FORTY-FIVE
Madelyn
Can I just say that I love having Henley here?
She’s grown into such an incredible woman, I’m in awe of her.
I was excited when Jaxson came home the other night and surprised me with a visitor. Henley was the last person that I expected, but she was a very welcome surprise. And the food she cooks? It’s amazing. If she keeps feeding me like this, I’m never going to let her move out.
What I don’t love? Fucking bed rest. I’m bored out of my goddamn mind and it’s only been three days. If baby stays put, I have three months of this shit ahead of me. Three months of being in bed day in and day out. I’m going to go insane.
Henley’s been keeping me occupied as much as possible, but she’s busy today, off somewhere doing I don’t even know what. Lucky her. She’s free to come and go as she pleases, while I’m stuck here all by myself.
I may complain, but in reality, I’ll keep my ass here in this bed for the rest of my life if it means having a healthy baby.
All I have to say is thank God for Netflix. I’ve been binge watching Criminal Minds. Jax gets jealous of my crush on Derek Morgan, but c’mon. Who in their right mind wouldn’t want that man? All that swagger and the way he calls Penelope “baby girl?” Sexy. As. Fuck.
I’ve always been “baby” to Jax. Sometimes he calls me “love,” but never anything else. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t change it. Jax could call me a bitch and it would still sound sexy leaving his lips. He would never. I’m just sayin’.
The only other person with a pet name for me is my brother and there’s nothing remotely sexy about that. Especially when I think about the fact that he calls me “baby girl.”
And that just killed my whole Derek Morgan fantasy.
Day utterly ruined. Thanks, big brother.
Just when I think I’m seriously about to lose my mind, there’s a knock on the front door. I’m not able to answer it, but at least it gives me a temporary distraction.
The front door opens, and someone calls out my name, “Mads?”
“In the bedroom, chained to the bed!” I holler, recognizing my sister’s voice.
Cami and Presley practically bounce into my room laughing.
“I don’t see any chains!” Presley says.
“Me either, but handcuffs are always a good time.” Cami laughs.
Presley and I both look at her, our eyes wide.
“Got something you wanna share, Cami?” I ask.
She winks playfully but doesn’t answer me. She changes the subject.
“We’re actually here to spring you!”
I get excited for a minute, until reality snaps back into focus.
“I can’t, you know that.”
“You can. We have permission from your doctor and your husband. We’re only relocating you, really. Slip this on,” She tosses a dress at me. “Then we’ll help you to the living room. We’re having a party and you’re the guest of honor!”
She bounces out of the room, leaving me and Presley staring after her.
“Is she high?” I ask.
“I would fucking hope not. Get dressed. Yell when you’re done, and I’ll come back.”
Once I’m dressed and escorted to the living room, I’m instantly overwhelmed.
All the girls are here. My mom and sisters. Henley, Hailee and her mom. Derrick, because he totally counts.
“Surprise!”
My mom crosses the room to give me a hug. Everyone else follows, then they force me to sit in the big cushioned chair in the center of the room. I look around in awe.
Somehow my entire living room has been decorated for a baby shower and I had no idea.
“It’s been planned for a while, but your little field trip to the hospital pushed it back a couple days,” Presley explains.
My sister, the comedian, everyone.
Games, gifts, and tons of food. It’s your typical baby shower, but it’s even more special because it was planned by my husband. He did this for me.
I’m not sure they were supposed to tell me that, but I’ll be sure to thank him later either way.
“What do you want to do first, Mads?” Hailee asks.
“I’m pregnant. I want to eat first.”
The room explodes in laughter and my heart fills with joy.
This is exactly what I needed today. How is it that he always knows?
I slip my phone from the pocket of my dress and quickly send him a text.
Me: Thank you, Jax. You always know just what I need.
Jax: You’re welcome, beautiful. Relax and have a good time.
Me: See you when you get home. I love you.
“Boo! No phones!”
Cami reaches out and snatches my phone, walking off and hiding it away somewhere.
It’s okay, I already know how he responded.
I’m pulled into the excitement of the baby shower.
By the time the games have been played, gifts have been opened, and everyone has “oooh’d” and “aaah’d” about all of the cute little baby things, I’m stuffed full of delicious home cooking and ready for a nap.
I thank everyone for coming, but they can tell it took a lot out of me. Presley walks me back to my room—surely on Jaxson’s orders that no one lets me out of sight—and promises to make sure everything gets cleaned up before they leave.
I’m too tired to worry about the mess. My head barely hits the pillow before I’m sleeping peacefully.
Movement on the bed rouses me from sleep, but it’s the kisses that wake me.
Kisses to my forehead.
Kisses to my cheeks.
A perfectly placed kiss to my lips.
“That sure is a happy smile, baby,” he says, nuzzling his face into my neck. He hasn’t shaved in a few days and the friction from his scruff sends a delicious shiver through me.
“More kisses. Don’t stop.” I demand sleepily.
Jaxson’s deep chuckle makes me groan.
“I have a surprise for you,” he whispers.
Wrapping my arm around the back of his neck, I pull his face to mine, tracing his bottom lip with my tongue as I spread my legs.
“Fuck, baby. You’re killing me,” he rasps. “Not that kinda surprise, Mads. You gotta stop.”
Whimpering, I release him, falling back to the bed with a frustrated huff.
Stupid fucking bed rest. Stupid no sex rule.
How am I supposed to keep my hands off my sexy husband for three months?!
“I’m sorry, baby. You know I’d love nothing more than to sink deep inside you right now.”
“Not. Helping. Jaxson.” I grit out.
Chuckling, he hops off the bed, reaching for my hand to help me up. I shoot him a playful glare and take his hand.
“Now you gotta walk in front of me. Henny’s here and I don’t want to scare her with the fuckin’ wood I’m sporting because of you.”
He steps up behind me and I rub my ass against his hard dick.
Growling, he swats at my ass. “Move it.”
Using my hips, he guides me down the hall to the closed door of the nursery. Jaxson reaches around me and turns the knob, slowly opening the door.
Tears form instantly since my hormones have my emotions on overdrive.
“You did this?” I ask, stepping into the room.
“I had a little help,” he says, motioning behind us.
“Henley?”
“I hope you don’t mind. I did most of the work while you were napping during the first couple days home. Jax helped with the finishing touches today so we could surprise you.”
“Mind? It’s gorgeous, Henley”
I squeeze her in a tight hug, not wanting to let go.
“Thank you so much. You have no idea what this means to me.”
I look around the room. Everything is decorated in white, soft gray, and light green. There’s a forest painted on the walls in white, with darker gray woodland animals in various places. The entire room is set up and all the things are neatly put away. I would have never been able to finish this, not being on bed rest.
My breath catches in my throat when I see the quote painted on the wall.
Jaxson’s thumb brushes along my ribs where the same words are inked on my skin.
Reminding myself to breathe, I turn to face him and wrap my arms around the back of his neck. Stretching onto my tiptoes, I softly kiss his lips.
“Today has been incredible, Jaxson. Thank you for organizing everything.”
“Anything to make you happy baby. You deserve all this and so much more.”
He turns me back around, hands resting across the top of my round belly.
We stand in silence as I take in every little detail of the nursery.
“I think our baby is going to love it here.”
Baby chooses that moment to roll over, kicking out against Jaxson’s hand.
It’s not the first time he’s felt the baby kick, but this kick feels significant.
Chuckling, Jaxson looks down at me in awe. “I think you’re right, love. I think you’re right.”