Afterglow (Book Three)

Forty Seven

Demi

"Miss Harper will you please remove your foot from my rib?" I grumbled, gently massaging my side.

I'm 35 weeks pregnant and the aches and pains are no joke. We decided on a name for baby girl, Harper, when I was around 28 weeks. We had been going back and forth on name suggestions until we finally agreed on Harper. So, baby girl is Harper Zoey Jonas.

"Mommy" I turned to the living room door and plastered a smile across my face as Peyton ran into the room.

"Hi Baby Boy" he climbed up onto the couch beside me and cuddled himself into my side, his hand settling on my tummy. "Did you have a good day with daddy and uncle Joey?" I gently ran my fingers into his hair as he nodded.

"Yeah, I hit the ball on my own."

"Oh, Baby, I'm so proud of you" I covered his face in kisses causing him to squeal. Peyton has a new interest in baseball which Nick is so excited about because he loves baseball too. It's something that they can bond over which will be good for when Harper gets here. It's a way for him not to feel left out.

"Is Harper okay?"

"Harper's perfect, Handsome" I beamed and my eyes welled up with tears as he pressed a kiss to my belly. "I think she missed her big brother though" my heart warmed as he began talking to his baby sister.

"Hi Baby" I smiled up at Nick as he leant down to brush a kiss to my lips.

"Hi" he pulled away and ran his hand along my bump.

"How are you? How's Harper?"

"We're not bad. Harper keeps shoving her foot into my ribs though" he lightly chuckled and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "How was Peyton? He said he hit the ball on his own?" Nick nodded with a wide smile.

"He did" Peyton beamed. "You're going to be such an amazing baseball player, aren't you, Bud?" Peyton giggled as Nick ruffled his hair.

"Yeah, I wanna be on the tv" since his new obsession with baseball, him and Nick have been watching every game that they can on the tv. Peyton is obsessed and I love it. I love that he already has something to be passionate about.

"We may have to see if we can get you into a little team, Baby" Peyton nodded his agreement. "Are we hungry or have we eaten, Handsome?"

"We had Donald's."

"You had McDonalds?" Peyton nodded, his eyes on the tv. "Nicholas?" he rolled his eyes as I groaned.

"What? He deserves a treat every once in a while" I sighed but caved as I pressed a kiss to the top of Peyton's head.

"What did you have, Baby?"

"Nuggets and milkshake."

"Was it nice?" he nodded. "Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it, Handsome" he giggled before pushing himself off the couch. He wondered to Batman and Ella, picking up a toy from their basket and beginning to wave it in front of them. Nick took Peyton's place and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, his fingers playing with the ends of my hair.

"I missed you today" I smiled as he pressed a kiss to my temple and ran his other hand along my belly.

"I missed you too."

"You miss daddy, Beautiful?" he traced his fingers along my tummy as Harper rolled beneath my skin.

"I think that's a yes" he lightly chuckled.

"You need anything, Baby?"

"No, I'm good" I cuddled myself into his side, his arms locking around me causing me to smile.

-

"I love you."

"Love you too, Mommy" he leant to press a peck to my lips.

"You going to say night to Harper, Handsome?"

"Night, Harper. Love you" he pressed a kiss to my belly.

"She loves you too, Baby. I'll see you in the morning, okay? Have a nice sleep, Handsome" I pressed another kiss to the top of his head before allowing him to leave the room with Nick. "You're such a lucky little girl to have a big brother like Peyton" I leant back against the couch and ran my hand along my belly as Harper rippled beneath my skin. I focused my attention on the tv, only looking away as Nick lowered himself down onto the couch beside me.

I'm 35 weeks and throughout this entire pregnancy, we haven't had sex once. I've pleasured Nick as I don't want him to feel deprived but we're both definitely starting to miss the intimacy. My sex drive is just non-existent and the thought of having sex makes me sick to my stomach.

"And finally we're alone" I lightly giggled and dropped my head onto his shoulder as his hand settled on my tummy. He pressed a kiss to the top of my head.

"Soon we'll have another baby to take care of. We're going back to those sleepless nights, Nick."

"And I'm totally ready for them" I pulled my head from his shoulder and smiled over at him. "How are your ankles?" he nodded down to my slipper covered feet that were propped up on the coffee table.

"They're still swollen."

"5 more weeks, Baby."

"I feel like she's going to be overdue so make that 7 weeks" Nick lightly chuckled as I gently stroked my belly.

"Nah, I think she'll be here around her due date, if not earlier" I shook my head in disagreement.

"Okay, I bet you $50 she's overdue" Nick rolled his eyes as I held my hand out for him to shake.

"And what do I need $50 for?"

"You can buy Harper something."

"That girl already has everything she needs, but okay" he shook my hand causing me to playfully cheer. "You better come before your due date, Little Miss, otherwise you owe daddy $50" I lightly hit Nick on the arm causing him to laugh, leaning to press a kiss to my bump.

"I wonder who she'll look like."

"I hope she looks like you, butt chin and all" I rolled my eyes but giggled as Nick pressed a kiss to my chin.

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