“Are you sure Gunner volunteered to bring all of the food?” Heather asked. Her brows were furrowed.
“Yep. He planned out the meals for the entire weekend, and Jeff agreed to be the cook.”
Ari groaned. “He does realize he has two pregnant women to feed, right?”
I chuckled. “He’s well aware of that, y’all.”
I’d never seen anyone with the food cravings while pregnant like Heather and Ari. And when they were together, it was worse. Almost as if their obsession with food combined with one another.
Heather roamed through the cots. “There are so many cots.”
“You’re getting a cot?” Ari asked Heather.
Heather rolled her eyes. “If I thought for one moment Josh would let me get a cot, I’d be all over it.”
“This is going to be fun. You’ll see.”
Ari narrowed her eyes at me. “Why are you and Jeff so game on this camping trip?”
“I don’t know,” I stated with a shrug. “It kind of feels like this is our last big fling if you will. Once you have another baby and Heather has the twins, our time together as a group will be cut in half.”
Heather gave me a warm smile. “But we’ll still be together. It will just be play dates.”
“I know that. There’s no way for me to easily explain it, but I really feel like we all need this weekend.”
Hooking her arm with mine, Ari winked. “If this trip ends up being miserable as hell … which I’m not saying it will, but if it does. You’re to blame.”
“Gee, thanks. Come on, let’s go feed those babies.”
Heather picked up her pace. “Good, because I’m starving. I want enchiladas.”
Ari gasped. “Yes! Enchiladas. That sounds yummy.”
After dropping Heather and Ari back home, I took a few minutes to clear my head before I pulled up to the house. I wasn’t sure what was wrong with me, but whatever it was, I needed to snap out of it. Grace said I probably was still suffering from baby blues. I was happy … yet sad. I couldn’t explain it.
Grabbing some bags, I headed into the house. “Gunner?” I called out into the empty house.
I set the bags on the counter and reached for my phone to call him.
It only rang twice before he answered. “Hey, sweetheart. You back from Austin?”
A warmth spread across my body simply from hearing his voice. Even after being married for almost two years, he still made my heart flutter. Smiling, I answered him, “I am. Where are you and my sweet baby girl?”
“Mom and Dad’s place. I figured when you got back you might like a bit of time to yourself. I set everything out for you to take a nice hot bath.”
Thud. There went my heart. How did I ever get so lucky with this man?
I headed into our bedroom. “That sounds amazing. How’s Alex?”
“She’s being loved on like you wouldn’t believe.”
“Awe, I bet she is.” I walked into the bathroom and stopped. Candles were everywhere. Next to the window sat a fresh bouquet of daises that Gunner must have gotten from the garden. A towel along with a bath bomb sat on the edge of the soaker tub.
“Gunner, it looks like a romantic spa in here.”
The sound of a screen shutting told me he had stepped outside. “Good. Now strip out of your clothes and get in that tub. I’ll be heading back soon and putting Alex down. She’s exhausted from all of the attention she’s gotten from everyone.”
“Everyone?”
“I took her to see Grams and Gramps before stopping here. Poor little thing barely had a nap.”
Chewing on my lip, I imagined Gunner in the tub with me. “Should I wait? I’d love to have you join me in this oversized tub of ours.”
A screen door slammed again. “Let me get our daughter. I’m coming home now.”
My hand covered my mouth to hide my laughter. I heard Gunner tell his parents he was leaving. “Sorry, Mom and Dad. Ellie really wants to see Alex before she goes to bed.”
I shook my head. “You totally pinned that all on me.”
“Yep. See ya in a few, sweetheart.”
The phone went dead. Pulling it back, I shook my head and headed back to the kitchen. I searched for the perfect bottle of wine before grabbing two glasses and the plate of fruit and cheese I quickly made up.
The sound of Gunner’s truck pulling up had me rushing back into the master bathroom to drop everything off before heading back to the kitchen.
Gunner walked in with our sleeping daughter in his arms and my libido shot through the roof. Never mind the fact that my husband was drop-dead gorgeous, or that his blue eyes seemed to be sparkling, it was the site of him carrying out daughter in his arms that got to me the most.
“Hey,” he softly said before kissing me on the lips.
“I missed you today,” I replied as I handed him a bottle I’d gotten ready.
“I missed you too. Let’s take care of the princess here so I can give my queen some one-on-one attention.”
The pull in my lower stomach was hard to miss. The only thing I could do was nod. Gunner turned and headed toward the stairs. My hand went to my stomach to settle the butterflies flying about.
Tears formed in my eyes as my emotions took over. I never in my life dreamed I would ever be this happy.
Dragging in a deep breath, I headed to Alex’s room.
I stood outside of the room and watched as Gunner hummed softly while feeding our precious baby.
He glanced up at me and smiled. Those dimples made my heart flutter. “What are you thinking, Ells?”
I didn’t even need to think of my response. “How I’m the luckiest woman on earth.”
Gunner winked. “And soon to be the most satisfied.”
I was the luckiest woman on earth, no doubt.