Chapter 47
SPENCER
SEVEN YEARS AGO
Icup Harlow’s rounded baby belly. It’s the middle of August already and she’s in her six-month of pregnancy. Her belly is small, but it is there.
She watches me with an amused smile.
“Come on,” I coax our baby. “Kick. Daddy wants to feel you.”
Nothing.
She laughs and then it finally moves, lodging a solid kick against my palm. “Oh, I see,” I tease. “You’re only going to listen to your mom. Figures.”
Harlow adjusts the pillows behind her on the bed.
I moved in after my classes were over for the school year.
I’m grateful her parents have been kind enough to let me live here—even if we’re on a strict open door policy, and I sleep in the guestroom.
I’m not sure what else they think is going to happen. She’s already pregnant.
I move my hand to the other side of her stomach, hoping for another flutter or kick.
“Are you seriously not going to let me find out the gender?”
Amusement curls her lips. “No, because you can’t keep a secret, and I want to be surprised.”
I sigh, giving her my best impression of puppy dog eyes. “Don’t you want to be able to buy stuff?”
She shrugs. “I’m fine with gender neutral stuff. It doesn’t bother me.”
“Fun sucker,” I taunt jokingly. Sobering, I ask, “How do you feel about not going back to school?”
It’s been a source of contention between us. Harlow chose not to return for her senior year of high school and is working toward getting her GED instead.
“I know you want me to miss it, but I don’t.
This is the easiest solution, and you know it.
We only have a few more months until this one is here.
” She rubs her stomach alongside where my hand rests.
“And the idea of not being with our baby…” She trails off.
“I don’t want that. I know I could do it, I’m not doubting my ability, but this makes the most sense. "
“I just want you to be okay with it,” I explain. “I don’t want you to have regrets about missing your senior year or being with your friends or being able to walk at graduation or—”
She puts her hand over my mouth. “I know you think this is something you stole from me, but I promise, I’m okay. This is my choice. I can still go to college too one day. When I’m ready.”
“I just feel bad,” I mutter when she drops her hand.
“Please, don’t,” she begs. “This was my choice, just like it was yours to not go back to school either. You don’t hear me constantly questioning you about it.”
She has a valid point. “All right,” I concede. “I won’t bring it up anymore.”
“Thank you.”
“You know both our families are going to go overboard for the baby shower.” It’s still a month away, but her mom and mine have been planning it for weeks already.
“Oh, I know,” she sighs, but there’s an edge of amusement to the sound. “They’re being very secretive about it too.”
“They’re probably going to make us do some kind of weird games.”
“I have no doubts.” She stifles a yawn. “I’m tired. Do you want to take a nap with me?”
I arch a brow, eyeing the wide-open door. “I think your dad might kill me.”
She rolls her eyes. “The door is open and we’re in our clothes.”
“True,” I agree. “If that’s what you want, then yes.”
“I always want to be close to you.”
She quickly situates herself and grabs my arm, draping it over herself. I can’t help but grin as I settle against her.
I don’t plan on napping, but soon her even breaths lull me to sleep alongside her.