Page 36 of Leif
“I… still haven’t processed it. We’re having a baby?” Leif glanced at me.
I nodded.
“Way to keep up. I’m out because I don’t want to help him figure this out.” Hitch laughed, then hurried up the stairs to grab his headphones. A moment later he thundered back down and walked up to me. Giving me a hug, he pressed a kiss to my cheek. “This is exciting!” With that, he walked over and patted the still-stunned Leif on the shoulder.
“Have a good night, guys.” With that, he was gone again.
I glanced at Leif.
“We’re having a baby.”
Without a word, he slid out of his chair and scooted toward me on his knees. He pulled on me and relaxed down on my belly, pressing his cheek between my ships. I’d worn soft yoga pants all day, and he quickly moved the waistband so he could put skin on skin.
“This is the best gift anyone’s ever given me.” He sounded reverent, and I smiled.
I knew I was a lucky woman. He’d spent every moment since asking me to marry him, making sure I would never want for anything. He’d been my biggest supporter. My loudest defense. My strongest pillar to lean on. He’d been a shoulder when I needed it, my lover, my love. He’d become everything to me; my whole world.
And now we would expand our already wonderful little world a bit more with a new baby.
Things would change. Hitch was growing up; he’d eventually move out and move on. The baby would grow. We’d have happy family get-togethers. I’d collect all the holiday memories and photos.
We had our whole lives stretched out before us, and I’d treasure every moment. Not just the good ones, but the hard ones too. Because the hard ones were the ones that helped us grow.
Leif was the man I loved, and he loved me.
“I love you,” he said softly. “I love you so much.”
I loved him too. More than anything. And I wanted to respond, but my throat was so choked up I couldn’t speak. I could only sit there in silence, my fingertips running through his shoulder-length blond hair as he rested his cheek gently on my belly as if he was already whispering secrets to our unborn child.
And I was happy. Happier than I ever imagined being.
I was still a cop.
But I was also a mother.
A wife.
A badass.
With my badass best friend at my side.
And my bonus son.
My family. My loves. My life.
Everything was perfect.
