I glance up at him and the bright grin pulling at hischeeks. “Oh, you mean the most successful superhero franchise of the last twenty years? I might have caught a few.”
He tilts his head back as he chuckles. “I was given the suit as a wrap gift.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “I can try it on for you if you like.”
I laugh. “You can try it on, but the lycra didn’t really do it for me.”
“You didn’t like my lycra?” he asks in mock horror. “What about the bulge that they had to fix in post?”
I snort, imagining the poor VFX person who would have spent hours minimizing Jackson’s sizable bulge so as to not scar any kids for life.
“All I’m saying is you need to be careful.” I press my hand against my bump underneath my jacket. Smudge has been much more active since Jackson felt her for the first time. She’s really making herself known. It’s been really hard to not call the baby ‘she’ before our gender scan but Jackson’s unwavering certainty is contagious. It doesn’t matter to me either way. I wouldn’t mind a mini-Jackson.
Jackson stops in his tracks, turning me to face him. “Are you really worried about this?” he asks, concern and apprehension clear in his dark eyes
“I’m notnotconcerned. I know you’re a professional and have been doing this for a long time, but I just can’t help but worry.” I shrug. “Sue me.”
Jackson steps closer, his hand tugging at my jacket and lightly stroking my bump. “I know what I’m doing, pretty girl.” He cups my chin and swipes his thumb against my lip. “Trust me.”
I take a deep breath. “I do trust you.”
He takes my lips in his and my worry burns away as he swipes his tongue against mine.
My toes curl in my boots as I rise up to meet his lips.
He pulls away with a final peck, “We should head back to the car if we want to make this appointment.”
“Let me get my hot chocolate first,” I laugh. “I can’t leave without it. Anya and I always get it with all the trimmings and it’s the best one in the city.”
We fall back into step as we head towards the hut, fingers entwined. It’s the middle of the week so the park is quiet but Jackson hangs back while I order to not draw attention. It’s only when we each have a cup of gooey goodness in hands that he pounces.
“Have you spoken to her recently?” Jackson asks. “Anya?”
My gut twists and I cradle my bump. “Uhh,” I say, thinking. “A few times here and there. She’s still on her honeymoon. They were in the Maldives last I heard from them.”
“Hmm,” he says.
“What?”
“Nothing!” Jackson insists. “Have you told her yet?”
“Told who what?” I take a sip of my drink, the whipped cream sticking to my lip.
“Rosie,” he chides gently.
“I will tell her,” I insist, Cleo’s smug face and my mother’s sharp criticism echoing in my ears. “She’s on her honeymoon, Jackson.”
He sighs. “She’ll be home soon right?”
I nod. “And I’ll tell her as soon as she does.” She’ll probably be able to tell as soon as she sees how big my boobs have gotten.
“Have you heard from your mum?”
I shake my head. I sent her a text the day after she left the flat and asked her when she was free to chat, but she left me on read.
Jackson is quiet beside me as he sips his drink. “You were right, pretty girl. This shit is delicious.”
I pull him to a stop and kiss the whipped cream off his lip. “I told you. I’d come here every day if I could.”
“Why don’t you?”
