The Boy Next Door

Chapter 44

4 1/2 months later

I keep my eyes down at my swollen stomach, my body wanting to just out this position already. The faint paint fumes fill my rooms as I look at the cluttered art room out my peripheral.

I can't do this anymore.

I exhale loudly, dropping my pose. "There's no way you're not done yet. You said finishing touches."

Elijah smacks on his gum as he glances over at me from behind the canvas, paintbrush held in his fingers like the cigarette he wishes he had right now.

"I said final adjustments." He states, as if what I said was so off. I give him a bored look, my hand clutching the sheer, white drape against my breasts. "Technically, you've been done for a good ten minutes now."

Ten minutes? "Then what the hell did you have me standing here still for?" I ask, walking over to plop down on his couch. He waltz over to me, his arms leaning on the top of the couch.

"Finishing touches, remember? Had to get 'em."

I lift my hand, ready to hit his arm. He moves out of range, his deep chuckle filling the room as tosses something at me.

"Have some chocolate, grumpy."

"I'm not grumpy," I mumble while placing the chocolate cube in my mouth. "I'm tired."

I can't see my feet, yet I know they're swole and sore like the rest of me. My back aches, my bladder is fucked, and I swear I've slowed down so much, a turtle could possibly beat me. Not to mention the emotional spurts at literally anything.

Aiden, on the other hand, can't get enough of my belly. I don't think his hand leaves the side of my stomach the entire night, and when I'm supposedly asleep, I hear him talking to the baby. It's the sweetest thing, truly, until they get excited listening to his voice and start to kick.

I've got a couple months left of this before I'm screaming in pain just to get it out. But, God, I've loved every minute of it.

"Are you sure you can't come to the party? You can even smoke outside." I ask, knowing he's put off smoking due to my pregnancy. I don't see why though, he only needs to not do it whenever I'm around.

He walks over to me with my clothes in hand, his head shaking subtly. "No can do, mama bear. Besides, I'm giving you your gift, what do I need to come for?"

"Thank you," I say for the clothes. "And to see me, and Aiden. Ooh! Alex will be there."

He chuckles at that. "God, even more reason to pass." He hops over the edge of the couch, sitting right at my feet, which he kindly grabs and begins to massage.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

"Seriously, though, I've gotta go out of town. I've told your lame ass baby daddy to record the thing, so let's see how he does with that task."

"Don't talk about my man." I say sternly, although the smile on my face takes away any sternness.

I've been antsy this past week, knowing we finally have the gender reveal today. Aiden's parents are at the apartment setting everything up. Originally, it was going to be held at their house, but I wanted it here, especially so the Valero's could come.

Adeline and Dylan were more impatient than we were, being they found out the gender of their baby the minute they could. They're going to have the cutest baby boy in the world though.

"You don't happen to know, do you?" I ask as he stands from the couch, curious if he knows the gender. He gives me a confused look, as if he doesn't know what I'm asking. "Elijah." I whine.