More Than Friends

Chapter 33: A Question of the Future

The rest of the honeymoon felt like a dream. Nicole and Devin spent their days relaxin' on the beach, enjoyin' each other's company, and soakin' in every moment. It was exactly the break they needed after all the craziness of the weddin'. But as the days went on, Nicole found herself thinkin' more and more about what came next—what their life would look like now that they were officially husband and wife.

One night, as they sat on the balcony of their hotel room, the sound of the ocean fillin' the air, Devin leaned back in his chair, lookin' out at the water.

"You ever think about what's next for us?" he asked, his voice soft but serious.

Nicole glanced over at him, her heart flutterin'. "Yeah, I do. I mean, we got a lot to look forward to. But...what you thinkin' about specifically?"

Devin paused, choosin' his words carefully. "I been thinkin' about a family. I know we talked about it before, but now that we married, I'm startin' to think more seriously about it."

Nicole's heart skipped a beat at his words. She knew this conversation was comin', but now that they were havin' it, she wasn't sure how she felt.

"You talkin' about kids?" Nicole asked, her voice soft.

Devin nodded, his eyes still on the horizon. "Yeah. I mean, I always saw myself havin' kids, buildin' a family with you. But I wanna know where your head's at. What do you want, Nic?"

Nicole swallowed, takin' a deep breath. The truth was, she wasn't sure. She loved the idea of a family, of buildin' somethin' real with Devin, but there was a part of her that wasn't ready to let go of their life as it was. She loved the freedom they had, the simplicity of it just bein' the two of them. And she wasn't sure if she was ready to change that.

"I don't know," Nicole admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I been thinkin' about it too, but I'm not sure if I'm ready for that yet. I love what we have right now, Dev. I'm scared that havin' kids would change things in ways we're not ready for."

Devin turned to look at her, his eyes full of understanding. "I get that, Nic. Havin' kids is a big decision, and I don't want us to rush into it if we're not both on the same page. But I do want it someday."

Nicole nodded, feelin' a lump rise in her throat. "I know. I just don't wanna make a decision that we're not ready for, you know? I like what we have now—our freedom, our time together. I'm just not sure if I'm ready to give that up."

Devin reached out, takin' her hand in his. "We don't have to decide right now. We can take our time, figure out what feels right for us. I just wanna make sure we're talkin' about it, so we know where each other stands."

Nicole felt a wave of relief wash over her. Devin always knew how to keep things grounded, how to take the pressure off when she was feelin' overwhelmed.

"Thank you," she whispered, squeezin' his hand. "I don't wanna close the door on it completely, but I just need some time to figure out what I really want."

Devin nodded, leanin' in to kiss her softly. "That's all I need, Nic. We'll figure it out together."

Back Home

When they finally made it back home after the honeymoon, Nicole couldn't shake the conversation about kids. It lingered in the back of her mind, and while she wasn't opposed to the idea, she just wasn't sure if it was the right time. But bein' back in their home, with all the memories they had already built together, made her wonder if maybe she was just scared of change.

Devin seemed to sense her unease but didn't push the conversation. They spent the first few days back settlin' in, gettin' back into their routine, and enjoyin' the quiet moments of their new life as a married couple. But Nicole knew the topic of children was still on the table, waitin' for them to revisit.

One night, as they sat on the couch, watchin' TV, Devin glanced over at her. "You still thinkin' about what we talked about?"

Nicole sighed, noddin' slowly. "Yeah, it's been on my mind. I guess I'm just scared of what it would mean, you know? Havin' kids is a big responsibility, and I don't wanna make a decision we're not ready for."

Devin wrapped his arm around her, pullin' her close. "I get it. And we don't have to rush. But I want you to know, whatever you decide, I'm with you. If you want kids, great. If you're not sure, we'll figure it out together. I'm just happy with you, Nic."

Nicole felt her heart swell with love for him. Devin always knew how to make her feel safe, like they were in this together, no matter what.

"I love you," she whispered, leanin' her head against his shoulder.

"I love you too," Devin replied, kissin' the top of her head. "We'll figure it out when the time's right."

Nicole smiled, feelin' a little more at ease. The future was still open, and they had plenty of time to figure out what they really wanted. But for now, she was happy with what they had—a strong, lovin' relationship and the freedom to build their life together, one step at a time.