Vivi
“WHERE ARE THE CANDLES?” I ask Zayn as I search through the drawers of our kitchen.
“Top cabinet on the right,” he says as he holds the birthday boy in his arms.
I quickly put three candles on the Harry Potter themed cake and carry it over to the dining room table where Bella and Beckett are already sitting there waiting.
It’s been a good five years living with Zayn in California. At first, I was very hesitant about moving back here given what happened with Annabelle in this state, but Zayn getting traded to the Panthers ended up being an excellent move for us all. Zayn and I tried long distance for a while, but as soon as Love in the Sands wrapped, I made the move to be with him. It took a while to work through the trauma the kidnapping causes us, but together with the help of some great therapists, we’re making progress. I think about the event a little less every day and try to focus on the good things in my life.
Now that I’ve got some connections in the film industry, I’ve been able to get jobs here in California, occasionally being able to work on the same projects Bella is doing wardrobe on. There really are more opportunities here for my line of work. I just didn’t know how to find them before, but I’ll never regret going to Florida, because if I didn’t, I would have never met Zayn, Bella and Beckett. These people are my family now and I can’t picture my life without them.
Zayn sits and holds our son in his lap as I light the candles. We all belt out happy birthday, and Nathan claps and giggles while we sing to him.
“All right, blow the candles out just like we practiced,” Zayn tells him. “One. Two. Three!”
Nathan blows and Zayn helps him a little. The three tiny flames snuff out and we all clap for him, which causes the cutest little grin to light up his face. I swear that child looks more and more like his father every day.
These two guys mean everything to me.
“Oh. I forgot the plates and ice cream,” I say.
“Let me help you.” Zayn stands, and Bella reaches her arms out to take Nathan out of Zayn’s arms.
“Careful,” Beckett says and Bella waves him off. “Doctor said no heavy lifting in the last trimester.”
Who knew Beckett would turn into such a mother hen the moment his wife of two years got pregnant? I can’t wait to meet their baby and my kids will have an instant best friend.
Zayn follows me into the kitchen and then grabs my wrist, pulling me into his for a kiss. “You need to be careful too, you know. It’s still early in the pregnancy and we want to keep our little girl in there safe.”
I roll my eyes. “Carrying paper plates and a pint of ice cream is hardly a daunting task.”
He kisses the soft skin below my ear and then trails his nose up my jawline before he kisses me again. I love it when he does that. It turns me on and he knows it.
I fall into him and grip his shirt into my hands.
“Easy there. We still have guests. I’ll fuck your sexy, horny ass later when we put Nathan down for a nap,” he teases. “I love pregnancy hormones.”
I throw my head back and laugh. “Is that why you keep getting me pregnant and saying you want at least ten kids?”
He grins wickedly. “That’s one reason for sure. I love you’re always so ready to jump my bones any time I touch you. Fucking you is my favorite thing to do on the planet.”
I smile. “I thought football was your favorite.”
“It was,” he admits. “That was before I met you. Now my world revolves around you and our children.”
“God, I love you,” I tell him, still amazed how much I love him after all these years together.
“I love you too, babe. Forever.”
He kisses me as I stand barefoot and pregnant in our kitchen. I love this man and the amazing life we’ve built together.
