Page 101 of Ruin The Friendship
“Yeah. We can put the baby on my insurance, too. I know you like working, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to. You have options."
I shake my head. “I want to work. I like my job.”
I know I waffled a bit on that inside the daycare, but knowing what I do now, I’m already warming up to the idea. “Can we tour the daycare?”
“I’m sure we can. I’ll talk to our HR lady tomorrow and get all the info.” Fletcher cups my cheeks, kissing me gently. “We’ll get it figured out. And if we don’t, I bet my mom would love to stay with us longer until we do.”
“We can’t ask her to do that,” I say quickly. “We can’task her to leave her life, longer than we already are, just to watch the baby, so I can work.”
“She’d do anything for you, and you know it. You wouldn’t even have to ask, Lydia.”
The contrast between my mother and Fletcher’s mother will always shock me. I adore Dottie and Ron, but I’m still getting used to having supportive parental figures in my life. My mom has barely spoken more than a few words to me since talking about the baby shower, and she still rarely asks how the baby or I are doing. My dad hasn’t reached out once, besides sending a thumbs up to a picture I sent last weekend of my bump.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you,” I whisper, leaning forward to kiss him quickly.
Fletcher smiles into the kiss. “You’d be just fine, but we’re in this together.” He pulls back after pressing another kiss to the tip of my nose. “Now, let's get home. I have some chicken defrosting, and then I want to watch a movie.”
“Okay. I’ll see you at home.”
I get out of his car and into my own, feeling a lot better than I did an hour ago. Everything will fall into place, and knowing I have Fletcher by my side will help.
Fletcher coversme with a blanket while I pull the baby mittens I’m crocheting out of the basket next to the couch.
“What are we going to watch?” I ask as he flops down next to me, pulling my legs into his lap.
“Whatever you want.”
We had a nice dinner, and after, Fletcher reached out tosome of the guys on the team who have kids. Everyone was super helpful, and it was nice to learn that none of them have any complaints about the daycare.
“I’m fine with anything,” I say, adjusting my hips a bit. My bump has started to pop this week, so everything is slowly getting more uncomfortable.
“The Princess Bride?”
“Perfect.” I settle in and start a few rows of my project while Fletcher pulls up the movie.
Once it’s started, we both get sucked in, and Fletcher mindlessly massages my ankles, legs, and thighs before moving up to my bump, resting a hand there.
“She’s been kicking more,” I say with a smile.
“Really?” His eyes light up, and a boyish grin takes over his face. He puts his other hand on the other side of my bump.
“Yeah. I can’t really feel much on the outside yet. Only a little bit of a thump. Try to feel. She’s pretty active right now.” I lay a hand over his, applying some pressure to show him he can press a little harder.
The baby moves a little inside of me, and I gaze up at him. “Did you feel it?”
He shakes his head. I move his fingers a little lower. She kicks again, and this time, Fletcher gasps.
“Oh my god, was that her?”
A huge smile breaks out on my lips. “Yes!”
“This is incredible,” Fletcher breathes, awe lighting up his face. When he looks up at me, his green eyes are glassy. “That’s our baby in there.”
I nod, my own eyes stinging with tears. “Yeah, it is.”
Fletcher leans forward, keeping his hands on my bump and pressing a kiss to my lips. “I can’t wait to meet her, and for this part of our lives to start. I hope she’s just like you.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “Me too.”
