Emma
"I swear all this baby ever wants is cheese," I say, sitting next to Alyssa on the couch.
She was over at my house while the boys had a "twin night".
Neither of us minded getting some best friend time in though.
Girls nights were always fun. It's too bad that Olivia couldn't come.
She went out of town to visit her family with Adam.
Anyway, Alyssa laughs. "Really? All I ever crave is grape kool-aid and snickers."
"You're lucky. All I've been eating is mac and cheese, and nachos."
"Have you still been getting sick like crazy?"
"Not as much as the first couple of weeks, but still a little bit. And it's funny because it grosses Ethan out when I talk about it."
Alyssa giggles. "Grayson too. He brought me a glass of water while I was puking, and he pretty much turned the color of the wicked witch of the west."
"Okay," I say, getting ready for actual girl talk. "Is it just me, or is it a pregnancy thing that my sex drive is through the roof?" I ask.
"No way! Mine definitely is too."
I laugh. "So, it is a pregnancy thing."
Alyssa starts laughing too. "Is that why you and Ethan were late to game night at Liv's?"
Still laughing, I nod. "Yeah. Ethan's hand landed too far up my leg while he was driving, and then I couldn't resist. We made it to Liv's driveway, and then the backseat was put to good use."
"Yeah. I made Grayson pull the car over the other day. I completely get how you're feeling."
A smile grows onto my lips. "You know, Ethan makes me really happy."
Alyssa smiles too. "I'm glad. I guess that means you'll be my sister-in-law someday."
I let out a little chuckle. "We actually plan on getting married at some point."
"You two just make sense."
A smile creeps onto my lips again. "It feels like it does. Its only been about six months since we started dating, and it feels like we've been together forever. I can't imagine life without him."
"That's really good, Emma. Grayson and I are so happy for you two."
"Thanks, Lyss. You know, Ethan's gonna meet my parents next week."
"Really? Are you nervous?"
"Not at all. Ethan is, but my parents are so excited to meet him. I think he's just nervous about how my dad is going to react."
"Do they know you're pregnant?"
"My mom knows. My dad doesn't. I think Ethan's nervous about telling him."
"How'd your mom take it?"
"She's super excited."
"That's good. My parents are excited because they've been dying for me to have a baby since I even met Grayson. I think they already knew he was the one for me before I did."
"Ethan said the same thing about it. He said he knew you two would end up together."
"Oh, Emma. You have no idea how much Grayson has told me about you and Ethan being perfect for each other before you guys even became a thing."
"Hey, I think he was right," I say. "I've never been more sure about something in my life. He's not only my best friend, but he's the biggest support system I have. Obviously our friendship was amazing, but our relationship has changed my life in so many amazing ways."
"That's how you know he's the one, Em."
I smile, thinking about my future with Ethan. We're having a baby. We'll probably get married in the future. Buy a house. Maybe have more kids. Grow old together.
I want to go through every stage of life with Ethan.
The baby in my stomach only further confirms that. Six months ago, I never thought I'd be having a baby and thinking about the rest of my life with this man.
I never realized until now that the absolute love of my life was there hiding in plain sight. Sometimes you don't know something's right in front of you until you stop looking elsewhere.
Ethan had been right in front of me, and it took me until he asked if we could have a baby together for me to realize that he was the only person I wanted to be with ever again.
That Saturday, Ethan and I head to a local Mexican restaurant to see my parents. I can tell he's nervous, but I talked him down from being too anxious about it.
I order the chicken nachos, and Ethan orders a burrito. My parents arrive, and Ethan gives my dad a great handshake, and my mother a nice hug.
After my parents give me hugs, we sit back down, and the conversation flows smoothly between Ethan and my parents. I'm relieved. But they know he's a keeper anyway, because I told them how happy he makes me.
My dad actually is excited to hear that Ethan and I are having a baby. I'm a bit surprised that he isn't a little bit skeptical about it, but he says that he's just happy our baby will have two loving parents.
When Ethan and I get home, I take a quick shower before changing into shorts and one of Ethan's t-shirts. Then I cuddle up with him on the couch.
"How you feeling?" Ethan asks.
"Good. My parents love you already."
"They're really cool."
I smile. "Well, they did raise me."
Ethan kisses my forehead, his hand landing on my stomach. "They gave me you, and now we're having a child of our own. How amazing is that?"
"More amazing than amazing can be."
"Isn't it funny how we've been best friends for so long, yet it took us until now to be together?"
"I know. I was just thinking about that the other day. How much has changed, and how much I love you."
"You are the cutest, and I love you." He says, smiling into the peck that he places on my lips.
I smile back, looking into his eyes as our lips pull away from each other, and he leans his forehead against mine.
There's nothing better than when he looks into my eyes.
I hope our baby has his eyes.
