Afterglow (Book Three)

Thirty Five

Demi

I kept my eyes on the sonogram, a small smile on my face as I admired my gorgeous little baby.

"When do you want to start telling people?" I glanced over at Nick who sat beside me in the car. Sirah was sat in the driver's seat, quietly minding her own business as she quietly sang along to the radio.

"I don't know" Nick stroked a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Why don't you know?"

"Because I'm scared that I'm gonna lose this baby too and telling people that would be too hard" he leant to press a kiss to my temple as I glanced back down at the sonogram, lightly running my thumb over the still image of my baby. "I don't want to jinx anything. I don't want to lose this baby. I-I can't lose this baby, Nick" I turned to look at him, my eyes having welled up with tears.

"I'd love to promise that we won't lose this baby but I can't, Baby" I nodded, leaning over to lower my head onto his shoulder. He leant his cheek against the top of my head and laced his fingers with mine. "I love you, Demi, and I love our little gummy bear too" he stroked the back of my hand with his thumb. I felt my mouth tugging at the corners, a smile slowly forming on my face as Nick pressed a kiss to the top of my head.

"You guys are too adorable" the silence was broken by Sirah who awed from where she sat in the driver's seat causing Nick and I too lightly chuckle.

-

"Hi, Baby" I smiled as I leant down to lock my arms around Peyton who charged straight for me as I stepped into my mom's house. "I have a surprise for you, Handsome" he pulled away with curiosity written across his face.

"What?" I turned to glance behind me as Nick stepped around the door and into the house. "Daddy" Peyton squealed and ran straight for Nick who lifted him onto his hip. They locked their arms around each other and my heart burst, my eyes suddenly welling up with tears.

"Hi, Buddy. I missed you" Peyton nodded into Nick's neck.

"Miss you too. No leave again" he pulled his head from Nick's neck and shook his head.

"Daddy's staying at home for a couple day's but then he has to go back, Bud."

"No" my heart broke for Peyton.

"I'm sorry, Buddy" Peyton kept his grip tight around his neck, refusing to let him go. Nick nuzzled himself into Peyton and I lifted my hand up to wipe at my cheeks, my other hand briefly running over my stomach before I remembered that my mom was stood beside me and she doesn't know that I'm pregnant.

"You guys want to stay for dinner?" I sniffled and turned to mom with a smile at her offer.

"Nick?"

"Hmm?" he hummed and I smiled at the fact he wasn't paying attention because he was focusing solely on Peyton.

"Do you want to stay for dinner or do you want to head home?" he sent me a small smile as he adjusted Peyton.

"We can stay for dinner; it saves us from having to cook anything. Thank you for the offer, Dianna" she waved her hand in a 'don't worry about it' manner before she turned and began into the kitchen. Peyton suddenly pulled himself from Nick as he stepped into the house and quietly shut the door behind him.

"Mommy, I show you" Peyton grabbed at my hand and suddenly began to tug me into the living room. I couldn't help but to chuckle as I shared a brief smile with Nick.

"What are you showing me, Baby Boy?" he grabbed a piece of paper off the coffee table and pointed at the couch. "You want me to sit down?" he nodded his reply.

"And daddy" he pointed up at Nick.

"Don't point, Baby."

"Sowry" Nick took a seat beside me and we lightly chuckled as we shared a look of confusion. Peyton suddenly thrust a piece of paper into my hands, a huge ass smile spread across his face.

"Aww, Baby, this is so good" it was covered in uneven squiggles and they sort of resembled people, sort of. "What is it, Handsome?" I pulled Peyton onto my lap and smiled as he cuddled back into me.

"Mommy" he pointed at the first stick like figure which had a pink squiggling line as a body, a pink head and bright purple hair. "That daddy" he pointed at the figure beside who resembled me and I lightly chuckled at the drawing. Nick had bright green hair and his body was a crazy ass squiggle. "That me, and that baby" Nick and I shared a look of confusion as he pointed at the two smallest squiggles on the piece of paper.

"Baby?" Peyton nodded, a proud smile on his face.

"That's all he's talked about all day" Nick and I turned to my dad who sat in his chair beside us. "You've been dreaming about a baby brother, haven't you, Peyton?" Peyton turned to us with a wide smile and a nod.

"You want a baby brother?"

"Yeah" he smiled down at his drawing.

"Well, I can't promise that you'll ever get a baby brother, but what about a baby sister?" Peyton glanced up at me and I couldn't help but to chuckle at his pout.

"A baby sister would be a bit like Brynlee" he turned to Nick and nodded.

"I get baby bubba" and I'm assuming he means brother.

"Not right now, Handsome, but maybe one day, okay?" I pressed a kiss to the back of his head as he nodded. "I'm so proud of you though, this drawing is amazing. We need to put this on the refrigerator when we get home" I locked my arms around Peyton, keeping my smile down on the painting that remained in my hands. Peyton just cuddled back into me, Nick and I sharing a brief smile that spoke volumes. Peyton may get his little brother or sister sooner than he thinks, as long as everything goes okay.

——