In the moment

Reminisce

Jack woke up around 5am like an excited child but the house was still completely silent. He laid watching Soph sleep soundly, her face lit up from the street lights that crept through the crack in the curtains. It was the first time in his life he felt completely whole, there was no amount of trophies that could compare to how Soph made him feel.

As he laid there he thought about the week that led up to the day he met her. Restrictions were starting to lift and face masks had finally been scrapped, the boys went out celebrating after most wins and jack had lost count of how many matches he made on Raya.

As he reflects back he doesn't even recognise himself. He was probably at his worst both mentally and physically, the move had put a lot of pressure on him and he found comfort in take aways, booze and sex. He found himself on the front page of most newspapers weekly, 90% of the time they were complete and utter shite. But the small 10% was true, girls he'd met at clubs or invited back to hotels.

It was always hotels for him, he couldn't stand the thought of having a stranger in his home invading his personal space, touching and judging his personal belongings. Soph was the first girl he'd ever invited to his actual home.

He pictures her sat on the sofa in his T-shirt as she pumped her breast milk, she looked right at home, just like she belonged there. He remembers googling about breast feeding and how to make someone comfortable while feeding. He didn't want to fuck it up, he felt a connection from the moment he walked in her salon. He still buys her maltesers to this day, the only snack he had in the cupboard that day. He laughs to himself making soph stir.

He strokes her hair shushing her back to sleep kissing her forehead softly. She opens one eye peaking up at him 'what time is it?' She whispers into her pillow

Jack glances at the alarm on the bedside table. Shit when did the last hour go? '6.30' he replies with his face buried in her hair.

Soph grumbles before falling back to sleep, Jack cuddling her from behind with his hands resting on her belly. His mind shifts to the heart break they've both endured in the last 7months. From sophs accident in the bathroom and her head trauma, to the loss of their baby. They've been through a lot in a short space of time. It's been a rollercoaster to say the least.

His mind cast back to the day before he walked into the salon. He was back in Birmingham and had woken up in Sara's bed, he was considering giving them the a second chance. They'd spent a lot of the night discussing how they could make things work, Sara was willing to move to Manchester, something she wasn't keen on when he first moved. He kissed her goodbye that morning trying to convince himself that she was the one.

He remembers if it wasn't for Sara he wouldn't have met Soph. She teased him continuously that night about this hair and how much it had grown out. He text his barber the next day who said he couldn't cut it for at least 10 days as he tested positive for Covid. A quick google search of Manchester salons led him straight to Soph.

After he left the salon, he cut all communication with Sara, he stopped answering her calls and replying to texts. He ghosted her like the absolute fuck boy he was back then. He really just didn't know how to tell her she wasn't the one, so he just didn't say anything at all.

Soph rolled over grunting 'do you need help bab?' He could see she was trying to roll out of bed, she looked so cute while flapping as she tried to get up.

'Thanks' she grumble as she sat on the ledge of the bed mustering the energy to stand up. He watched her walk to the bathroom, the most perfect person in the world carrying his child. He smiled to himself knowing he'd made the right decision. 'What you smiling at?' She asks as she waddles back out of the bathroom.

'Just how much I love ya' he grins pulling her in for a cuddle as she rolls back in the bed. She nestles into him, finding comfort in the warmth of his skin.

'Softy' she says nussling her head into his chest 'I love you too'

They laid in silence, preparing themselves for the day of chaos that lies ahead but it wasn't long before mae was up. Her cry's loud down the monitor.

Jack swiftly gets out of bed and heads to maes room. 'Now then princess' he says as he walks into the nursery, she's pulled herself up standing at the cot side ready to be taken out. Soph listens to them on the monitor.

She instantly stopped crying to moment jack picked her up. 'Merry Christmas baby girl' he says before kissing the top of her head 'do ya think Santa's been?' He asks her as he walks over to open the curtains. Maes rambling noises back to him. 'Oh moi god mae it's a Christmas miracle!' He exclaims before running back into sophs room with her.

He's pulling their curtains back and sophs finding it hard to adjust her eyes to the light 'babe look it's snowed!!' He stands at the window with Mae dancing 'snow is falling all around me, children playing having fun' he sings as he spins around with mae making her giggle

Soph watches them as she feels her happy bubble surround them, taking in the moment. There's a knock at the bedroom door and jack shouts ada to come in, she stand in the doorway laughing at jack singing shackin stevens.

'Can we go down now?' Jacks face lit up, mae giggling matching his energy.

They all agreed before making there way down, Ada trailing off from the living room to make the cuppas.

Jack stands in front of the presents still holding on to mae looking down at the plate of treats he left out last night. 'Santa must av been starving!' He whispers to mae the looks back at Soph grinning.

The milk glass was completely empty, not a crumb of mince pie left and a huge bite out of the carrot. Soph grins back at him, he was such a big kid and she loved it!