Afterglow (Book Three)

Forty Five

Demi

"So, what will you be, a boy or a girl?" I spoke softly as I stood half naked in front of the bathroom mirror, gently caressing my baby bump.

Today is the gender reveal party. It's being held at Dallas', and pretty much everyone has been invited. Dallas has organised the entire thing so she's the only person who knows gummy bears gender.

"I can't wait to meet you" I cooed, smiling at the flutters. Gummy bear still isn't kicking hard enough for Nick to feel but I've been feeling them fluttering around for weeks. "When are you going to kick hard enough for daddy and your big brother to feel, huh?" I jumped when I felt a hand on my lower back, glancing up into the mirror and I smiled as Nick nuzzled his chin into my neck causing me to giggle. "Hi, Baby" he circled his arms around my waist, his hands pressed against my bare belly.

"Are you getting dressed today?" I rolled my eyes and continued to giggle as I leant back into him.

"Yes, I'm getting dressed today."

"What you planning to wear?" he removed his arms from around me so I could grab my dress.

"What do you think?" I held it in front of myself. The dress is white, it's tighter around my breasts but it flows perfectly around my bump. I know it's December so I'm throwing on a denim jacket with it.

"It's perfect."

"Thanks, Babe" I leant forward to press a peck to his lips causing him to giggle.

"I'm going to finish off getting Peyton ready. You have a preference of what colour socks you want him to wear?" I rolled my eyes and sarcastically chuckled. Nick laughed and leant to press a kiss to my cheek. He lightly caressed my stomach before he left the room.

"You can continue to flutter in there but you need to start kicking" I quietly spoke down to my tummy before I started to get dressed.

-

"This party is going to be so extravagant" Nick lightly chuckled as he pulled the car to a stop in Dallas' driveway. There were pink, white and blue balloons hanging from the front porch and a 'Boy Or Girl?' pink and blue banner was attached to the front door.

"Do you know how we're finding out the gender?" I shook my head as I unfastened my seatbelt.

"You ready to find out whether baby's a boy or a girl, Handsome?" I glanced back at Peyton who nodded. Nick and I shared a smile before we climbed from the car. Nick unfastened Peyton from his car seat and I followed them up the driveway with my hand settled on my stomach.

"Hi" Dallas pulled open the front door with a wide smile. "So, you're the last people to arrive" she playfully scolded and I rolled my eyes as Nick lightly chuckled.

"Hi" Peyton squealed and leant towards Dallas.

"Hi, Handsome Boy" he giggled as Dallas pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Go and find Ace, Buddy" Dallas lowered him down onto the floor and he ran off into the house. "Hi Baby" she cooed as she lightly placed her hands on my tummy.

"Hands off" I playfully slapped her hands away causing her to laugh. "You aren't going to feel anything anyway, gummy bear isn't kicking yet" she lightly wrapped her arms around my neck and gave me a squeeze. "So, how are we finding out the gender?"

"The Christmas tree. The lights are either pink or blue, and we will be turning them on in approximately 3 hours."

"An interesting way to find out the gender."

"Right?" she squealed her excitement. Nick and I just glanced at each other and laughed. "There's drinks in the kitchen and everyone's in the living room, patiently waiting for your arrival" Dallas playfully teased.

"I'll go and grab us some drinks if you want to greet everyone. You are carrying the guest of honour anyway" Nick and I shared a smile before he leant to press a kiss to my temple and disappeared into the kitchen leaving me to follow Dallas into the living room.

-

"You have a perfect little bump" I smiled over at Sirah who sat beside me, sipping on her ice water that held an ice cube with a little plastic baby inside. I ran my hand along my stomach, accenting my bump.

"It's smaller than when I was pregnant with Peyton."

"It's cute" I lightly giggled, smiling harder at the flutters. "You felt any kicks yet?" I shook my head, glancing up at Nick who settled on the arm of the couch beside me.

"Nope, just little flutters."

There's so many little fun games for everyone to involve themselves in and it's been such a fun gender reveal party. Everyone has made a guess on what they think the gender of the baby is a majority of them have gone with boy. The only people who have said the baby is a girl is Nick, Denise, Maddie, Sirah, Matthew and my dad. Everyone else is convinced that I'm having another boy, including myself.

"Okay everyone" Dallas clapped her hands together to grab at everyone's attention. "Could I please have the expectant mommy and daddy up here?" I released a sigh but shared a smile with Nick as he held his hand out for me. He helped me to stand and lightly pulled me towards Dallas. "As everyone knows, we're here to find out the gender of this little gummy bear" everyone chuckled as I lightly hit Dallas' hands away from my tummy. "We have everyone's guesses right here, unfortunately there isn't a prize for the winners" everyone playfully groaned and I just giggled.

"Mommy" everyone awed as Peyton ran into the room and straight to me and Nick.

"Hi, Baby. You ready to find out whether baby's a girl or a boy?" he eagerly nodded and held his arms up to Nick. Nick lifted him onto his hip and we turned to Dallas.

"You want to press the button, Peyton?" he nodded and took the control from Dallas. "Don't press it yet, okay? We're going to press it on three" Peyton nodded and dropped his head onto Nick's shoulder. I smiled as Nick wrapped his arm around my neck and cradled me against his side. "Okay, we all ready?" a collection of cheers filled the room.

"One."

"Two."

"Three."

"Press the button, Peyton" a collection of cheers filled the room as the living room was lit.

——

Last guess guys...Boy or Girl?? 💙💗