Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 97767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Austin, on the other hand, buries her face in my neck, groaning.
“This is so embarrassing!”
“Embarrassing?” I echo, my tone teasing. “This is romantic! This is the kind of thing people write love stories about.”
“This is the kind of thing that goes viral,” she counters, though the faint smile tugging at her mouth tells me she’s not as mad as she’s pretending to be.
Austin looks pretty pleased with herself.
“So what if it does?” I say, my voice dropping to something softer, something for her ears only. “Let the whole world see how much I’m falling in love with you.”
Through the commotion I don’t miss the intake of her breath, her eyes widening as the words hang between us. I see the shift in her expression, the way her defenses crumble piece by piece until all that’s left is the raw, unfiltered connection between us.
“What did you just say to me in front of all these people?”
Okay. Now I can’t tell if she’s horrified or stunned.
“Yeah!” Nova’s voice booms over the noise, entirely too amused. “What did you just say?! Say it louder!”
Nova is such a pain in the ass sometimes.
But the fans are familiar with her and the crowd around us cheers louder at her pronouncement, egging her on. I shake my head but don’t break eye contact with Austin, not even for a second.
I dip my head, brushing my lips against her temple in the briefest, gentlest kiss.
“She heard me,” I murmur softly, just for her, finally at the top of the steps.
Austin’s eyes close for a moment, her shoulders sagging as her grip on my jersey tightens.
Nova, of course, can’t let a moment this good slip away.
“Say it louder for those in the back!” she hollers, clapping her hands. “Give us what we want!”
The crowd loves her.
A woman wearing a Seattle jersey—the opposing team tonight— shouts, “This is the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen!” at the same time another voice yells, “Kiss her!”
Austin lets out a breathy laugh, shaking her head. “Your sister is going to haunt me for the rest of my life, isn’t she?”
“I mean. You’re stuck with us both now,” I say, grinning as I tilt her chin up to meet my gaze.
Stuck?
I don’t think so.
I want to be with her—from the second she sat her pretty little ass on that barstool at Five Alarm and started running her mouth at me.
I knew.
“For at least the next eighteen years,” she teases.
At least.
30
austin
Five months later…
Welp.
I’m still pregnant.
I know that’s what you were wondering and the answer is yes, Gio is still the father. And everyone in the free world knows it because he insists on telling every single person we meet, as if he deserves a medal.
Everyone: “Oh, you’re pregnant? Congratulations!”
Him: “Thanks, it’s mine.”
Proud Zaddy vibes.
Anyway, pregnancy has been a wild ride.
I’m a hormonal time-bomb wrapped in stretchy leggings, oversized hoodies, oversized Baddies jerseys, messy buns…
…and Gio?
Obviously feeling way cuter than I am and living his best life. He loves my pregnant stomach, loves my changing body, loves how crabby I’ve become—BECAUSE HE IS SO ANNOYING.
Seriously.
He’s starting to drive me nuts.
He narrates everything. EVERYTHING.
“Captain’s Log: bae is going for her third pickle of the day. Her third. Let’s see how this plays out in the bathroom....”
“Ladies and gentlemen, the baby demands nachos at 2 a.m. Will I survive this grocery store run? Stay tuned!”
And do not get me started on the names he’s choosing.
This week? He’s taken to calling the baby Giovanni Dangerous. Not Gio, Junior. Not Dangerous. Giovanni Dangerous. Like he’s naming a damn Bond villain.
The worst part is he’s completely serious. I tried to veto his suggestion—obviously—but then he started googling, “How to legally file a baby name without the mother’s consent,” and now I’m watching him closely—just in case.
Worse, still?
Gio has also decided that pregnancy is the perfect time to become a “cool dad influencer.” He bought an adventure camera and strapped it to his chest to capture “authentic dad moments.” Which thus far includes: footage of him folding laundry, giving pep talks before doctor’s appointments, and ordering all available French fry varieties (curly, regular, and sweet potato) because I was craving potatoes.
The thing is…
As ridiculous as he’s behaving, I love him.
There.
I said it.
I love Gio Montagalo and if you would have told me six months ago, I wouldn’t have believed you. Never, not in a million years.
Gio has been showing up in a big way. Like, really showing up.
And I love the way he talks to my stomach, telling the baby about all the places they’re going to go and the games they’re going to play and the things they’re going to learn.
I love how he holds my hand during every single ultrasound.
He’s been the best. When I couldn’t reach my toes to paint my nails, Gio sat on the bathroom floor with a tiny bottle of pink polish in his giant hand and painted them for me. Granted, it looked like a toddler slopped the paint on wearing a blindfold, but the effort?