𝕥𝕠𝕠 𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕖 • 𝕞.𝕔

chapter 33

•••

"Michael," I whispered, as he was sitting with me on the couch. He cocked his head to the side and looked at me with the corner of his eyes, and smiled.

    These kind of nights had become rare in our everyday life. Michael was busy with work, and most times, my whole body hurt so bad that I chose to just stay in bed, hoping for it to pass. The back and legs pain were getting unbearable, I could hardly stand up without wincing at the pain in my stomach. I could feel it was close, and I knew that I would get into labour sometime in the next three weeks, now. A bit early, probably, but the sooner it was, the better. I had changed my mind completely. Michael understood, but sadly he wasn't here every second of the day. But I accepted that.

   Winter was coming, slowly. Creeping. It was still Autumn, but the way the wind felt icy cold when we stepped outside reminded us of how much the next season was about to come. There were no birds outside, and the view from my flat was now sad. The only pretty part was the trees, without their leaves, obviously; those were on the ground, piling up, their bright colours mixing themselves altogether. I kind of liked that, to be honest. I liked Autumn.

   I touched Michael's face, raising my arm up. I was laying down, my head resting on his lap. We both were in our underwear, watching one of these stupid animation movies. Despicable Me. It was the only decent movie on at this time; it was almost two A.M. We both were exhausted, but it seemed as if it was impossible for us to let go of each other. The moment was too rare and beautiful, and we both were comfortable together. We could stay like this for hours, without saying a word.

"Yeah?" he said, looking down at me, stroking my hair. If I could've, I would've purred. It felt too good. "What's up?"

"Have you thought about the baby's name?"

"Not really," he glanced at my stomach. "Ronnie for a boy?"

"Ronnie sounds horrible," I chuckled. "I like Buzz."

"Like Buzz Lightyear? Are you serious?" he started laughing a bit harder. "Poor kid."

"Ronnie, like Ronnie from Jersey Shore?"

"No, like Ronnie Wood."

"I'm not calling my kid that," I shook my head. "And for a girl?"

"I haven't thought about it at all, I don't think we're going to have a girl, Lee. I have a gut feeling it'll be a boy."

"I liked Hazel."

He furrowed his eyebrows, and smiled. "Like hazelnuts?"

"You suck," I slapped his arm playfully. "I really, really like it."

"What about Berry? Like a blueberry?"

"You are making fun of me, I hate you."

"It won't be a girl anyway," he shrugged. "Believe me."

I shut my eyes as his fingers stroked the side of my neck. "I don't know."

"I know, you gotta believe me. I have fate it would be a little boy, and it will be Ronnie."

"It won't!"

"It will."

"Whatever," I mumbled.

I could feel him moving under me. "Let's go to bed?"

"But the film isn't over."

"I don't care. I want to get into bed."

•••

"Do you really have to go tomorrow? That road trip can wait, can't it?"

"No, no, Lee," Michael said, snuggling closer to me. "It can't. I'll be here in three days, for the appointment, I promised you. I will be here. Do you not trust me?"

"Of course, I do," I nodded, more to myself. Because that was the person I was trying to convince the most.

"Don't worry about it, I will be there, I'm not the kind of person to get carried away when drinking."

"You're not?" I chuckled, reminiscing the last time he had drunk too much. I remembered it all too well. "You sure?"

"What I'm trying to say is that Calum and Luke are wilder than me."

"Oh yeah?"

"No, not really, but I'll make an effort."

"Okay," I just whispered.

   Then followed a long silence, and I knew he had fallen asleep on me. I tried to relax, to make myself comfortable, and soon enough, I found a nice enough position. I held tightly onto Michael's hand, although his grip on mine was now loose. I smiled to myself and pulled the blankets to my neck, and breathed out quietly. I was glad he was by my side, and right now, nothing could've made me happier. I was just feeling safe and sound.

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