lies lies lies || book three

chapter five

Every day and every night he kept his promise. A goodnight text and a good morning text, each painting a smile on her face. And every day and every night she would deal with her growing belly, swollen feet, throwing up and the weird cravings associated with her newfound pregnancy.

Despite not getting a message from him the last two nights and only getting a morning text, she couldn't care less. Tonight was the night Morgan would be coming home to her and she couldn't have been more excited and relieved. Letting him into the secret she had been hiding for so long and showing him the ultrasound was making her anxious throughout the last couple of days anyways.

Mia had come over with a bunch of decorations earlier in the day and a plan. Her attempt of inviting a pregnant Laney to Printers Alley and Broadway to go out and help Mia find the love of her life was not successful since Laney threw up almost instantly when she had arrived from the whiff of Mia's strong perfume. Coming into the apartment with a cat costume on, Mia held out a costume for Laney, making her shoot her a questionable look.

As she put it on and observed herself in the mirror, she felt sexier than she had ever felt since New York. Black was such a slimming color that her baby bump was practically vanished like magic. Mia turned her into catwoman this year even though she did not wanting to be anything. Walking out of the closet with the leather black bra top and leather black pants, she blushed as Mia catcalled her.

The two took some photos together before Mia began to sip on some wine and Laney began to sip on some sweet tea while decorating. The cobwebs were hung up, the orange colored lights were flashing as they outlined the ceiling and the bar, and there was a big ass pumpkin.

When Morgan would open the pumpkin from the top, the ultrasound images would come out attached to it.

"Good luck," Mia hugged her best friend one last time before leaving for the bars.

So Laney sat and waited for Morgan. Checking his location, she knew it would be no use since airplane mode and the jet WiFi was spotty sometimes.

She could have sworn she hadn't gone to bed except she heard the sound of his truck pulling up in the driveway. Getting up faster than she should've, she took a deep breath before making sure everything was in place. Her phone was propped up near the pumpkin recording, her costume was in tact, and it was showtime. Staring at the door for what felt like ten whole minutes, she saw the gold door knob twist, making her heart beat rapidly.

Morgan walked in with his luggage, prominent tiredness taking over his face and body, and took a deep breath when he walked in. He eyed Laney up and down, "Well Happy Halloween baby," with a chuckle in his voice.

She walked over to him happily engulfing her arms around his neck and taking in his familiar scent that she had been craving so long. Giving him a long kiss she smiled before letting him take off his shoes and drop his stuff in the bedroom, following his every move, "How was your flight?".

"Uh it was tiring I guess but I feel fine and awake now," he scratched the back of his neck taking in what she had done to the bedroom, "I like your decorations. The cobwebs are really adding to the apartment ambiance".

Turning around he eyed her up and down making her heart pound, "Hottest catwoman I've ever seen," taking her hand and spinning her in a circle as she turned red.

She chuckled, "Come on I have a surprise for you," taking his hand she tugged him to the table where the pumpkin was.

He stood in front of the table while she stood on the other side behind the camera. There was a pumpkin for him and a pumpkin for her to "carve out and decorate".

"Ok babe so you're going to want to start off my gutting the pumpkin from the top," she said to him as she mimicked taking the top off of her pumpkin.

Morgan picked up a carving knife and looked at her, "This is not what I was expecting you to want to do when I got back but I'm not complaining. Especially while you're wearing that," making him earn a 'shut up' from Laney. Grabbing the top and lifting it, the ultrasound pictures began to unravel making him blink rapidly and do a double take between her and the pictures.

Lifting the lid off and staring at the pictures to process what he was seeing, he was frozen. His face went through an initial reaction of shock then nervousness making Laney's heart thump out of her chest. Until a smile covered his face as he began to tear up, "Holy shit we are having a baby?".

She nodded as he marched over to her and picked her up smothering her in kisses making her laugh.

"Oh my god we need to convert the bedroom. Wait how far along are you? When did you find out? Oh my god," he began to think as he placed her down and began kissing her face while cupping her face in his hands.

"Six or seven weeks now. I went to get an ultrasound when I hung out with Mia that day and got food poisoning," she smiled at his reaction, "I think we made a honeymoon baby. That's why I went sober".

He looked like a child on Christmas morning as he just held her in his arms and held the pictures from the pumpkin in his right hand.

"I'm going to be a great dad to our son but I think he'll love his mom more," Morgan daydreamed making her blush.

She shook her head, "Who says it isn't a girl?".

His face dropped momentarily, "If she has your looks then the little boys better watch out".

Laney laughed as she got out of his grasp to put the pumpkin on the kitchen counter. Morgan followed her like a puppy murmuring about he should've seen the signs and how he had to start changing one of the guest rooms and adding protection to the pool. Smiling to herself, she didn't feel scared about starting a family with him, she felt ready for their little bundle of joy.

Leading herself to the closet to change, she could feel Morgan stare at her from the corner of her eye. Is this how pregnancy felt?

She ignored his gaze and changed into one of his shirts and turned around to see him lying down on the bed. As she approached, he patted down the spot next to him for her.

He AirPlayed his screen to show baby names and baby bedrooms making her eyes widen, he was really excited. Entertaining his ideas and critiquing some wild ideas, such as Morgan Jr., she laid in his arms. His hand immediately fell on to her stomach naturally.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he lowly whispered playing with their hands intertwining.

"What?"

"The baby... working?"

She didn't even think about it.

"Well take the time off to raise the child with me," she ordered.

He nodded in agreement and then they fell silent. She couldn't tell what was on his mind but she could feel an uncomfortable tension lingering over them. The couple both knew their heads were now elsewhere but they couldn't pin where. As they drifted off in silence, they both were wondering what the other one was thinking about: Was it about truly feeling unprepared for parenthood? Was it about their careers? Was it beginning to settle in? Should I ask?

Taking care of a kid for 18 years starting today. And that meant the good, the bad, and the ugly was just about to begin.