𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬

𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝟒𝟕

Sadira stirred awake, the soft sheets wrapped around her as she blinked slowly, adjusting to the quiet light of the morning. She stretched, feeling the absence beside her in the bed. Davis was gone, and her mind immediately started to race. She could still feel the warmth of where he had been lying just hours before, his body wrapped around her protectively as she slept. Now, the room felt still, but not completely empty.

Then, she heard it. The front door clicked shut, followed by the unmistakable sound of the lock turning. Davis must have gone out early, she thought, wondering what he could have been up to. A wave of nausea tried to rise, but it wasn't as strong as before. She lay still for a moment, letting her body settle, thankful that the sickness was slowly easing up.

Just as she was about to close her eyes again, Davis came strolling into the bedroom, his broad frame carrying several large shopping bags, the Target logo printed on the side of each one. Sadira sat up, brushing her hand through her hair as she raised an eyebrow at the sight of him.

"What's all this?" she asked, her voice still thick with sleep, but a curious smile pulling at her lips.

Davis set the bags down by the bed, a proud grin spread across his face as he began emptying their contents onto the duvet. "Oh, just a little something," he said, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

Sadira leaned forward, her eyes widening as he pulled out tiny onesies, baby booties, bibs, and baby bottles, each item smaller and more adorable than the last. She blinked, looking at him in disbelief.

"Davis..." she shook her head, smiling, "we don't even know the gender yet!" She laughed softly, picking up a pair of tiny yellow booties, the soft fabric almost making her heart melt. She looked at him like he was the sweetest man in the world, and he just shrugged nonchalantly.

"I don't care about all that," he replied, his voice full of certainty, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Boy or girl, doesn't matter. Our baby's gonna look cute either way."

Sadira couldn't help but smile at him. He was already so in love with this baby that they had barely begun to wrap their heads around. She continued to sift through the items, holding up a tiny bib that read "Mommy's Favorite" in playful lettering. Her heart warmed as she ran her fingers over the fabric, imagining their future.

But then, Davis's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Are you planning on breastfeeding?" he asked suddenly, almost too casually.

Sadira froze, a bit startled by the question. She looked at him, a bit of a teasing smile playing on her lips. "I don't know yet," she answered honestly. "Why are you asking?"

Without missing a beat, Davis reached into one of the larger bags and pulled out a can of baby formula powder, setting it down on the bed with a confident thud. Sadira's mouth dropped open, her eyes widening even further.

"Oh my God, Davis," she said, half-laughing, half-shocked. She reached for the can, holding it up. "You really thought of everything, huh?"

Davis just smirked, clearly proud of himself. "I want to be prepared," he said. "I know you like options."

Sadira chuckled and shook her head. As if to top it all off, Davis leaned over the bed and pulled out another item from one of the remaining bags-a belly cast kit.

"Look at this," he said, holding it up with a grin.

Sadira couldn't help but burst out laughing. "A belly cast, Davis? We're not even showing yet!" She covered her mouth with her hand as she tried to stifle her laughter, but the sight of him so excited and ready for everything was just too adorable.

Davis leaned in closer, brushing a strand of hair away from her face as he smiled down at her. "I wanna remember everything," he said softly, his eyes sparkling with sincerity. "Every step of this journey. You and me, we're in this together."

Sadira's heart melted at his words. She leaned up, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him gently. Her heart was racing, not from nerves or fear, but from the overwhelming love she felt for this man in that moment. He was making her feel cherished, like this journey was already the most important thing in his world. And it was starting to feel like the most important thing in hers, too.

When they broke the kiss, Davis studied her face for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly with playful curiosity. "Why you acting so shy now, Brat?" he teased, using the nickname he had for her saved in his phone.

Sadira shrugged, biting her lip with a shy smile. She couldn't help it. This whole situation had her feeling more vulnerable than usual, and it wasn't just the pregnancy. Davis had a way of getting under her skin, of seeing her in a way that made her feel so... exposed. But in a good way.

He leaned in, pressing his lips softly to her neck. "Don't start with me," she warned him, laughing as she pushed his chest playfully.

Davis raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Start what?" he teased.

"You know what," she giggled, smacking his shoulder lightly. "Boy, you so nasty. And no."

Her laughter bubbled up in her chest as Davis pulled back with a smirk, clearly satisfied with teasing her. He loved making her blush, making her giggle like this. It was a side of her no one else really got to see, and he reveled in it.

Still smiling, Davis reached into the last bag and pulled out something that immediately caught Sadira's attention: her favorite cookies and creme Hershey's bar and a can of mango Arizona tea.

"Oh, you didn't," she gasped, reaching for the candy bar with wide eyes. "You really went and got me my favorite?"

"Of course," Davis said, leaning back against the pillows, watching her with amusement. "I gotta keep my girl happy, don't I?"

Sadira unwrapped the candy bar and took a small bite, savoring the sweetness on her tongue. She let out a small hum of appreciation, her body relaxing back into the bed. "You're the best," she mumbled through a mouthful of chocolate.

Davis just watched her, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "I know," he replied confidently, making her laugh again.

She sipped the Arizona tea, feeling the cool sweetness soothe her slightly queasy stomach. For a moment, everything felt perfect-just the two of them, lounging in bed, surrounded by baby clothes and memories of the future they were about to create.

But then, as the laughter faded and the room settled into a comfortable quiet, Sadira's thoughts started to drift. She glanced over at the nightstand, where the capped pregnancy test still sat tucked away in the drawer. The reality of everything began to creep back in, and she felt that familiar wave of nervousness wash over her.

Davis seemed to sense the shift in her mood. He scooted closer, gently running his hand up her back as he leaned his chin on her shoulder.

"You okay, boo?" he asked quietly, his voice soft and concerned.

Sadira paused, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. She wanted to tell him everything-how scared she was, how unsure she felt about all of this. But instead, she forced a smile, turning her head to meet his eyes.

"Yeah," she whispered, giving him a small nod. "I'm okay."

But deep down, she knew she wasn't being entirely honest. The weight of it all was still pressing down on her-being pregnant, the uncertainty of the future, the fear of not knowing if she was ready for this massive change in her life. But as she looked at Davis, so full of love and excitement, she didn't want to burden him with her doubts. Not yet.