Chapter 32
Ashia
Ten Days Later
This whole ‘nesting’ thing has become a serious problem.
I knew it was going to happen at some point, but I didn’t realize how big of an urge it would be at thirty-one weeks along.
The bed is covered in folded baby clothes, blankets, swaddling wraps, hats, mittens, and pretty much anything else I could wash.
Damien swears he’s almost done with the nursery.
So, once all of the clothes are clean, I can put it all away and organize it how I want.
There are so many boxes and other things to wipe and put together.
I know we still have about two months to get everything ready, but it doesn’t feel like we have that long.
Plus, my nerves are shot because of Damien’s trip to Italy tomorrow.
Well, technically, he leaves tonight, but it’ll be late tomorrow when he arrives with the fifteen-hour flight and six-hour time difference.
Carter is staying here to take care of the Attic, and obviously Alex isn’t going.
I’m honestly not one hundred percent sure how this is going to work, but I know he’s been planning this for over a week.
I really should be packing his bag right now instead of going over our baby inventory again, but I’ll get to it soon—that’s what I keep telling myself, at least. Plus, I wanted to get this done while Daisy is with Zeke, so I can keep the dog hair to a minimum.
Damien walks out of the nursery with a bag of trash, and I can’t help but look at it, curious if any of the contents will give something away. He’s smart, though, and using the heavy-duty black ones. So, I can’t see a damn thing!
“Nosy girl,” he teases and smirks, clearly noticing my snooping.
“I can’t help it. I’m starting to get impatient.” I pout, then feel like shit for it. My husband is spending most of his free time making this dream nursery for us, and I’m sulking?
“I know, baby. I’m just waiting for one more thing, and it’ll be done. It should be here by the time we get back from Italy.” He sets the bag of trash by the door, looking entirely unphased while my face is stuck in a confused twist.
“We?”
His smirk grows into one of those cocky grins, and then he steps over to me in that slow, menacing, sexy-as-fuck stride.
“Yes, we. Do you really think I’d fly halfway across the world and leave you here?
” He pitches a brow, but it’s cute and playful.
My confusion doesn’t wear off completely, because as sweet as that is, I can’t really do anything to help.
I lean back on one palm and point to my big belly dramatically with the other.
“I’m not sure how useful I’ll be.”
He chuckles, his eyes shining with pure adoration as he lays his hand on my large bump.
“That’s the best part. You don’t have to do a damn thing.
” He kisses my forehead, then pulls away just enough for me to meet his eyes.
“I booked a very comfortable, very accommodating, private plane.” His lips meet the tip of my nose.
“And we’re staying in a very nice hotel suite.
” Then my cheek. “With a gorgeous view.” His lips meet my other cheek, surely feeling the heat on them as I blush.
“And the best rated hotel security in the country.” He pulls back to look at me again.
“You are going to lounge around all day and pamper yourself while I do all of the dirty work.”
My curiosity blooms once again.
“Then why is Zeke going?”
“Because even with the best security, your husband is a paranoid prick.”
I giggle, but my smile only grows when he finally kisses me properly.
He captures me in a tender, yet smiley kiss, clearly feeling good about his secretive plan.
When I pull away from him, he keeps his lips puckered like he’s going to stay that way until I kiss him again.
I just put my finger there to keep him still.
“You’re not going out there to find him alone, are you?”
His eyes soften just a little, and then he kisses the tip of my finger before pulling back.
“No. My dad is coming. If anyone else deserves to take that fucker out, it’s him. Zander’s going to stay with Mom.” He sits down next to me on the bed, so I sit back up and try to mentally prepare myself.
“Well, I guess I better start packing our bags, then.”
“They’re already packed.” He smirks again, and I playfully huff.
“You know, you don’t have to do everything.” I roll my eyes in feigned annoyance.
“Of course I do. You’re working hard enough.” He kisses me again and leans down to kiss my belly before standing up again. “If you want to start thinking about what you want in your hospital bags, you can do that.”
“Just think about it?”
“Well, yeah. I’m going to pack that, too.
” He winks at me and steps back to the door, picking up the trash bag like it weighs nothing, even though it’s completely full.
I can’t help but try to sneak a glance one more time, hoping that something will poke out of the top, but he catches me again and gives me one of those sweet grins. “You’re dying to see it, aren’t you?”
“I really am,” I whine, but his chuckle soothes some of the sting in my chest.
“I guess we don’t have to wait.” He drops the waste bag another time and retraces his steps back to me. A slight tinge of guilt bubbles up in my throat, because I know how difficult and pouty I’ve been lately
“No, no. I’m sorry. I’ll stop complaining about it. This is your project.”
His playful smirk melts into an endearing grin, and his body language morphs into something more fluid as he bends down to match my eyes.
“Ashia, I may be the one working on it, but this is for you and our baby girl. You both deserve a room where you feel safe and at peace while you bond, and I want to give that to you. If you’re ready to see it, then of course, you can.
Come on, let me show you.” He grabs my hands to help me stand, but they’re actually a little clammy.
Is he nervous? Oh, God. Now I feel even worse.
He starts to lead me towards the nursery door, keeping his gaze on me as he steps backwards. His movements must still be a little lazy, because it almost seems like he’s rocking from side to side. It’s barely enough for me to notice, but when his grin only deepens, I realize the truth.
It’s me leaning from side to side.
Oh, God, am I waddling?
“Close your eyes, and don’t peek.”
I swallow back any potential embarrassment and do as he says.
The tips of my fingers start to tingle from both the anxiety and the excitement.
When the door opens, a part of me expects to smell dust and left-over paint fumes, but I’m pleasantly surprised by a light mix of clean linens and lavender.
I let the comforting feeling it brings seep into my skin as he leads me a few more steps inside.
“Okay… Now you can open them.”
My eyelids flutter open, only to be instantly filled with tears. Shock and elation flood me from head to toe, completely in awe of what I’m seeing.
“Damien…” I whisper, because that’s all I can get out.
Three of the walls are a light and warm, limewashed grey, painted to look like clouds, but the wall directly behind the crib is a large, whimsical, fictional map. I recognize it instantly. So many feelings overcome me, flooding my entire body with wonder and so much love I might implode.
It’s the map of Neverland from Peter Pan.
He even changed the flooring to be a soft, greyish-pale beige, a color that is instantly relaxing.
Somehow, it matches all of the walls—even the old paper color from the map—and I can only imagine how hard that was to decide on.
In the middle of the room is a circular rug with the same, old-timey compass etched into the fabric—and his skin—matching the wall impeccably.
I can’t help but step on it, admiring how soft the fibers feel between my toes.
Now I understand why he said putting the crib together took so long.
It’s the same tone and hue as the floor, but the wood is curved and cut to look like tree branches.
It’s smooth to the touch, like whatever it’s coated with makes it impossible to splinter.
The sheets are a soft cream color that somehow goes perfectly, and there’s a plush quilt hanging over the front railing, with Peter Pan’s shadow etched right into the middle.
Even the mobile hanging over it all is an homage to the movie, showing me that he understands exactly what it means to me.
Two stars hang in the middle, one slightly bigger and higher than the other, and surrounding it are little pirate ships, clouds, and tinier stars.
I’m shocked at how lightweight it all is, almost like paper when I run my fingertips along each hanging object.
“I know you were probably expecting a lot of pink and fluffy things…” I turn to face him, my heart twisting at the nervousness on his face.
“But Serena loved the idea when I ran it by her, and she said I shouldn’t do anything else…
that you would love it.” He runs his hands on the fabric of his jeans, clearly struggling to contain his nerves.
“If it’s too much, I can change it. I know the theme might be a little triggering—”
I step back over to him and crash my lips to his before he can say anything else. The tautness in his body fades instantly, and he pulls me as close as he can, embracing our lips together until I pull away.
“Don’t you change a damn thing. It’s perfect.”
He smiles down at me and grabs my hands again with a new, excited energy.
I don’t take my eyes off him as he leads me over to the plush rocking chair in the corner, that’s complete with the ‘Never Grow Up’ pillow sitting in the seat.
When he sits me down in it, I can’t help but instantly sink.
The fabric is so soft, and it somehow swallows me, even though it’s firm enough that I can get up at any time.
“Oh, my God. This is so nice.” I let out a deep sigh and lean back into the chair. His smile widens, showing off his perfect, dangerous teeth.
“You like that, huh?”
I nod back lazily, already losing myself in the comfortability.
As much as I don’t want to, I finally avert my gaze from him and survey the rest of the room.
It looks complete to me. There’s a changing table and dresser that match the crib, as well as shelves that are mounted to the walls.
He’s even went so far as to buy little stuffed animals and nick-nacks that match the theme—including a Peter Pan plush sitting on the changing station.
“What are you waiting on?” I ask, still completely baffled by how amazing this all is.
“A music box for the mobile,” he reveals bashfully.
My eyes water even more when I look back over to him, and I quickly wipe the first tear away when it falls.
“It’s going to play ‘The Second Star to the Right’ when it turns.
And it is the original, not that new-age bullshit.
” A chuckle slips from my lips, when he gestures to the air, exaggerating his point.
His hand falls after a moment, and then the corner of his lips turns upward in the most adorable, timid grin. “Do you like it?”
“Like it?” I huff out, completely taken aback by his doubt.
“I love it. It’s more than perfect… It’s everything I could’ve ever wanted.
” I stand back up, which is surprisingly easy to do from a fluffy chair like this, and step back over to him.
My hands slide up his chest and cup his face, cradling his strong jaw in my palms. “You are everything I could’ve ever wanted. ”
I pull him down and lift up on my toes, kissing him as tenderly as I possibly can.
My body is so warm and languid, and when he wraps his arm around me again, I feel even more weightless.
I think I died this morning and this is heaven.
It has to be. An end to all of the madness we’ve endured just didn’t seem possible for so long, and now it’s closer than ever.
He pulls away again with a sweet kiss to my nose, then his eyebrow lifts with his humorous smirk.
“You want to put her clothes away?”
“Oh, my God. Yes!” I kiss him again quickly and scurry back into the bedroom, embracing the excitement tingling through my limbs. My face actually starts to sting from how hard I’m smiling, but that’s definitely a pain I can get used to.