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I shrug. “Don’t know, your dad hasn’t told me yet.”
“He should consider Alex.”
I raise a brow. I’m guessing it would be a tribute to Marti’s daughter who died as an infant. But she might think differently if she knew Alexandra is my real name.
When I don’t say anything, she elaborates. “It kind of makes sense. That way he’d be named after your son, your father, my cousin… and you.”
My eyes snap to hers. “Me?”
“Alexandra, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Christina and Alex Anderson. Cool names, don’t you think?”
I try not to smile too broadly. “I’m on board. But you have to ask your dad, and more importantly, your aunt.”
“I’m not about to ask my dad anything right now. I feel like I’m going to be grounded until the end of time and anything I ask for will be immediately dismissed.”
“Maybe you’re right. Give it a few days. He might be super mad right now, but it’s only because of how much he loves you.”
She pulls her knees to her chest. “And you? Areyoumad?”
I rein in my emotions, because I know exactly what she’s asking. “Yes, Darla. I’m steaming mad.” I wink at her and get off the bed. “I also have to pee before one of these babies kicks my bladder again and I burst all over your bed.”
She laughs.Laughs!
At the door, I turn. “Are we good?”
She nods and I smile.
I’m almost through the door when she says, “Allie?”
“Mmm?” I look at her over my shoulder.
“You can call me Bug.”
Chapter Forty-two
Asher
“How many clothes do two babies need?” I shake my head in amusement as I unload the car.
I never knew two women could shop so much. Don’t we already have everything?
Allie and Bug have been shopping together.A lot. When Bug was grounded, it was the only way she could leave the house other than school and soccer. But she hasn’t been grounded for a few weeks, and it makes me so incredibly happy that she still wants to go shopping. So, even knowing we have little room for anything else in either nursery, I shouldn’t be too hard on them.
I hate that my thirteen—now fourteen-year-old—had to go through what she did in order for them to finally form a bond. But I can’t deny it’s been worth it. Watching the two of them get closer over the past few months has brought me more happiness than I thought I could feel. And with just a week to go before the babies come, there’s no time to spare.
I’ve thought about bringing up the marriage thing again. After all, I’ve been carrying around Mom’s ring in my pocket for so long now I’m surprised I haven’t lost it. But there’s a lot on our plate being so close to D-day.
“You’ll be amazed at how quickly they grow out of things,” Allie says, out of breath as she walks from the garage to the kitchen.
I pull out a chair for her. “Sit. You shouldn’t be on your feet so much.”
I remove her shoes and pull her feet onto my lap and rub them. She shifts uncomfortably in the chair. For weeks now, she’s been unable to find good positions to sit and sleep in, notto mention having sex. That’s pretty much been off the table. The babies are taking up so much room, there isn’t room for anything else—including her own internal organs or my cock.
“Just one more week,” I say, kneading the balls of her feet.