When I get to the front desk, I say goodbye to Terry, then get on the elevator and type out a message to Dayton, letting him know that I’ll be home soon. His reply of ‘good’ is almost immediate; his next message of ‘Did it go okay?’ comes a second after that. I text back that it was fine, he doesn’t need to know that Matthew didn’t meet me like he said he would. I just want to focus on the positives, and one of those positives is that Matthew and I are well and truly done. Sure, we will always be connected through our families, but after today, there is nothing else tying us together, so unless we happen to be at the same function, I won’t need to see or talk to him again. That feels good, really good.

* * *

Leaving Dayton in the bathroom, still brushing his teeth, I walk to the bed and pick up one of the books he purchased for me after I mentioned to him in passing that I hadn’t had time to make it to the bookstore to pick up a copy of What to Expect When You’re Expecting.

Not only did he get me that book, but he also got a few other basics along with my current read, which was written by a first-time mom who was nervous about motherhood.

Getting comfortable with my legs stretched out in front of me, I open the book to where I left off and feel my nose scrunch as I read that while I’m pregnant, I might get hairier. I’m sure it’s not as bad as the image in my head, but all I can picture is me all of a sudden becoming a sasquatch. That, on top of the accidentally peeing all the time, should be fun.

When the mattress moves, I set my book aside and watch Dayton crawl up from the foot of the bed towards me while I smile.

“I think that you should have this tattooed after the baby gets here.” He says wrapping his arms around my thighs pressing a kiss to my skin.

“I’m not getting the word mine tattooed on my thigh.” I thread my fingers through his hair as I laugh.

“You’re right, you should just get my name.” He licks over the ink that is still staining my skin even after our shower.

“You’re crazy.”

“Or am I a genius?” He sucks on my skin, and my hips lift off the bed. Smiling, his hand travels slowly up my thigh to my stomach. “How are you feeling?”

“Good.” I cover one of his hands with my own. “Happy.”

“You’re getting bigger by the day.”

“I read that he or she is the size of an avocado right now.”

“Oh yeah?” He says softly.