First Crush, My Forever

Chapter 127

  It's hard to believe it's nearly the end of May and KK turns five today. Luckily her birthday fell on a Saturday and she insisted on a small party. Not small like quiet, small like only the people she loves. No classmates, no chaos. Just family, cake and presents and being the center of the room.

  She wakes up before the sun and climbs into our bed like she has been waiting her whole life for this moment.

  "It's my birthday," she whispers loudly, shaking Taytum's arm. "I'm five."

  Taytum groans but smiles immediately, pulling her into a hug. "Good morning, birthday girl."

  "I'm not a baby anymore," KK announces. "Babies are little."

  I laugh and press a hand to my belly. "Careful. There's a baby listening."

  KK leans down and whispers directly to my stomach. "I'm still the boss." I laugh as Taytum tickles KK causing her to laugh before scrambling off our bed and running out the door.

  Taytum props up on her elbow and looks down at me. "Good morning, beautiful." She cups my cheek then leans down and kisses me which I gladly reciprocate. When she pulls away she pushes the sheet off of my growing belly and I watch as her eyes trail down my body. "Damn, you are so beautiful." She places her hand on my belly then slides down to place a kiss on it. "Good morning little prince. Mama T loves you." She gets up with a smile and gets dressed then walks to the en-suite to brush her teeth before heading downstairs.

   I am thirty weeks pregnant and already tired even though I just woke up, but it is the good kind. My back aches. My hips feel loose. Still, I feel good. This is the kind of tired that comes from something worth doing. The kind that comes with purpose. I slowly get up and get ready then head downstairs too. Balloons bob gently in the living room, dusty blue and soft pink mixed together because KK refused to choose and she has taken a liking to the dusty blue color we picked for the wedding and our son. A banner hangs slightly crooked because Taytum put it up too fast last night and I told her not to fix it.

  KK is already in her party dress by 8:30, the one with the twirly skirt. She twirls every chance she gets like the skirt might stop working if she does not keep checking.

  "I'm five," she announces for the tenth time.

  "I know," Taytum says, crouching to fix KK's sandal. "You've mentioned it." She grins and runs off again.

   The birthday cake is on the counter under a clear dome. Chocolate with pink frosting because KK picked it herself and changed her mind twice. Cupcakes too, just in case. Some juice boxes are already lined up in the fridge to get cold for the birthday girl because she didn't want the punch.

  By 10 the house looks like a party supply store exploded. More balloons taped too high and too low. Streamers crooked because KK insisted on helping. When the doorbell rings and KK screams like it's an emergency. "They're here."

  Taytum's moms come in first, arms full of gifts and loud in the way that fills the house instead of overwhelming it. Kyler scoops KK up and spins her once before setting her down carefully. "Five," Lauren says. "That's a big deal." Then she scoops KK up and smothers her little face with kisses before setting her back down.

  Taytum's brother Tristan follows, gift wrapped, crooked and barely taped. KK laughs when she sees it and he just makes a funny face at her before trying to chase her around before the doorbell rings again.

  My parents arrive next with gifts, paper plates and extra napkins like they expect something to go wrong. My mom hands KK a glitter covered card she clearly made herself. My dad lifts KK into the air because she demands it and he never says no to her.