More Than Friends

Chapter 41: The Unspoken Desire

As time passed, the excitement of expectin' their baby stayed strong, but somethin' else was brewin' in Devin's heart—somethin' he kept to himself. While he loved every moment of this journey, there was still a part of him that longed for more—more family, more love. He didn't want just one child; deep down, he always imagined havin' two, maybe even three kids. But Nicole had never fully expressed how she felt about havin' more than one, and with all the changes happenin' now, Devin didn't want to overwhelm her.

Nicole seemed so at peace with the pregnancy, embracin' the idea of bein' a mom, but Devin could see how she valued their freedom too. He worried that talkin' about havin' more kids down the line would bring back all her uncertainties, so he kept his desires buried, choosin' to focus on their immediate happiness.

An Intimate Moment

One night, Nicole and Devin were layin' in bed, the room dark except for the soft glow from the streetlights outside. They had spent the evening talkin' about baby names again, laughin' and tossin' around ideas, but now the room was quiet, the weight of their thoughts pressin' in.

Nicole turned to Devin, her voice soft in the dark. "You think we gon' be good parents?"

Devin smiled, turnin' to face her, his hand gently restin' on her stomach. "I know we will, Nic. You already takin' this so seriously, and I know we gon' do right by our baby."

Nicole sighed, feelin' the warmth of his touch. "Sometimes, I think about how much our lives are gon' change. I'm ready for it, but...there's still a part of me that wonders if we gon' lose somethin' by not havin' that freedom anymore."

Devin listened carefully, noddin'. He understood where she was comin' from. "I get that. But we can still have a life, Nic. Havin' a baby don't mean we gotta give up everything. We just gotta adjust, find a new balance."

Nicole smiled, appreciatin' his reassurance. "You always know how to calm me down, Dev. I don't know how I'd do this without you."

Devin kissed her forehead, his heart heavy with love—and with the unspoken desire he still held inside. "You won't ever have to, Nic. We in this together."

A Conversation Left Unsaid

As the weeks continued to pass, Devin did everything he could to make sure Nicole was feelin' comfortable and supported. They went shoppin' for baby clothes, started settin' up the nursery, and Devin even began doin' research on baby care so they'd be fully prepared.

But in the back of his mind, Devin couldn't shake the thought of wantin' more kids. He wasn't sure when the right time would be to bring it up, or if Nicole would even be open to the idea later on. For now, he focused on bein' the best partner and soon-to-be father that he could be, hopin' that when the time came, they'd be on the same page.

One night, as they sat on the couch together, Devin decided to test the waters, just a little.

"You ever think about what it'll be like once the baby's here?" he asked casually, his arm draped around Nicole.

Nicole nodded, her eyes on the TV but her mind clearly wanderin'. "Yeah, I think about it a lot. It's gon' be a big change, but I'm ready for it."

Devin smiled, feelin' a sense of peace in her words. "You ever think about maybe...what comes after?"

Nicole glanced at him, her brow furrowed. "What you mean?"

Devin shrugged, keepin' his tone light. "You know...like, would you ever want more kids?"

Nicole seemed to hesitate, her expression thoughtful. "I don't know, Dev. I mean, we haven't even had this one yet. Let's just see how this goes first."

Devin nodded, tryin' to hide his disappointment. "Yeah, you right. Just wonderin', that's all."

Nicole smiled softly, reachin' for his hand. "Let's focus on this baby first, okay? We'll cross that bridge when we get there."

Devin nodded again, squeezin' her hand. "Yeah, of course. I'm just happy we gettin' ready for this one."

Keepin' the Peace

Despite the quiet ache Devin felt inside, he kept his focus on Nicole and the baby. He knew they had a lot to prepare for, and he didn't want to add any unnecessary pressure on her. She was already doin' so much—adjustin' to pregnancy, gettin' the house ready, and makin' sure she was stayin' healthy for the baby. Devin admired her strength and dedication, and he didn't want to disrupt that with his own desires.

But late at night, when the house was quiet and Nicole was fast asleep, Devin found himself thinkin' about what their family could look like. He pictured their future with two or three kids, laughin' and playin' in the backyard, fillin' the house with joy and love. It was a dream he held close to his heart, one he hoped might come true someday. But for now, he kept that dream to himself, content with the life they were buildin'—one step at a time.