The dining hall is covered in blue from top to bottom. I never knew so much blue existed. Between the tablecloths, decorations, balloons, and streamers, it looks like Cookie Monster exploded in here. Considering it’s a baby shower planned by the Bishop family, I’m not even a little bit surprised.

“I’m so excited y’all are having a boy. The twins will have someone else to play with besides each other.” I overhear Benita talking to River who’s sitting on a chair in the middle of the room. She’s smiling, but I know she secretly hates all the attention.

After talking her into letting Benita and Mama host her a baby shower, those two wasted no time in planning. Even after I told them to take it easy, Mama scoffed and told me since she wasn’t able to plan Courtney’s baby shower, this was her chance to do one right for her grandbaby. Of course, Benita didn’t listen to me either. In the center of the room above where River is sitting are large alphabet balloons that read B-A-B-Y with blue streamers twisting along the ceiling.

As if that wasn’t enough, Mama called River’s mom, their official “meeting,” and asked her to send some baby pictures of River. So there are framed baby pictures of River and me scattered all over the hall.

The buffet table is decorated with bright blue bottle-shaped confetti. Mama made her famous shredded beef sandwiches. Aunt Patsy made the potato salad, and Benita brought fruit. There’s no such thing as a Bishop gathering without everyone bringing a side dish, so the table is jam-packed. And of course, sweet tea in a big ol’ punch bowl. Fortunately, Benita snuck in a bottle of juice for River, so she doesn’t have to pretend to like it for fear of being ostracized.

Everything looks way over the top, but what do I know? River’s eyes lit up like the Fourth of July when she walked in; whether or not that was a genuine expression is yet to be determined.

Standing in the back with the other husbands, Dylan, and my three brothers, we watch as they pass River presents and squeal at everything she opens. River is wearing one of those sashes that reads Mom-to-be as well as a corsage with blue flowers and baby’s breath. I had no idea what all the fuss was about until Benita schooled me.

Hell, I’m not even sure what half those items are she’s opening.

“What is that?” Jackson leans over and whispers.

Dylan and I narrow our eyes, trying to figure out what the bag and tubes are. “It looks like some kind of bottle,” I say with uncertainty.

“It’s a backpack of bottles,” Dylan adds.

“But the bottles have tubes on them.” Jackson folds his arms over his chest as we all stand and analyze the mystery contraption.

“You idiots,” Evan mutters.

Aaron snorts, shaking his head at us.

The three of us turn and look at them. “What?” I shrug.

“It’s a breast pump,” Evan tells us.

“Oh!” we say, accidentally grabbing the girls’ attention.

“Everything all right back there, boys?”

“Just fine, Aunt Charlotte,” I answer with a smile.

“Why don’t one of you boys grab the cake from the fridge so we can serve that next?”

“I’ll do it,” John says, already walking toward the kitchen.

River continues opening each gift, and every time a new piece of clothing is revealed, they make her hold it up against her stomach oohing and ahhing as she forces out a smile. I can tell she’s out of her comfort zone right now, but she's a real trooper about it all.

John brings the cake out, and Aunt Charlotte rushes over to check it.

“Well, what do you think, Daddy-to-be?” She smirks up at me.

“Looks great.” I smile, looking at the blue-frosted cake she and Benita made.

Evan comes from behind with a cake server set. “Want me to cut it?”

“No!” Aunt Charlotte blurts out. “River and Alex need to stand behind it so we can take some pictures for the baby book.”

“No one said there were going to be pictures,” I groan.

“What are you, new? Of course, we’re taking pictures.”

River walks over after all the gifts are opened looking exhausted.

“Looks like we’ll be set for a while.” I chuckle at all the gifts sprawled out on the tables. Mama invited the entire family and most of the town. It was also her idea to make it a co-ed party, but I think that was just so she’d have us here to do the heavy lifting.

“I can’t imagine one little baby needs all of that.”

“Oh, that’s because we know there’ll be more babies coming down the road.” Mama winks, intruding in on our conversation and then leaving like it’s nothing.

“What did she just say?” River whispers, panic evident in her tone.

I shake my head at Mama as she watches me from the other side of the table. “She’s still holding out hope we have more than one.”

“Those Bishops do love to multiply,” Mrs. Betty adds, who’s been quiet all day, but the moment more babies come up into the conversation, she’s all attentive.

“Well, let’s see if I can even survive this Bishop.” She points at me and everyone laughs.

Jackson walks toward me and pats me on the shoulder. “It’s funny because it’s true.”

“If anyone’s having multiples, it’s you,” I retort, shrugging his hand off me.

“Nope. I’m always packing.”

River snorts and giggles. “So did Alex.”

“Okay, well let’s take those pictures so we can cut the cake,” Mama interrupts flawlessly as she tends to.

We finish up the party with lots of photos and cake. As the guests eat, my brothers and Aaron and I load up all the gifts. Bags of diapers, clothes, and toys take over my back seat, then we put the bigger pieces in the bed of the truck. My parents bought the crib that River picked out as well as various other things but mostly just clothes that say I love Grandma. Aunt Patsy gifted us a swing and bouncy seat. Benita stocked us up on baby toys, diapers, and wipes, and told us she’d have lots of boy clothes to pass down to us as well. Between all that and all the other random gifts, there’s no way we’re going to need anything else for a while.

“Are you ready?” I ask River as she stands around and chats with the guests who haven’t left yet. “Truck is locked and loaded.” I flash her a wink.

“Yes! I need a nap.” She chuckles. “You can put all the furniture together while I sleep.”

“Or we could both nap?” I tease.

“Funny. Take me home, cowboy.”

I love hearing her say that. Home.

“Yes, ma’am.” I tilt my cowboy hat at her.

“Oh wait,” she squeals, holding her belly. Benita, Mama, and Aunt Charlotte all freeze in place. “He just kicked really hard.”

The three of them crowd around River in seconds, placing their hands all over her stomach.

“Where?” Benita asks.

“Over here by my ribs,” she says, placing Benita’s hand over the area. We wait for a few minutes, and when no more movement happens, they give up. “Maybe next time.”

“All right, you kids.” Mama walks over. “Get on goin’ so we can clean up.”

I thank her and kiss her cheek. She swarms River and hugs her. “Take care of my grandbaby in there.”

“I will, ma’am.” River smiles.

Grabbing her hand, I lead her out to the truck, and before opening the door for her, I push her up against it and kiss her deeply. One of those soul-crushing kisses I know she likes.

“What was that for?” she asks, catching her breath.

“Thank you for today. It meant a lot to my family. And to me.”

She tilts her head. “You don’t need to thank me. I should be thanking you and your entire family. I wished my mom had been able to come.”

“Me too.” I brush a piece of blonde hair behind her ear. “Hopefully, she can fly down once the baby’s born.”

“I hope so.”

River and her mom have a complicated relationship, and I’m doing my best to tread lightly when it comes to it and how disappointed River gets anytime she brings it up. I understand that she’s the one who moved away, but I wish her parents would make an effort to come and visit her at least.

I drive us home, and River nearly falls asleep before we make it there.

“I’m going to take a nap. Do you mind?”

“Not at all.” I kiss the top of her head. “I’ll bring everything in.”

“Okay.” She smiles before walking down to her room.

I jog back outside and grab as many of the gift bags in my hands as I can and carry them to the nursery. Just as I’m hauling one of the larger boxes in, I hear River calling out my name.

“Alex, hurry!”

I set the box down and rush down the hall until I’m in her room. “What is it? Are you okay?”

She’s lying on her side with a hand resting on her belly. “Hurry, come here.”

Walking over, she pulls up her shirt and reveals her stomach.

“He’s kicking.”

She grabs my hand and places it near her ribs. “Say something,” she tells me.

“Like what?”

“Anything.”

“Should I read another one of your romance novels?” I tease, but before she can respond, I feel a big kick against my palm. “Whoa!”

“You felt it!” Her eyes light up. “Keep talking.”

“Uh…okay.” I kneel on the floor next to the bed and place both palms on her belly. “Maybe I should tell him about the first time I saw you.” I grin and shoot her a wink.

“He’s a little young to be hearing about the birds and the bees, don’t ya think?” She crooks a brow.

“Not the first time we did it. The first time I saw you,” I clarify. “It was the morning we were both at the continental breakfast, and when you looked over at me and saw that I was already sizing you up, you blushed and looked away like I had creepy-crawlies all over my skin or something.”

She chuckles, keeping her hand on top of mine. “That’s not true. Don’t be telling our son lies now.”

“You said our son.”

“Well, he is.”

I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face. “I know. I’ve just never heard you say it aloud before.”

Another hard kick.

“Dang, the little guy is strong.”

“I told you. It’s your voice.”

“Yeah, he likes it.” I wink.

“Must be that Southern drawl,” she teases. “It’s what got me.”

My head falls back as I laugh. “Don’t lie.”

She shrugs. “Okay, you’re right. It was the alcohol and the way your tight jeans hugged your ass.” Grinning, she moves my hand up a bit farther, just under her breast.

“Well, I was drawn in the moment I saw your mama,” I tell the baby, though I keep my eyes on her. She sucks in her lower lip as I continue. “She was wearing tiny little jean shorts and a tight top, so it was hard not to notice her. Then once I heard her speak and put me in my place, I knew I had to have her.”

She chuckles, licking her lips. “You and I seem to remember the story differently.”

“What?” I shriek, pretending to be offended.

“You were hitting on me with the cheesiest pickup line in the book. Then when that didn’t work, you threw your friend into the water as a stunt to get my attention.”

I know she’s teasing, but I narrow my eyes at her anyway. “Don’t believe her, son. The only reason she was on the beach that morning was because she was looking for me.”

“Oh my God.” She bursts out laughing. “Not true! Natalie and I were drinking and beachin’.”

“Right. Just happened to be the exact same beach we were on.”

She sinks her teeth into her lower lip, hiding the smile that hasn’t faded since I walked in.

“But the moment I knew I really liked your mama,” I speak to her belly again, “was the time I had her bent over, and she spread her thighs so wide…”

“Oh my God, Alex!” She smacks my shoulder, but for shits and giggles—and because I love getting a rise out of her—I continue.

“She was nearly begging for it, demanding I get inside her right then or else.” I lick my lips and watch her blush, loving the way it’s affecting her the same way it’s affecting me. Hell, I’m going to need a cold shower after this. “So I spanked her ass hard and slid right in to home base.”

“You’re terrible,” she says, shaking her head. “He’s going to be scarred for the rest of his life now.”

“Doubtful.” I smirk. “He’ll be watching way worse by the time he’s ten.”

“That’s gross.” She wrinkles her nose.

I wink at her before directing my words back to her stomach. “Then she came on my cock so damn hard, I felt her trembling from the inside. It was the hottest fucking thing.”

Her breath hitches, and when I look up at her, I see desire in her eyes. Fuck, I should’ve thought this through, but seeing her lust after me the same way tells me she’s close to cracking.

She swallows hard as she shifts her body. I stand up and lean down, tempted to kiss the fuck out of her like I want. Instead, I press my lips to her forehead.

“Enjoy your nap.” I turn and walk out before I change my mind. “Gonna go take a cold shower,” I mutter, adjusting my jeans because my cock is so goddamn hard right now.

After bringing in the rest of the boxes, I start working on the crib. I know River’s dying to get the nursery set up, and since I’m home today, it’s the only time I’ll have since I’ll be working in the pastures all week.

After two hours of cursing, the crib, changing table, and one dresser are all set up. All that’s left is the nightstand and the swing. I decide to take a break and finish the rest after I get something to eat and shower.

I peek inside River’s room and see she’s sleeping peacefully. As I look at her belly, it still boggles my mind she’s carrying our baby. Our son. There are days I’m overwhelmed with emotion that she’s really here and that we’re going to be a family of three.

Thinking back to those early days in Key West, I was a different man. I’d gone there ready to party and hook up with as many girls as I possibly could. Hell, I was sure I wouldn’t be sober till the plane landed back in Texas, but one look at her, and everything changed. I don’t know how or why, but they just did. Something brought us together in Key West at the same time, and I’ll never question that fate. She’s here, and she’s mine.

As I step into the shower, visions of our time together haunt my mind. The words I said to her belly echo in my ear, and I can’t help as I replay every instance we were together. Her plump ass, her tits bouncing, her pussy wet. Fuck. It’s hard not to get worked up thinking about her.

My cock’s hard and every muscle in my body is tense. I haven’t fucked anyone since the day I met River, and this waiting game has been sexually frustrating, to say the least. I have no doubt in my mind that’ll it be worth it, but that doesn’t ease the need.

I palm my shaft and stroke it a few times, fantasizing about River being in here with me. Memories flood in from all the intimate moments we shared, and I’m desperate to feel those again, more than anything, but I know waiting is what’s best. But fuck, being around her every day hasn’t made that easy.

Tightening my grip, I pump myself faster as I place my free hand on the wall for support. Her gorgeous face, her sweet voice, her stunning eyes. Everything about her flashes through my mind as I envision making sweet love to her again. Those memories of us haunt me, fueling every stroke I make harder and harder until I have nothing left.