Taking Chances (Taking Chances #1)(48)
Author: Molly McAdams

“Brandon,” Mom croaked and cleared her throat, “I hope you know how much we love you too. We’re so happy that you and Harper are together, we couldn’t imagine her with anyone else. We know you’ll take care of her and Liam.”

“I will. Forever.” He vowed.

16

I was uncomfortable. I was tired of no one letting me do anything for myself. I was tired of constantly laying down, and I was just flat out tired. I was so big I felt like I looked like a whale, even though Brandon continuously told me how beautiful I was. He let me complain at all hours of the day, and always smiled at me. I knew he was working hard to hold back his laughter, and I was grateful for it. I knew how ridiculous I was being, I just couldn’t seem to stop and if he had laughed, I’d probably snap at him.

We’d had another appointment two weeks ago, and Dr. Lowdry was even more concerned that I wouldn’t make it much longer. Per her instructions, we already had the hospital bag packed, the rear facing car seat was already put in my Expedition and I was no longer allowed to help cook. I had the most absurd urge to get on my hands and knees, clean the entire house and go through all the drawers in the nursery to make sure everything was where I wanted it. Again. Of course I wasn’t allowed, so I laid on the couch, and grumbled to myself or talked to my little Liam.

Brandon had started school again almost three weeks ago, but thankfully he’d talked to his academic adviser before the semester started and found out he only needed to take two more classes and he’d be able to graduate in December, a week before our wedding. He was absolutely amazing, he was always getting me anything I needed, and things I hadn’t even thought to ask for. When he was at school, he made sure Carrie or Mom were here to keep me company because he knew how stir crazy I was getting. The only problem was the numerous fights he was doing. He’d told Crow once the baby was born he was going to take a couple months off from fighting, and even though we had more than enough money to get us by for a few years, he was doing fights every other night anywhere from LA to San Diego to save up as much as possible. I couldn’t complain too much, he’d made over ten grand last week alone, but I didn’t like the fights anyway, and he only let me come with everyone if it was going to be a lame match. He was afraid of the crowds with the bigger fights, so more often than not, I sat on the bed freaking out until he called to tell me he’d won.

He had dropped me off at Mom’s this morning, so I could go to lunch and have a pedicure with her and Bree, and picked me back up for my thirty-six week appointment. Like I said, they wouldn’t let me do anything for myself anymore. No driving and no painting my own toes, not like I usually did them or could reach them anyway, but still. I wasn’t allowed.

“Well Harper, things look great, as does he. Continue to hold off on almost all activities and lets cross our fingers that you last at least another week. You’ll technically be considered full term by then, but really he would be fine if he came out now. I want to start seeing you once a week now, though I don’t know how many more appointments we’ll get out of him.” Dr. Lowdry’s smile was warm as she spoke. “Are you both ready? Do you have any questions or concerns? Are you familiar with the hospital?”

“We took the tour and all of that earlier this week, and I don’t think I have any questions. I’m just ready for him to be here. I don’t sleep at all.”

Dr. Lowdry laughed and patted my leg, “That’s common to be uncomfortable, just think of it as your baby preparing you for waking up all hours of the night.” She laughed again. “Brandon, what about you?”

“I think I’m good, I’m just worried she’s going to go into labor and I’m not going to be at the house.” He gripped my thigh, “I don’t want her to be alone when that happens.”

“I understand, but even if you aren’t, most women won’t have the baby for hours after their water breaks, so you’ll have plenty of time to get to her and bring her to the hospital.”

He nodded, but I knew that didn’t help much. Every time he left for a fight he would tell Liam if he had to come into the world that night, at least wait until he was back from the fight. Brandon wouldn’t even say hi to me when he called afterward, first thing out of his mouth was always, “I love you. Did anything happen? How are you feeling?” If I wasn’t so afraid he’d come home with a broken something or other, I would laugh at him for simultaneously kicking the crap out of people and being terrified his fiancée was about to go into labor.

“Well!” Dr. Lowdry stood and gave me a hug, “If anything happens or you need anything at all, just call me. If not, I’ll see you both in a week.”

We thanked her and headed home for another fun filled night on the couch. Okay, I really needed to stop whining. Things could be so much worse. Brandon could not care, or he could be irritated with my moods, or worse, he could not be here at all. And I loved our nights at home, after dinner he would prop my feet up on his lap and rub them until the swelling went down. After, he would crawl next to me and press me close to his chest just so he could hold me while we watched TV. Like I said, he’s amazing. I’ve just been super irritable lately.

“Brandon? Do you think we could do something tonight? Like maybe just go for a drive, or go to the beach? I’m not ready to be cooped up in the house again.”

He bit the inside of his cheek and looked at me for a few seconds before reversing out of our driveway we’d just arrived in. “As long as you promise to tell me if you get tired.”

I was already wide awake and practically bouncing in my seat knowing we were going somewhere, anywhere. “Promise! Where are we going?”

“Well it’s your night, where do you want to go?”

“Beach and Pinkberry.” Seriously, I had frozen yogurt or ice cream every day now. It was bad.

Brandon’s husky laugh gave me goose bumps and I couldn’t help but smile just listening to it, “Beach and Pinkberry it is.”

He pulled the blanket out of the back of his Jeep and walked me towards the shore before laying it down and sitting me between his legs, my back pressed against him. After rolling my shirt up over my stomach, he started tracing delicate patterns on me. Liam instantly started wiggling as soon as Brandon’s hands were on my bare skin.

“I’m so excited to meet him,” His deep voice filled my body, “but I’m going to miss this. You’re the most beautiful pregnant woman I’ve ever seen Harper.”

I sighed and molded my body to his even more, “Have I told you how amazing you are and how much I love you recently?”

“I love you too.” He brushed my hair away and pressed his lips to my neck. “What are you most excited for?”

“Watching you teach him things. Like how to throw a ball and surf…” I said quickly, I thought about that all day long. “You?”

“Everything.”

“That’s not fair babe! You have to say something.”

He thought for a minute, “I want to see you hold him.”

“You want to see me hold him?” I deadpanned.

“Yeah. The way you hold yourself whenever he moves or you’re thinking about him, makes me fall in love with you that much more. It’s tender, and full of love even though he isn’t here yet. So I can’t wait to see you actually hold him.”

“Oh.” And that right there made me fall in love with you more. I turned so I could face him and pressed a quick kiss to his neck, “You’re going to be an amazing father Brandon. Your dad would be so proud of who you are.”

“I hope so.”

“I know he would.”

He shrugged but was smiling at me, “I don’t think he wanted me to fight for a living. He was a business man, I always thought I’d do that too.”

“Do you want to? Someday, I mean.”

“I’m really not sure. I should probably figure that out soon. I can’t fight forever.”

Thank God for that. “We have time, we have enough money to last us for a long time. I want you to just be with me for the first few months, I don’t want you to worry about a career yet, okay?”

“Not likely, but thank you. I will stay home with you as much as possible for a while, but I’ve already been worrying about a career for some time now, I just don’t know what I want to get into.”

“We’ll figure it out.”

“Yes we will.” He kissed me thoroughly before turning me so my back was pressed against his chest again.

We stayed out there until after the sun went down and were now both lying on the blanket. My shirt was still rolled over my stomach and we each had a hand on it while our cramped baby tried to find a comfortable position to fall asleep in.

“It’s getting late sweetheart, let’s get some Pinkberry and get you home.”

“Thank you for taking me here, even if I was still laying down for most of it, it was nice to be outside near the water.” I let him pull me up and helped him fold the blanket back up.

We went to Pinkberry and my mouth was watering, Brandon thought my sugar cravings over the last few months were adorable, but I swear I turned into a crazed animal whenever I knew I was about to have some. Only problem was, if there were choices, I could never decide, which is why he usually went alone and picked for me. I stood there looking at everything and Brandon remained patient, he knew we’d be here a while. He wrapped his arms around my belly and planted his chin on top of my head, every now and then bringing his face down to kiss behind my ear and whisper how much he loved me and Liam. Then he’d start a trail of kisses down my neck and I’d have to start the decision making process all over.

“You’re not helping babe.” I reached my hand up to run my fingers over the back of his buzzed head, I knew that would keep him from distracting me for a while. I glanced to the right and saw two female workers sigh with a dopey-eyed look. Looking over my shoulder to see that the wall was the only thing next to us, I glanced again and saw they were indeed watching us. “Jeez, no matter what you do, women drool over you.”

“What do you mean?”

“You fight in only a pair of shorts, and women practically climb over each other to get to you. You walk around at school or a store, and they trip over themselves to keep watching you. You talk or laugh, and their jaws drop and they get goose bumps. Then you do something as sweet as wrap your arms around your very pregnant fiancée and whisper sweet nothings in her ear, and they start swooning.”

His body tensed and I could practically feel his eyes looking everywhere, without moving his head, “That’s kind of creepy. Wait, how do you notice this stuff?”

A quick glance to make sure they were still sighing and watching us together and I whispered, “I notice because I know what it’s like to look at you, and I do the same thing. They’re at our three o’clock, by the way.”

“Does that bother you?” He teased, and when he shot a quick glance to our right he chuckled softly.

“Not at all, you’re mine. It makes me laugh, knowing how much everyone else wants my man.”

“I’m giving you fair warning, I’m about to show them how much I am yours.”

I giggled, “Oh really now?”

“Hey if they want to watch, might as well give them a show.” He turned me around and captured my mouth with his, moving his lips against mine.