Then she was surrounded by everyone and hugged. She couldn’t help but smile and laugh and shed a few tears.
“Dammit, you’re all making me weepy and emotional, and you know I hate that shit.”
“Well, get used to it. It’ll get worse before it gets better,” Tara said. “I was a water faucet and an emotional basket case when I was pregnant with Sam.”
“I’m going to get a grip here very soon. I don’t intend to let hormones get the best of me.”
Kathleen laughed. “Good luck with that, sweetheart. I don’t think you get to control your hormones when you’re pregnant.”
She lifted her chin. “I refuse to let my body take over. It’s bad enough I’m throwing up.”
“It’s only the first trimester,” Alicia said. “After that, you’ll be back to normal again.”
She didn’t think anything would ever be normal again. Her life—hers and Gavin’s lives, were about to change forever.
Surprisingly, and considering it was late December, the day had turned out beautifully. No snow, and it was in the fifties, so the guys went outside to shoot baskets. After that, everyone came inside for dessert.
Kathleen’s coconut cream pie was a big hit. Liz had made pecan pie, which everyone loved, and Savannah had made a peach pie that was to die for. Though she wasn’t hungry, Liz had to sample everything.
“And now I’m so full I think I’m going to explode,” she said.
“Think how awesome it’s going to be not to have to suck in your stomach anymore,” Jenna said.
Liz laughed. “You’re right. That’s the most awesome thing ever.” She rubbed her belly. “Thanks, baby. My diet is officially over for at least the next, I don’t know, seven months or so.”
They all opened gifts, and then everyone left early in the evening, which suited her just fine. She loved Gavin’s family—her family—but it had been one hell of a long day and she was utterly exhausted. Plus, after finding out she was pregnant, she wanted some time alone with her husband.
After they said good-bye to the last of the family, she and Gavin shut and locked the door. He slipped his arm around her waist and tugged her close, then brushed his lips against hers. She melted into him and took the moment to breathe in his scent, then laid her head against his chest.
“Thank you,” she said, wrapping her arms around him.
“For what?”
“For loving me. For marrying me. For giving me a baby.”
He tipped her chin up with his fingers, forcing her to meet his gaze. “How about I thank you? I was watching you when you fell asleep on my lap last night, thinking about how much my life has changed since I fell in love with you. And how much I want to make you happy.”
Her eyes filled with tears. Gavin swiped them from her cheeks and kissed her again.
“You’ve already made all my dreams come true.”
He laid his hand on her belly. “This is it, babe. You and me—parents. Think we can handle it?”
“I know you’ll make a wonderful father. Now me as a mom? The poor kid.”
“I don’t know if I’ve ever known anyone with a deeper capacity to love than you. Our child is very lucky to have you as a mother.”
All those years she’d fought so hard to become just as successful as her male counterparts in the sports world. She’d won that battle, but she’d never thought she’d have the man of her dreams.
She’d made so many mistakes along the way, and she’d almost lost Gavin. But he’d been there for her when she’d needed him the most, and he’d seen through all her bullshit and had wanted her anyway. She’d be forever grateful to him for busting through her walls and getting to her heart.
They spent some time sitting together around the Christmas tree, enjoying the quiet of the house and the twinkling lights.
“It’s been a perfect day,” Gavin said.
“A rough start to it, yet a happy one.”
“You ready for bed?” he asked.
She nodded, and they turned off the lights and started up the stairs.
“You’re off the hook now, you know,” she said as they got into the bedroom.
He frowned. “Huh?”
“Well, now that I’m pregnant, I won’t be after you to have sex with me every day.”
“So now that you’ve used me for my baby-making abilities, you’re casting me aside like a used condom?”
She laughed. “Yeah, it was good while it lasted, but we’re through.”
He picked her up and set her on the bed. “Nice try, Elizabeth.” He loomed over her and tugged at her pants. “But I’m nowhere near through with you.”
She reached for him to pull him against her. “And that’s why I love you, Gavin.”
Because she knew no matter how long they were together, every time would be as fresh, new and exciting as the first time.
And the best was yet to come.
Dear Reader,