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“Are you sure you don’t want me to come up?” I asked.
“No, my nosy landlord might see you. Be down in a jiff.”
I strode back to the town car and took my usual spot leaning against it. A few minutes later, Addison pushed open the door to her apartment and stepped out into the warm glow of the sun that had just dipped below the buildings. She was in a long black dress with thin straps. The dress jutted out just before it hit her waist, swishing around her like a dancer. Her hair was pulled up into a bun piled on her head, wavy tendrils framing her face.
“Wow,” I said.
She smiled and did a little twirl. I reached for her hand and pulled her toward me. I leaned in and gave her a quick kiss before opening the car door. We both slid inside, closing the door behind me.
“Is this new?” I asked, feeling the skirt of her dress in my fingers.
“Mhmm,” she said proudly.
“I like it. A lot.”
“I had to do a little shopping. I’m starting to show,” she whispered, running her hands over the dress. I could see a small bump protruding as she pulled the dress against her. I sucked in a breath. Seeing her stomach growing made the baby seem all the more real.
“May I?” I asked softly.
She nodded.
I placed my hands gently on her stomach and could feel the firm roundness underneath my hands.
“Wow,” I said. “When will I be able to feel it?”
“Not for a while,” she said. “I haven’t felt anything yet.”
I furrowed my brows with worry.
“It’s okay,” she reassured me. “That’s normal. Baby’s too small to feel any movement.”
I nodded, feeling relieved. “I haven’t been keeping up with Googling all things baby.”
“It’s okay. I’ve been doing enough reading for the both of us.” She squeezed my hand.
“So, where are we going?” she asked, looking at me with excitement in her eyes.
“Well…I hope you don’t mind, but I told Freddy we could go on a double date...”
“That sounds fun,” said Heart, and the smile on her face was convincing.
“Really?” I asked, letting out a small sigh of relief.
“Yeah. He was really nice. Plus, who else is going to tell me embarrassing stories from your childhood?” She nudged me playfully.
She really was something else. So go with the flow and sincere. She was unlike anyone I had ever met. I leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.
“What was that for?” she asked.
“You. Just being you.”
She smiled up at me and she just looked so damn beautiful.
“Let’s tell Freddy tonight.”
“Wait? What? About the baby?” she asked in surprise.
“Yeah. Why not?” I shrugged.