Page 129 of Pinch

Time is flying, and I can’t get over how big my stomach is getting. It’s pretty terrifying to think I’m having a baby with Gavin the giant, even if it is a girl.

Aunt Liv gave me a pep talk over FaceTime a few days ago. She reminded me that Gina is Uncle Garrett’s daughter, and he’s six-foot-four. She told me she went through the same freak-out when she was pregnant.

Then I talked to Mom yesterday after I learned most women poop during delivery. That put the kibosh on water birthing for me. No floaters in my pool.

Now we’ve switched to all of my aunts’ favorite method, hypnobirthing. It’s basically learning to breathe and chantmantras when you really want to scream your head off and have a panic attack.

I’m not convinced it will work, but at this point, I’m doing my best to take a scientific approach. Women have babies every day with all varieties of men, and only a small percentage have problems. Breathwork and intense focus have been proven to help ease the pain of childbirth.

I can do this.

I wrote it on a Post-it note and stuck it inside my iPad cover.I can do this.

“Damn, that’s my favorite kind of sex.” Gav walks into the bedroom, smiling with his perfectly repaired front tooth.

I melt a little bit at how handsome he is, and despite my baby fears, I wouldn’t change a thing.

“It’s all your favorite kind of sex.”

“Yeah, it is.” He bends down to kiss me. “Get on the bed and let me taste that pussy.”

Heat flushes through my body, and a horny giggle slips from my throat. “Maybe we could switch to bathtub sex.”

His face scrunches. “I don’t think either of us would fit in that tub, much less together.”

Reaching up, I curl my fingers in his shaggy flow. “Sounds like we need a bigger tub.”

His expression stills, almost like he’s about to say something, but stopped himself.

“What? You didn’t get myJawsreference?”

“I want to show you something.” His hand slides down my forearm to thread our fingers. “Get Peepee and come with me.”

I reach down to scoop up our little dog, and he leads me down the stairs and out the front door. My feet are bare as I skip across our front yard to the sidewalk, hesitating to look both ways, then crossing the street.

“Where are you taking me?” I’m breathing quicker as I laugh.

He doesn’t answer as he walks straight up the porch steps and into the house across the street. It’s an adorable bungalow I’ve always admired.

“What are we doing?” I don’t know why I’m whispering. “Why is the door unlocked?”

Inside, we’re greeted by soft yellow-pine floors and white beadboard walls. The ceiling is also painted white with exposed, matching pine beams across the length.

I put Patsy down as we walk through, looking up and all around the completely empty house. The walls are painted in neutral colors, and it has arched doorways throughout. A wall of windows lines the living room, facing a flowering bush and tree-filled backyard.

“It’s so pretty,” I sigh, walking around and looking at everything. “I’ve always loved that giant sycamore out front.”

“Check this out.” Gavin leads me through a large master bedroom, to the master bath.

It’s a luxurious suite with smooth tile floors. A beige stone, walk-in shower is in one corner and a door leading to a private toilet is situated across from it.

Gavin stops me right in front of a large jetted garden tub beneath a frosted, stained-glass window, and my heart picks up with excitement.

“What do you think about that tub?” He asks, studying my face. “Big enough?”

“It should be…” I put my hand over my thumping heart, not sure what all this means. “What are we doing here?”

“How would you feel about making this our home?”