Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
I stand up as the crowd wavers, completely clueless as to what to do now.
Thankfully, I’m not clueless. Because I know my girl. And I know, despite this shitshow of a grand gesture, she loves me.
I chuckle and pull her up and into my arms until her legs are wrapped around my waist. “Just so you know,” I say and rub my nose against hers, “one day, very soon, I’m going to propose again. And that time, you’re going to say yes.”
“And what if I decide to say no again?”
“Then I’ll keep asking until your answer changes. Big Mack’s worn you down before, Katy Cat. I’ve got no doubt I can do it again.”
Her responding giggle and smile are all I need.
“Love you,” I whisper and brush my lips against hers.
“Love you too,” she whispers back, just before placing a soft kiss to my lips.
Happily ever after, here we fucking come.
Thirty-two weeks later…
Katy
My sixth-period class of third graders is far more boisterous than I’d like, but that’s usually how it goes on Fridays. Not only are they all hyped up after recess, but they’re also excited for the weekend to begin.
“Everyone, settle down,” I announce and stand in front of the big whiteboard at the front of the room. “I know Fridays are hard to focus after recess, but I also know that you guys are all great kids who are capable of giving me your attention right now so we can go over fractions.”
I hear a few moans of annoyance, but mostly, my students listen.
But just as I’m lifting my marker to the board, the baby decides it’s a good time to rearrange my organs, and my stomach tightens in discomfort.
Ouch. That hurts.
“You okay, Ms. Dayton?” Caroline Matthews asks, and I force a smile to my lips.
“Yep. I am.”
“Is it your baby?” Seth Brown questions. “When my aunt Brooke was pregnant, her baby was a wild child! Always moving around. Sometimes, she’d curse because of it!”
I can certainly relate to that sentiment.
“The baby is definitely moving a little, Seth, but it’s okay,” I answer, but it’s like the baby can hear me and has decided my words pose a challenge. After another bout of kicks and rolls, my stomach contracts so hard it takes the breath right out of my lungs.
Son of a bitch.
At thirty-eight weeks today, I know I still have at least two weeks until this baby will officially come, so I’m trying like hell to push through the pain. That doesn’t mean that some days aren’t harder than others, though.
Surely I just need to rest for a moment and drink some water.
“You know what?” I announce through slightly gritted teeth. “How about you guys pull out the worksheet we were working on yesterday and finish those last three problems on your own? Just try your best and solve the problems how you think, and then, in about fifteen minutes, we’ll go over them together.”
I don’t normally shuffle my teaching responsibilities like this, but damn, today is not a great pregnant day.
Thankfully, my students follow my instructions, and I head over to my desk to sit down and sip some water from my giant Yeti cup that’s become my best friend for the past several months.
I don’t know what it is about pregnancy, but it’s like I can’t ever put enough food or water in my body. It’s like I’m either starving or so thirsty I feel like I just spent three days walking through the Sahara.
I snag my phone from my top desk drawer to set a fifteen-minute timer, but as I do, I note a missed text message from someone who always manages to bring a smile to my face, even when he’s being a pain in my ass.
Mack: My sweet, beautiful, gorgeous fiancée who accepted my marriage proposal, how are you feeling this afternoon?
Three months ago, after Mack had proposed to me on no fewer than ten different occasions, I finally said yes to him, and he still won’t stop reminding me of that fact.
Me: Like I’m very, very pregnant.
His instant response surprises me, but then I remember it’s his free period, and he’s probably just in his classroom working on lesson plans or something.
Mack: You want me to come over and give you a break? Surely I can teach some math. Or pretend to teach some math. LOL.
I snort.
Me: I appreciate the offer, honey, but I’ve got it covered. But I wouldn’t mind a good foot massage tonight when we get home…
Mack: Your wish is my command.
About two months after I dropped the pregnancy bomb on him in the middle of the Staten Island Ferry, we found an apartment and moved in together. And honestly, it’s been nothing but bliss ever since.
Sure, Mack likes to purposefully get on my nerves sometimes, but the man is so damn thoughtful, so damn caring, that I don’t know what I’d do without him. He’s my rock. My everything.