Turning The Page

Seventy Six

The moment we had been dismissed for lunch Daddy's lips had crashed down onto mine, hard and fast, and filled with all of the passion he has for me, and the love he has for our blooming family... It's the kind of kiss that leaves you feeling lightheaded and in need of an extremely cold shower and a bottle of water because... Holy crap...

But eventually, we're all but pried apart by a very intrusive feeling clearing of Collin's throat; my brother-in-law standing awkwardly with Harper and Lukas just behind us, waiting for us to come up for air...Their faces just as red as mine at the moment while Daddy rubs precious circles into my belly so our baby can feel that he's here... That he's with us... That he'll always be with us.

"Do I maybe have something to tell your sister when I see her during lunch?" The words are half whispered but they still set off a smile in Silas that could blind the sun, the way he's not stopped peppering me with love and kisses so obvious that even Collin noticed from across the room that things have changed just a bit... I know that Daddy has always adored me... But now he adores us, so he's giving his pregnant mate the attention I deserve... And I am loving every second of it... He's so excited... More excited than anyone ever could have guessed... Anyone other than me that is... I knew he would be a good Father, and he's already so dedicated to our Bean who isn't even here yet.

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Silas

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"I mean... Do you have something to tell Becky during lunch, Collin?" I can't seem to keep the humor out of my voice as I give a smart ass response I know will make him give me exactly the expression he's giving now, which never fails to bring me a very true form of joy.

"Listen. Did you knock Addy up? I ate shit for not waking her up and telling her where you two discovered each other and I am damn sure not sleeping on a hotel room sofa tonight." He's trying hard to keep the smile on his face from showing, and I know he's annoyed that I didn't give him a straight answer, the one I know he already knows...

As soon as it's okay for him to take a pregnancy test without his heat interfering with the results and we know for sure... Everyone will know about it... I'll be screaming it from the fucking rooftops that my sweet Mama is making me a father, and I'm so happy about it I think my face might mislead people into thinking I'm approachable...

I just want to squeeze him to bits right now, the way he's all clingy right now is just the right kind of special, and the way he keeps smiling into my neck is driving me wild, and I'm in such a great mood right now that I almost don't care about the way Collin keeps his eyes screwed up at me all suspicious like I'm about to not tell him the truth, "I-"

"We'd rather not say anything until we know for sure, is that okay?" My adorable Sweet Pea curls into me, his hand moving from where it is over mine on his belly to where it can rest on my chest right over my heart so he can feel it thundering away knowing that it beats only for him and our little nugget... My two Beans...

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Adrian

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"Oh! Of course, that's okay! That makes sense." The way Collin talks to me takes on a different tone than it ever had when being aimed in my direction before. He sounds... Careful... But also dripping in so much heavy sweetness that I almost can't stand to look at the man... It's like he's dripping maple syrup right into my ears and even crouches down a little bit so he can see my face where it's staying so very stuck tucked away against Daddy's neck, "I wouldn't dream of stealing your thunder, Hun. Do you need anything right now? You okay?"

"I-I'm okay!" And I will be as long as Silas tells me about any trace of decaffeinated anything in my cup before he lets me drink it so I can know not to, "Maybe just give Daddy and I some space until then?"

As much as I want to share our excitement with everyone... The last time we thought I might be pregnant it turned out that I had just been packing on pounds of honeymoon weight from Daddy and I being so indulgent of my cravings... I don't want to get everyone's hopes up by making the announcement before we know for sure that our little baby Bean is baking away in my belly.

It's like my words bite Collin in the bottom, and all of a sudden he's taking a few steps away from us, nodding his head looking just a tiny bit pale... And it isn't until I catch the look on Silas's face that I understand the backpedal that I hadn't meant to be literal that I understand why...

It's not like I don't feel like he'd back up my words on any given day because I know that he always will, but I don't think I've ever actually caught him enforcing one of my requests on someone else before, especially not taking my words so literally... Collin is his best friend and yet here he is with a death glare on his face in order to force him to back up in order not to get bitten... And suddenly it becomes very clear to me that for the next few months while our Bean bakes that he very likely will become my protective big bad wolf...

And I can't say that knowing that he's taking everything so seriously... That he's taking us seriously... Doesn't make me feel all tingly in all of my feelings.

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A.n.- The name votes will be counted a little later tonight and posted with tomorrow's chapter! I am very excited about this.