“Oh,” Teeny gasped. I scooted around in front of her and dropped down to my knees lifting her shirt up and placing a kiss right where Junior’s little foot had pushed out. Awe and wonder filled me as I watched Junior moving around under her skin. I could honestly say I’d never seen anything so magical in my entire life.
“He’s strong,” I murmured completely enthralled by his movements.
“She, she’s strong. Junior might be a girl. We’ve talked about this.” My head snapped up to look at her smiling face.
“Nope, it’s a boy. There’s testosterone. I can sense these things you know.” My brows scrunched; it better be a boy. I would be pretty screwed if I had a girl who looked like her mother. I’d be beating up ten-year-olds and decapitating teenage boys before I knew it.
“I’m still betting on a girl. You need to be kept on your toes.” Teeny reached out and cupped my face in her hands. An insanely terrifying thought punched through my chest.
“What if I’m no good at it,” I worried aloud.
“No good at what, honey?” she asked confused by my sudden outburst.
“Being a dad. What if I’m no good at it and mess it all up. What if it—” My eyes went saucer-wide as I locked eyes with her. “What if Junior turns out like me?”
“Trip, hear me now. I’m only going to say this once. There is nothing wrong with being you; you’re sweet and kind. You’re funny and fiercely loyal. Don’t be ashamed of who you are. I know the real you and I love you for it. If our child turns out anything like you, that would be a blessing,” she gently reassured me. My mind was blown. Teeny wasn’t often the type to get all deep and meaningful, but right there, me on my knees, she meant it. I could see it shining from her eyes. She really meant every damn word she’d said.
If I wasn’t sure I loved her before, I would have known with every part of me in that moment. She was it. She was my everything.
Chapter Twenty–One
Teeny
“I feel like a whale,” I pouted unnecessarily flopping back on the bed. “I’m not going.”
“Do I need to show you again how fucking hot you are?” Trip smirked standing in the bathroom doorway, one hand extended above his head touching the top of the doorframe. I licked my lips. My body warmed up as I watched a drop of water slowly travel down the tattoos on his defined chest. It gently trickled over his ripped abs, down one side of that awesome V muscle and soaked into the low slung towel that barely held on to his waist.
“Huh?” I asked completely distracted by the muscles that were stretched under his inked skin. The metal ring in his nipple caught the last rays of light streaming in from the window. He chuckled and smacked out a beat with his hands on the doorframe before pushing off and stepping in front of me. “You look sexy. Don’t doubt it.” A blush crept up my face as his eyes locked on mine daring me to argue back. He leaned down, cupped my face and kissed me hard. “You. Are. Fucking. Hot.” I sat flushed and speechless as he wandered off and got dressed like he was completely unaffected.
“Humph,” I muttered pushing myself up from the bed and waddling to my cute flat sandals; my dress swished with each step. “You could go ahead and get fat with me; it’d make me feel better.”
“Princess, you aren’t fat. I’d tell you if you were fat. Your tits are fucking awesome. I’m actually thinking about making sure you stay knocked up. Those bad boys rock,” he snickered and dodged the ballet slipper flat I threw at him. I didn’t miss the suggestion of more kids, even if it was only him joking around. Rather than over analyzing it, I grabbed my purse and took myself downstairs ready for our first official date complete with a belly full of butterflies, arms and legs.
“I need to go again,” I sighed. “It’s your fault I need to use the bathroom so much. Your kid is heavy and pressing on my bladder.”
“You only went before we left the house,” Trip complained as he opened the restaurant door for me. I walked through choosing to ignore his comment. Instead, I just toddled up to the maitre’d stand. I opened my mouth to speak but was abruptly cut off when the young woman behind it locked her eyes on Trip and all but humped his leg.
“How can I help you tonight?” The tall brunette waitress cooed up at Trip batting her eyelashes and poking her very fake chest out. Unbelievably, she ignored my presence all together.
“Table for two, please. Somewhere quiet if you can,” he drawled smoothly while I glared at the flirty girl in front of him. Then he went and pulled out sweet Trip again and put an arm around my waist. My lips tipped up at the corners.
“Sure,” she sulked looking like she’d just sucked on a lemon. “If you’d like to take a seat at the bar over there, I’ll have somebody come and get you when it’s ready.”
“I’ll get us a drink while you go to the bathroom.” He dropped a kiss on my forehead and I shuffled off in the direction of the ladies’ room.
I stepped back out of the ladies’ room with a giant smile on my face. As far as first dates went, this one was a little late, as in thirty-six weeks late, but so far nothing short of wonderful. Trip had been thoughtful and cute. Never complaining about how slowly I was teetering about on my heavy legs, opening doors and dismissing the waitress. I knew he wouldn't change.
Ten steps in and my smile died as fast as it had appeared, “You’ve gotta be shitting me,” I grumbled, a sick feeling swirling around my stomach. Trip leaned against the bar his back to me, a stunning woman leaning into him with her hand on his bicep giggling and flirting. I should have known better; it was too good to be true and I was an idiot for thinking otherwise. Once a player, always a player.
Unable to help myself, I stepped up a little closer, just enough to be within hearing distance. My heart stopped when Trip reached up and grabbed the girl’s hand that was running up and down his arm. My stomach dropped to my feet as I realized I was being played a fool. I was on a date with him and he was hitting on some chick the first chance he got.