I am twenty-three weeks pregnant now and life is getting hard. My movements have slowed because of my expanding belly. Then there is Zander, he comes home every night but rarely reaches out to me anymore. When he does, he apologizes. Tonight is a big night at the casino. We have another scheduled poker event, but this one is an Omaha Hi/Lo poker tournament. As soon as I finish announcing the event I find the family sitting at our designated table.

I’m wearing a tight red dress tonight and it shows off my round belly. I’m starting to love showing my belly off. Now my heels are another story. When I get to the table the first thing I do is remove my heels. About twenty minutes into the game we are all having a good time until I hear laughter. I look up and see Zander, but right on his arm is a woman. She’s laughing out loud at something he said. They come straight to our table. He introduces his guest to us as Candy, then looks for an extra chair for her. When he can’t find one he sits down and slaps his leg for her to sit.

Everyone is appalled. Without a word, Theo, Catherine, and my mom all stand up and leave. I can’t say I blame them, they don’t want to see this shit show either. I hear Liam ask, “Zander, man, what the hell are you doing?”

He doesn’t try to answer quietly, he makes sure everyone can hear him. “My wife gave me permission to date. I figured why not try it. I mean, after all, I might be married, but I have never been on an official date. So here I am.”

Candy laughs and says, “Wild, right? Can you believe he’s never been on a date?”

I look at her and say, “It’s unbelievable, isn’t it? So, Candy, how’s the date going?”

I look at the rest of the table, begging for them to play along. Fallon and Avery are fuming and the boys are shaking their heads in disbelief.

“Great so far, Zander is so much fun. I can’t believe his bitch of a wife, right? I mean who would let this man get away?”

“I imagine one that is not far.”

“What do you mean?”

“Zander, why don’t you introduce me to your date?”

He laughs and says, “Candy, this is Murphy Stern, she is my wife.”

Candy looks at me and then at Zander. She then stands and says, “I didn’t know.”

I put the girl's mind to rest when I tell her, “It’s fine, sit back down, the night is early. Here, take my chair, you have to watch sitting on Zander, his friend gets overly excited if you know what I mean.” I stand and grab my shoes. I look at her and rub my belly. “It’s dangerous too if you’re not careful.”

Zander notices my shoes and grabs my arm, “What’s wrong, why aren’t you wearing your heels?”

“Why? Do you care?” I see his face so I tell him, “I’m fine, but my calves and feet started bothering me these days.”

He lets go of my arm and I sit in one of the now empty chairs. As time goes by I start to realize that the men at the table all know Candy. I watch Fallon and Avery, I know they have to notice the same thing, but they never react or say a word, interesting. As I keep watching the show in front of me, I start to get pissed. I know I told him to do whatever he wanted, but how dare he throw it in my face in front of our family? I stand to leave, and when I do I feel a muscle pull in my stomach. I grab my side and the table.

Zander rushes over to me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I just got up too quick or something. It’s fine, I just pulled a muscle.” Zander won’t leave my side so Fallon says, “It happens, Zander, her body is spreading to make room for the babies, she’s fine.”

“Well it was fun, guys, but I think I am going to go lay down in my office. Candy, nice meeting you.”

Zander stops me and says, “Your office? You should be at home.”

“I have work to do. You go have fun or whatever the hell you’re doing.”

I bend to put my shoes back on and walk off.

* * *

I brought Candy to show Murphy that if she wants me to date then this is what it will look like. I am at the end of my rope, we barely even see each other anymore. The worst is at night when we’re sleeping, I want nothing more than to reach out for her. But I know she doesn’t want that. So, I try to give her everything she asks for. It’s just so hard. I don’t mean to, but many times I have woken up with her in my arms. I apologize and roll over.

Tonight didn’t play out like I wanted, though I should have figured it wouldn’t. She is so different than most women I’m used to. She tries not to show any emotion or either she really doesn’t care that I’m here on a date. Which technically is not a date. Candy is a high-end escort that my brothers and I know very well. I just wanted to get any kind of reaction out of Murphy, any sign that she cares. When I get the opposite reaction, my heart is crushed. Damn her! I notice she’s wearing a hot red dress that shows off every curve of her body, including her growing belly. Of course, a woman like Murphy wouldn’t worry about someone like Candy. Don’t get me wrong, Candy is beautiful, but she can’t hold a candle to my pregnant wife in my eyes. When I see that Red’s heels are off, I start to get concerned, but when she decides to stand to leave us I see her grab the table and her stomach. I freak and run to her. But my worries are dismissed like I have no reason to be concerned. I watch as she walks off. I ask Vin to bring Candy home so I can follow after Murphy.

When I get to her office, I see her lying on the couch. I close the door behind me. I walk up to her, exchanging no words. I move her legs up to sit under them. I lay her legs back down and start rubbing her feet. She moans then says, “What are you doing here, Zander? Where’s your date?”

“I asked Vin to take her home.”

“Why?”

“Because I was worried about you.”

She moans again when I apply pressure to the arch of her foot.

“God, that feels good, I won’t even try to deny it.”

Her eyes close as I keep rubbing. A few minutes pass then she asks me, “Did you really think I would be jealous over you bringing an escort with you tonight?”

My hands stop, she knew. I start rubbing her foot again and ask, “How?”

She laughs. “Zander, I have been around women like her my whole life. Between the strippers and the call girls, I’m surprised that I recognize any other type of women.”

I can’t help but let out a small chuckle as I continue to rub her foot.  About a minute later she opens her eyes and shouts, “Zander! Give me your hand.”

She has me scared. “What’s wrong, did I do something?”

“No, give me your hand.”

She takes my hand and lays it on her belly. “Wait for it.”

My eyes go wide when I feel what she’s talking about, it’s not hard or big, but it was definitely a movement. I know my smile is huge. She has her hand on mine and we are feeling our babies’ first movement. It’s incredible. When we don’t feel anything else, I stand and gather her shoes and purse. I hand them to her, telling her to hold them.

“Why, Zander, what are you doing?”

“I’m taking you home.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. You need the rest.”

She rolls her eyes and says, “Fine.”

When she sits up, I grab her around the waist. I lift her and start carrying her out.

“Zander, I can walk.”

“Why would you when I have you?”

I carry my wife outside the casino with people watching, like the last time I carried her out of here.

We get home and I continue to carry her upstairs. When she turns the handle on our bedroom door, I carry her straight to the bathroom gently putting her down on her feet. I don’t say anything as I turn to start running the water for the bathtub. Once I have the water going, I turn back to her and without speaking I turn her around and unzip her dress. It slips down her body falling into a puddle on the floor at her feet. I wrap her hair in one of her large clips on top of her head. Then I start to undo her bra. She doesn’t resist, which surprises me. I bend, pulling her panties down her legs. She steps out one leg at a time. On my way back up, I lift her hand and guide her to the tub, helping her to step in. Once she is seated comfortably. I grab her towels then set them down and start to walk off.

“Zander, why do you keep doing things like this?”

“Because you’re mine and I can.”

I leave the room with the last bit of restraint that I have.