The Clinch

Chapter Thirty Six

Chapter Thirty Six

After weeks of just taking it easy and chilling, we're back to where it all started; the gym. And with Gabriel given a clean bill of health he's eager as anything to get back in the ring and start training. I know he's sorely missed the sport and the competition, so to watch the smile on his face as he steps back into the ring for a bout for the first time in months sure is something, and my stomach pitter patters faintly when he shoots me a wink.

Next week I come off maternity leave and I'll be back to working part time at the hardware store. Luckily my boss is a good man and he's happy to fit in my hours around the babies schedule.

Shaun and Gabriel get into a fierce battle. But Shaun lacks the edge and years of experience that Gabriel seems to have, as Gabriel easily ends the match with a rhythm of quick punches that leave Shaun winded.

 He hops out of the ring with a heady smile and slumps down onto the bench beside me. "Your dad reckons he can get me a fight set for next month. Luckily I haven't lost my edge, huh?"

Or his humble nature, I think sarcastically, before grabbing Coby's carrier and plugging the pacifier from his half open mouth whilst he dribbles and twitches in his sleep. "You think you're ready to get back in the game so soon Hercules?"

Gabriel shrugs and takes Coby from me whilst I loot through the baby bag for another blanket to tuck around Coby's chin. "Sure. I can't work again until the results of my scans next week, so I've got nothing better to do than train." A sharp look from me has him beaming a guilty smile "and of course pleasing my gorgeous wife; how could I forget that? Pft."

I hum in agreement and heft the bag onto my shoulder whilst taking the carrier from Gabriel. Leaning up on to my tiptoes, I kiss his chin. "I'm going to hop next door and check on my folks, I'll see you when you're not so sweaty."

Harrumphing, Gabriel runs his eyes up and down my body in hunger. "Don't lie baby, I know you want this body."

Shaun chuckles at my look of mortification as I swat Gabriel's sweat slick arm and storm away. He will definitely not be getting any tonight; that smug bastard.

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I'm still in a temper tantrum with Gabriel when he steps through the door at seven o'clock that evening with a cheeky smile on his face and a monstrosity of a bouquet in his hands. He mouths the words 'I'm sorry' as he brandishes the flowers before him.

I get up from my place on the floor in front of Coby as he crawls wildly about on his belly, before scooping up my son and heading for my husband. I take the bouquet of lavender and mint roses off of him and try to suppress a smile as I see that amongst all of the roses are sprigs of my favourite blue bells, all cleverly and lovingly placed into a beautiful design.

It's gorgeous. And after buying me a bouquet of fancy roses like this, it's kind of difficult to continue to hold my grudge. Especially when he used all of my favourite colours and made sure to put my adored blue bells in there too. Leaning up onto my tiptoes, I brush his mouth with a kiss. "They're charming, thank you."

"You're welcome." He shrugs out of his sweatshirt and kicks off his trainers. "Now I can show you what I got whilst I was out!" Practically beaming at me, he skips through into the kitchen and drops his shopping bag onto the counter.

I read the front of the bag and frown up at Gabriel. "Coby has enough clothes. He'll grow out of them pretty soon too so there really is..." My words fall short as he pulls the article of baby clothing out of the bag and lays it down on the counter. "That's a dress."

He nods me along as he picks up the dress and twirls it in front of me, an effervescent grin on his mouth. "I know. It's not for Coby. It's for when we have a girl."

Stumped, I wait for him to expand on why on earth he's bought a dress for our non-existent baby daughter. As sweet as the dress is with all its pink, sparkly glossiness, I still think he's getting a little ahead of himself here.

"I went into the store whilst I was waiting for the woman to make up your bouquet, you know how I like to window shop. And I saw this dress, and... I don't know. It was an impulse buy. I just keep imagining our little green eyed daughter, looking angelic like her mummy and wearing this pretty pink dress. Isn't it gorgeous?"

I concede his point and nod. "It sure is girly. But we haven't got a daughter yet, Gabriel. We might not even be pregnant yet."

Gabriel shoots me a sardonic look. "You're kidding me right? You've been crabby lately, princess, you're definitely pregnant. My God you were so Damn hormonal the couple weeks before we found out about Coby, I thought you'd suddenly had a personality split."

Shoving him away from me, I set Coby in his bouncer then pick up the dress idly and run my fingers over the soft and silky fabric. And somehow I end up imagining my green eyed little she demon - a personality trait courtesy of moi - as she looks up at me wearing this awesome dress.

It's a nice article of clothing. But it's a dress though. Growing up surrounded by mud and boys it took me a while to come to terms with the concept of a dress, and I've only just gotten my head around make up. What if my daughter expects me to teach her all the female crap that my mum tried to brainwash me with? Or if she asks me to play dolls with her... Ugh. Give me a pile of mud and a toy digger any day; but a doll...

I hum, seeing that I've errantly placed the dress against my flat midsection, before I drop it back to the table as if burnt. "We'll see at the scan. I have no idea why you're rooting for a girl here, Hercules, you'll be worse than my brothers when it comes to protecting her from everything and anything."

"Hey. I'm grateful that your brothers were so protective; it stopped you for falling for any other boys, which means that you're mine now, princess. And for that I'll be eternally in their favour."

No doubt he'll ring the neck of any male that steps within ten feet of our little girl's bubble.