Chapter 3
With my news bubbling inside of me, I go home and head directly to one of the many recording studios at Insanity. The guys are working on a new album, and Noodles is usually early, setting up his keyboards and running sound checks before the rest of the band arrives for practice.
There—in the far corner, headphones on, lost in the music, is my man. I sneak up behind him and slip my arms around his waist, leaning my cheek against his back. He jumps, then relaxes into my embrace with a smile. Pulling off his headphones, he turns to face me.
“There’s my girl.” His eyes crinkle at the corners. “How did training go today?”
“Successful, as always. The new Rufi performed perfectly.”
“That’s great.” He strokes a hand over my pixie hair, rainbow strands slipping through his fingers. “You work too hard, you know that don’t you?”
I swat his arm. “And you don’t work hard enough, rock star. When are you going to write me another song?”
“When inspiration strikes.” He taps the side of his nose with a wink. “Can’t be rushed, these things.”
“Mm-hmm.” I eye his keyboard, temptation rising, and he laughs.
“No, you don’t get to hack my equipment again. I still haven’t recovered from the dubstep incident.”
“You loved it and you know it.” I stick out my tongue, and he kisses the tip of it, making me giggle.
“Come on, let me make dinner before practice starts.” He laces our fingers together, and we leave the recording studio and head to the kitchen.
“Where’s Kai?” Our two-year-old is nowhere in sight.
“Holly and Angel took the kids down to the beach.”
“Just the two of them?” The beach below the towering cliffs of Insanity is rocky and full of cool tide pools, but they’re also incredibly dangerous when the tide rolls in.
“No.” He laughs. “Spike and Bash are down there with them.”
“If Spike and Bash are down there, I take it practice didn’t go well?”
“We weren’t feeling it, and as for dinner, Ash is making spaghetti. We may want to oversee his efforts.”
As we approach the kitchen, the comforting aroma of garlic and spices fill the air. My stomach growls, earning a tender squeeze from Noodles.
“Someone’s hungry.” His gaze falls on my belly with a knowing smile.
My cheeks flush as memories of our first pregnancy announcement flutter through my mind.
It was Christmas Eve. Skye, Piper, Holly, Sara, and I were all pregnant at the same time. Since Skye is our personal physician, she convinced all of us to keep our pregnancies secret until Christmas Eve. We made the announcement as a group.
Best gift ever.
Placing a hand on my belly, I yearn for that familiar flutter heralding the very first kick of the new life inside of me.
“Mitzy.” Noodles laces his tone with a casualness that belies the gravity of his next words. “When were you going to tell me we’re expecting another baby?”
“How-how did you know?” I sputter, taken aback.
“Your boobs are bigger. More sensitive.” He winks and his gaze drops to my boobs, then he leans in close to whisper in my ear. “You’re also hornier than normal.” He grins like a fool, but his tone turns serious when I don’t laugh. “I’m sensing a weird vibe. Aren’t you excited?” Noodles notices everything.
“It’s not a good time.”
“There’s never a good time, and Kai’s going to be so thrilled to have a little brother, or sister, he can terrorize.”
Kai can be a handful. No denying that.
“You’re right, I’m just being silly.”
“We’ve got this.” He pulls me close and wraps his arms around me, giving me one of his minute-long hugs that I love. Then he kisses the top of my head, my forehead, the tip of my nose, then finally my lips, slow and sweet
Before I know it, my worries fade.