Chapter 3- Bliss

Amaija

I sit by the fridge with a pile of food laid out before me. It's after midnight. Xoi is streaming late, so he'll probably sleep at his office tonight. I woke up starving; this little one keeps me on my toes. Thankfully, my morning sickness has passed now, but these nighttime hunger surges have come to replace it.

"You're a greedy one, aren't you?" I scoop another chunk of ice cream into my mouth, savoring the taste.

"My heart..." I jump at the sound of his voice. He's talked to me about having these nighttime meals, but he's not the one carrying his big-headed baby, and Mama's gotta eat. I turn my face to the side to hide, then scoop another spoonful of ice cream and swallow it. Xoi laughs as he walks up to me.

"Babe, we talked about this; the doctor doesn't recommend it," he says.

"Babe, you don't want our child to starve, do you? The little one wants ice cream," I tell him.

"I think Mommy is the one who wants ice cream," he replies.

"And Mommy gets what she wants," I say back. I scoop another spoonful of ice cream into my mouth, throw the tub back in the fridge, then stretch my hands out for him to pick me up. He grins and obliges, scooping me up in his arms. I wrap my hands around his neck and my legs around his torso.

"I thought you were spending the night at the studio," I tell him.

"And stay away from you and our baby? Never." I smile, nuzzling into his neck, then jump suddenly.

"Wait! I left food on the floor!"

He kisses my lips and says, "I'll get it later because right now I want some you-and-me time."

He walks to the bedroom, puts me gently on the bed, and strips away my pajamas. "You're so beautiful."

He kisses my stomach before moving his mouth to my lips. He takes off his clothes quickly and throws them to the side. I laugh as he crawls onto the bed.

"What did you and my baby do today?"

"Completed some IVR for the game. What about you—how was work?" He slips inside me. I gasp, wrapping my legs around him as he begins to move slowly. I start grinding my hips to match his rhythm, panting as he thrusts harder and faster. Finally, we're at the edge. We climax together; he collapses beside me.

"Work was good, but I missed you two," Xoi says. He pulls me into his arms and kisses my neck.

"I can see that; we missed you too." He slips down to my stomach and kisses it before returning to my side and pulling me into his arms.

"My best girls," he whispers.

"I don't know what we're having yet."

He pulls me tighter and says, "I know it's a girl, and she'll be as pretty as you." I smile, my heart warming as I drift off to sleep, totally at peace and happy with my little growing family.

---

Two Days Later

Ding Dong. Ding Dong. Ding Dong.

I jump out of bed and run to the door. I peek through the peephole and scream when I see who's standing there. I pull it open.

"Zara!" I hug her tightly. Our parents are best friends, so we grew up together like sisters. Unfortunately, she lives in Texas, so I don't get to see her often, but we talk on the phone frequently.

"Aren't you glowing?" she says. I roll my eyes as I usher her in.

"I think they tell every pregnant woman that so they can feel better about getting fat," I respond.

"Maybe, but there's definitely a glow." I smile as she hugs me again; she pulls away and looks me over. "Seriously, you look happy."

"I am. My munchkin is healthy, my baby daddy is hot, and my career is doing well, so I can't complain," I say.

"How are you? I haven't spoken to you in... wow, a month. I feel terrible."

"I'm doing well. We both have busy lives, and you're pregnant." Zara screams and grabs my hands; I grin as we embrace again. "I can't wait to be an aunt; that baby will be adorable." I rub my stomach and smile.

"Enough about me and the munchkin; what have you been up to?" I ask her.

"Work, work, and more work. Oh, and of course, the divorce has been finalized; I'm looking forward to being young and single again." She's two years younger than me and got married to her high school sweetheart right out of high school.

"I'm sorry you and Marcus didn't last," I say as she follows me into the kitchen. I grab a glass of lemonade for me and a glass of Moscato for her.

"His jealousy was getting too hard to handle. It was always, 'Who are you with?' 'Who's that colleague?' 'Why are you five minutes late getting home from work?'" she says. I hand her the glass and sit; she follows.

"He always loved you, maybe more than you loved him."

Zara smiles. "I know he did, but it was love that felt like a prison more than a romance. I don't want a love that's suffocating."

"I understand. That's what I love about Xoi—we can be apart and still be together. I trust him, and he trusts me; I don't need to ask him where he's going or check his phone."

"That's great. I know Xion was worried about his age and, how do I say this... lack of career," she reveals.

"Your brother too? Ugh, Jaden's been on me about it. He has a career, and age is just a number; Xoi is very mature, and he's been nothing short of amazing during this entire pregnancy," I say in Xoi's defense. I know they were never fond of him, but I think they're being too harsh.

"You know me. I want you to be happy, so if Xoi makes you happy, then I'll support you two."

"Thanks, that's why you're my favorite." She laughs.

"But seriously, do you see yourself marrying him?" I pause for a second. I've never thought about marrying Xoi. When I met him, I thought of him as my hot young boyfriend, not my future husband. But I love him, so I suppose I would marry him.

"If he asks, I would probably say yes." She takes a sip of her champagne and eyes me. "Probably?"

"Well, he's so young," I reply.

"You knew that before you started riding his—" I laugh.

"You can say 'penis,' you know. I don't know how you're so reserved when your mother is... not," I tease her.

"I have my father's personality, thank God. But did you know she told Marcus to get a life and a real job and stop watching her daughter? Her exact words," Zara adds.

I snicker. "Aunt Kenya didn't."

"Oh yes, she did," Zara confirms.

"What life is he supposed to have? You were his life." She sighs. "That was the problem. He's a struggling author, and I'm a med resident with a sizable trust fund. He probably believed I would have left him for one of the doctors I worked with. Most men can't handle it when the woman makes more money."

"That's why my baby is so special; he doesn't care that I make more."

"I said men, not boys," Zara retorts.

"Not you too!"

"I'm joking; I like the little preteen," she says.

I grab a cushion and smack her with it.

"You're becoming just as bad as Jaden and Brin."

"Jaden? How is he?" she asks after hearing my brother's name.

I roll my eyes; she's had a crush on him since we were kids. "Not this again."

"Is he single?" she continues.

"Yes, but you know he sees you as his sister," I frankly tell her.

"That's so unfair; we aren't related."

"Tell him, not me."

"Maybe I need to show him I'm all grown up."

"Right, like your 'striptease' two years ago at the cabin when you were still married. If that didn't tell Jaden you were grown, I don't know what will."

"It wasn't good lighting, and it was accidental."

"Right," I say and roll my eyes.

"Shut up, and let's go."

"Where are we going?" I ask, slightly confused.

"I need retail therapy—something sexy. Plus, I need to get you a baby gift."

"The baby shower is months away."

"I'll get you something now and another one when the baby shower comes around." I was hoping for a quiet day inside, but I wouldn't mind getting some shopping done with one of my favorite people.

"Come on, let's go!"

"Okay, okay, I'm coming."