The Clinch

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Two

Cottage Cheese and Avocados are my go to pregnant food, and when the munchies hit me full force I often slather up the cottage cheese on top of the mashed avocado and eat it by the bucket load. Lucky me it's kind of healthy rather than the shit I've seen some pregnant women eat, because damn can I lick the plate clean.

Best thing is it disgusts my brothers to no avail and they often leave the room if I'm eating. Ha. That's what they get for years of making me watch them down protein shakes in the mornings.

Gabriel has been spending a lot of time at the house too; although it ticks me off that he's so buddy buddy with my whole family. I am sick of having Kaleb and Reagan steal Gabriel away from me by simply chucking a games controller in his direction. Um, hello, woman pregnant with your baby over here!

I probably shouldn't whinge too much about it considering the fact that I consume more than enough of his time. And, okay, let's be honest, he isn't doing too bad in the role of father to be. Amazingly he looks pretty psyched every time we go in for a check up, or if he simply feels the baby move. It's not every day that you hear a grown man squeal - yes, squeal like a little girl - in excitement.

We've become so close now that nobody questions or bothers him when he's here. He has breakfast with us most mornings. Heck, he's got a freaking key to our house for crying out loud. My family have practically rolled out the red carpet to make him feel accepted.

"Hey babe" he beams at me as he comes skidding into the kitchen and bands his arms about my extended waist. Such a brave man; he doesn't even cringe at my cottage cheese and peanut butter dipped Doritos snack.

"Hey" I mumble, using the back of my hand to catch the loose crumbs that fall from my mouth when I talk. "Thought you'd be at the gym?" Yep, I'd been looking forward to a day alone at home because my family had abandoned me.

"Nope." Giving me a killer smile, Gabriel nuzzles my neck before releasing me and slapping whatever it was he had hidden behind his back, down onto the table. "I thought we could pick out flats today. I've compiled a list of some local ones and non local ones that are in our price budget and look decent. Estate Agent said if we just give her a call, she'll arrange for some viewings."

My smile drops into a frown. "Oh."

"That didn't sound like a good 'oh'." Gabriel says with a crinkled smile. "You don't want to apartment hunt today?"

Shaking my head, I rub at my temples and give a good exhale. "No, it's not that. I just... Didn't think that far ahead. Before the baby I thought I'd probably just live with my parents for a couple of years before life finally hits me and I have to grow a pair. I never really expected for it all to be moving this fast, is all."

Making a weird face, Gabriel tugs me down to sit on his knee and drums his fingers against my thighs. "We kind of got you pregnant; nine months and eighteen years haul baby... Things are gonna be moving fast."

I pout and turn around to make sure our eyes meet. "I know, I'm just scared. This life is all I've known for the nineteen years of living I've done. It's going to feel weird not having so many people breathing down my neck."

"Don't be scared, baby, this change will be good for us. You've got to admit that we're going to need our own space when the bubba comes. We can't keep relying on your family for support; we should do this ourselves. And if it bothers you that much, I'll follow you around and breathe down your neck all you want."

With a scoff, I playfully shove at his shoulder. "Alright, are we going to look at these places you picked out or not?"

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