All I Wanna Be (Spin off to Somebody To You- Nemi)

Chapter 12

Nick

My cheeks were hurting from all the smiling I had been doing over the last several days, since I found out Demi was pregnant. Words couldn't express how I was feeling. I was convinced this day would never come, that I'd never watch my own child grow inside the woman I love. Now, as I looked over at Demi across the room, I saw her in a different light. Now, her body was protecting our baby until it was time for it to be born. I found myself keeping an eye on her more, as I made drinks behind a bar for my friends, ready to pounce if she was in danger. I knew, in the back of my mind, that she wasn't in any danger, but I couldn't help that instinct I had all the sudden to protect her & our unborn child. I tried not to look like I was hovering, so when she looked my way, I looked down, quickly. A few times I'd catch her eye & I would give her a smile.

I saw her & Joe talking & they looked to be discussing something pretty serious, so I got curious. Before that, they were laughing & hugging, so them being serious, suddenly, had me a little worried. I decided I needed to get over there. I had the bartender that worked for the club, take over for me, then walked in the direction of Joe & Demi.

Just as I got to the table, I saw Joe smirk & whisper something in Demi's ear. "Hey, bro. You done with your bartending shift?"

I chuckled & nodded, leaning to kiss Demi's forehead before I stood beside her. "What were you two talking about?"

"Just Damon stuff." Joe shrugged & Demi looked down at her glass, but gave a slight nod of her head. I looked up to see Joe pull a cigar from his pocket & run it along his upper lip. "Damn... smells amazing. You ready to smoke a cigar with me?" Joe asked, holding the cigar out toward me.

I shook my head. "No, not right now. Maybe later, outside."

"We're allowed to smoke in here, aren't we? They don't have any signs up." Joe looked around the room & pulled out his lighter. Just as he was about to light up, I grabbed his wrist.

"Not in here. Not around Demi." I said, in a serious tone.

"Why not? She doesn't mind." Joe's forehead was creased like he was confused.

"I mind." I said, then sighed, letting him know he was annoying me.

Joe nodded, his lips together. "You don't want the second hand smoke around her because of the baby, huh?"

I stared at Joe, my eyes wide, eyebrows up, then I looked at Demi who looked guilty. "I thought we weren't telling anyone." I said under my breath.

"He guessed. I swear. And so did Chloe." Demi said, looking down coyly. "He was teasing you with the cigar, knowing it would make you react the way you did." Demi smirked as she leaned on her hand.

I couldn't help but to smile as I looked up at Joe, who was grinning so broadly, I started laughing. "Now you know." I shrugged & Joe came at me to grab me in a hug.

"Congratulations, big brother! I am so happy for you guys!" He let go of me, but kept his hand on my shoulder. "Never thought this day would come. Mom is gonna flip. When you telling her?"

"We're not telling anyone else." Demi chimed in.

"Mom is gonna be really upset if she finds out me & Chloe knew for a while." Joe said, making a lot of sense.

"That's true. She will, Demi." I looked down at Demi, my arm behind her.

Demi sighed & rolled her eyes. "Well, we might as well tell everyone, geesh. If you tell your parents, then I have to tell Jules."

"You can tell Jules. I don't care." I shrugged, smiling at her. "We can tell the whole world, for all I care. Not telling Damon is just because he's a kid & he has no concept of time yet, so he'll be wanting to know when it's coming, plus if, God forbid, something happens..." My voice trailed off as I felt a sadness, thinking of losing our baby at any point.