gives it a gentle squeeze, which is usually a turn-on. But today, I’m nauseous enough that I feel excruciatingly tender everywhere, and his touch hurts.
I cry out in pain. Tuck freezes. “Maren? What’s wrong?”
I let out a sob. “Tuck, I can’t move. This nausea is vicious.”
“Aw, Tiny, I’m sorry. What can I get you? The doctor said eating something helps.”
“Crackers,” I manage. “Ginger ale.”
“On it.”
His footsteps are hurried as he grabs me what I need. He’s back a second later, cracking open a can of ice-cold ginger ale before handing it to me.
I sit up and drink it, wrapping the sheet around my torso. The cold air in the room makes my nipples feel like they’re being pulled off.
I reach over to turn the light on. Tuck’s face is creased with concern.
“I hate that you’re feeling so bad.”
Nibbling on a cracker, I swallow. “This is so hard, Tuck. Feeling awful but still having to go about your day like nothing’s wrong.”
“I’ll call my parents. Ask them if they can pick up Katie today and take her for the afternoon.”
I shake my head. “You’re always calling your parents, and they’re always so wonderful. I wish—” Ugh, I’m crying again. “I want to be able to call my parents to be there for us. I feel terrible that I’ve kept this from them.”
Tuck runs a hand up my back. “Tiny, you’re doing the best you can. And we haven’t told anyone outside of my parents and Jen. Well, and Riley, which means Lu knows too.” He told Riley about the baby after our ultrasound.
“I’m dreading tonight.” I wipe my eyes with the heel of my hand. “Probably part of the reason why I didn’t sleep great. I feel like they’re going to be cool about us dating—”
“Not to brag, but I am kind of a catch.”
I give his shoulder a playful shove. “You clearly don’t need the ego boost, so I’m not going to tell you yet again that you’re a twenty-five on a scale of one to ten. No, I think they’ll be fine with our relationship. But the pregnancy?” I grimace, putting a hand on my stomach. “That might make them hate me and you.”