Avenger(7)

“I’d prefer to keep them out of this…for now at least. I’m not quite ready to tell them my belief of the elders…especially Bentley. He may be my best friend, but blood is thicker than water and I don’t want to push him away.”

“I understand,” I slipped on a pair of flip-flops. “You ready?”

“Yeah.” Caeden was all smiles. “When do we find out if it’s a boy or girl?”

“It’s way too soon for that. Probably around Christmas,” I shrugged.

He wrapped an arm around me and pulled me against his solid chest. “And what a wonderful Christmas present that will be.”

“What would you prefer? Boy or girl?” I questioned curiously.

“I don’t care, honestly. Either way, I’m the luckiest guy alive. I have a beautiful wife and a sweet little baby to look forward to.”

I took his scruffy face between my hands and stared into his blue eyes. “Can you believe, this time last year we’d only just met?”

“It feels like I’ve known you forever,” he murmured. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Same.”

No other words needed to be spoken.

I breezed past him and bound down the steps into the kitchen. I opened the pantry and grabbed a box of cereal before grabbing a bowl and milk from the refrigerator.

“Morning.”

I nearly jumped out of my skin. “Jesus! Why do you have to do that?” I glared at Nolan. He was reclined casually at the built-in breakfast nook chewing on an apple.

“It’s fun to scare you,” he smirked. “I’ve never been around a shifter that’s so…human.”

“It’s annoying,” I glared at him as I poured milk over my cereal.

“I find it amusing,” he took another bite of his apple.

“What are you two arguing over?” Caeden asked, breezing into the kitchen.

“Nothing, Cay-berry,” Nolan chuckled.

“Sure,” Caeden drawled as he fixed himself his own bowl of cereal.

“Where are you two headed?” Nolan asked, spinning the apple core on the tabletop. “You look like you’re on a mission and I’m not invited.”

“Doctors appointment,” Caeden answered, shoveling cereal into his mouth with one of the large wooden spoons you use for baking.

“We have regular spoons, you know,” I commented, trying to contain my laughter.

“Oh, I know. But this is more efficient,” he chuckled. When most of the cereal was gone, he brought the bowl up to his lips and tilted it back. His throat muscles flexed as he swallowed and I found myself having to look away. How did he manage to make everything he did seem so sexy? It really wasn’t fair.

I finished my own bowl and emptied the milk in the sink before sticking the empty bowl in the dishwasher.

“I might not be here when you guys get back,” Nolan muttered as he stood. He stretched his arms above his head and his thin t-shirt rode up a bit showing off his tanned and toned stomach. Before Caeden, I would have been attracted to Nolan. He was definitely a good-looking guy.

“Where are you going?” Caeden asked, his brows furrowing together.

“Out, Cay-berry, and that’s all you need to know,” Nolan clapped Caeden on the shoulder as he passed.

Caeden and I exchanged a look. “I’m sure it’s fine,” Caeden mouthed so Nolan wouldn’t overhear.

I shrugged in reply, because I wasn’t so sure.

* * *

“This is…awkward,” Caeden’s knee bounced nervously as he glanced around at all the pregnant women.

“You didn’t have to come,” I whispered in his ear.

He turned to glare at me. “Of course I did. This is my baby too. I want to be here. I’ve just never seen so many pregnant ladies in one place before,” he chuckled.

“I’m one of those pregnant ladies,” I poked his arm.

“Yeah, but you’re not—you know—showing yet,” he rolled his hands in front of his stomach.

“I’m going to show soon,” I snapped. Oh no. Were these my pregnancy hormones already kicking in?

“And you’ll be beautiful,” he put a hand over my stomach, lovingly rubbing his fingers over the cotton of my shirt.

“Nice save,” I muttered, wondering how much longer we’d have to wait. We’d already been here an hour and all I wanted was to see and hear my baby. It didn’t seem like too much to ask for.

A nurse opened a door and stepped into the waiting room. Looking down at the clipboard, she asked, “Sophie Williams?”

“’Bout time,” I muttered as I stood.

Caeden followed behind me, looking like a fish out of water. Poor guy.