Nova [Tayvis Fanfiction]

ECLIPSE

11 Weeks Before Due Date
Taylor Swift's Point of View
I carefully walk down the icy path leading up to Kylie and Jason's front porch, trying not to slip on the slick patches mixed with spots of melting snow. When I reach the door, I press the doorbell gently, almost as if the whole porch might crack under my weight. A moment later, Kylie opens the door, her face lighting up with a wide smile.

"Come in, come in! I made your favorite!" she exclaims, pulling me into a warm hug.

"My favorite?" I raise an eyebrow, confused. "Dill pickle chips?"

"No, no!" she laughs, shaking her head. "Cheesecake! You always used to go on about how much you love it. I made sure the boys didn't touch a single piece before you got here."

"Oh, that's sweet of you, Kylie." I smile, bending down to unlace my boots with a wince. My ankles are so swollen I don't dare keep them on any longer than I have to. I slip them off and straighten up, grateful to be in cozy socks.

Kylie notices my hesitation and gently puts a hand on my arm. "No, I mean it. You're pregnant, so you deserve to be treated like a queen."

I hesitate, feeling a bit awkward. "It's just... Never mind. Thank you, though. Really." I give her a small smile.

She studies my face as we make our way to the kitchen, her eyes filled with concern. "Is something wrong?" she asks, pulling out a chair for me at the table, which is set with plates, forks, and an untouched cheesecake in the center.

I sit down, fidgeting slightly. "Uh, cheesecake was... a pre-pregnancy favorite," I admit. "My cravings are kind of all over the place these days. I can't stand the smell of it...or taste, or texture."

Kylie laughs and shakes her head, setting the cheesecake down in front of me. "You turned real anti-cheesecake, didn't you?"

I let out a sigh, my hands resting on my bump. "I want to eat it! I really do! I bet it's delicious, but something about it just doesn't sit right with me right now." I give her an apologetic look.

"That's pregnancy for you," she says with a knowing smile. "We can always save it for later." She gestures toward the cake as if it has all the time in the world.

"I feel like I'm disappointing it," I joke, but the thought lingers in the back of my mind. I never thought I'd be at a point where even cheesecake felt like a challenge.

Kylie pats my arm reassuringly. "No disappointments here. You do you, girl. Baby first, cheesecake second."

"I'm not gonna eat it. Might as well put it up for grabs for everyone else," I say, shrugging with a half-smile.

But before I can finish my sentence, Nessie darts in and snatches the entire cheesecake, her head down and tail wagging wildly.

"Nessie!" Kylie yells, her voice full of frustration, but with a hint of amusement. She dives toward the dog, trying to pull the cheesecake away, but it's already too late.

"Well, I did say it was up for grabs, I guess..." I chuckle, leaning back against the counter.

"I'm sorry! She's still a puppy!" Kylie explains, looking flustered as she struggles to get a grip on the dog.

I look over at Nessie, who's happily chewing away on the cheesecake, oblivious to the chaos she's caused. "That thing is still a puppy?" I ask, laughing harder.

Kylie nods with a tired smile. "She's an Irish wolfhound."

"I don't know squat about dogs," I admit, shaking my head in awe.

"They're bigass dogs," Kylie says, her hands on her hips as she watches Nessie eat the cheesecake with gusto. "Ugh, I'm sorry."

Travis stands there in disbelief, his eyes wide as he watches Nessie lick the last remnants of the cheesecake off the floor. "What?! Nessie ate the cheesecake?!" he exclaims, sounding genuinely disappointed.