Pucks, Sticks, and Diapers
Page 6

“That’s fine, Ashlyn and the new baby can do both. Plus, no one cares. They’re there to make people go awwwww,” Avery said, drawing it out as she tickled Ashlyn, who giggled loudly for her mommy.
“And you know everyone will,” Claire said, taking Ashlyn from Lucy and kissing her cheek. “Or at least, I will.”
Baylor smiled. “You’re next, Claire.”
She laughed. “Nope, not ready. See, we know about this thing called birth control, and we use it,” she teased, and everyone laughed.
“Hey, I was on it!” Baylor called to her as Claire grinned back at her.
“That’s what they all say.”
“Not me. I wasn’t, and we had faulty condoms,” Avery said with a snort, which sent them all into fits of laughter. “But I wouldn’t change a thing,” she said, grinning at her little girl.
Baylor couldn’t wait to feel that way because at that moment, she was rethinking ever getting pregnant again.
“Yeah, so watch out for faulty birth control and condoms,” Baylor warned, and Claire waved them off.
“Duly noted, but until I’m back with Jude full time in Los Angeles, we aren’t having any babies. It would just be too hard on us,” she said, and Baylor nodded. They had been apart for a couple years now, with Claire’s job in Vegas and Jude playing for the Kings, but it had worked. They were more in love than Baylor ever thought they could be, but she also knew Autumn was waiting for her oldest boy to have a baby. Autumn Sinclair was all about babies, hence the out-of-control baby shower she was planning.
“Plus, we all know everyone is waiting for Benji and Lucy to have a baby,” Claire said, and Lucy scoffed at her.
“Whoa, no. We don’t have time.”
“Yes, you do,” Avery said, and Lucy laughed.
“And so do you. Why don’t you have another?”
Avery giggled hard at that. “No, I don’t! I’m currently working with an awesome songwriter for Selena Gomez. Plus, we’re waiting until we can drink legally before we add in another.”
“You’ll need it,” Autumn agreed, and that had everyone in stitches.
“Okay, girls, go try your dresses on,” Autumn called, and when everyone got up, Baylor stayed in her seat.
They looked back at her, and she shrugged. “What? I could maybe get it up my thighs, but even I’m not sure on that. So I’m good.”
“Party pooper,” Claire teased.
“Yeah, who told you to get pregnant when we had a wedding coming up?” Avery added, and Baylor snorted.
“Aren’t they already married?” Baylor asked, and that made them both grin as they headed toward where Autumn and the salesperson were waiting for them.
Looking around the cute little shop, Baylor had a smile on her face as she rubbed her belly. While there was no point for her to be there, she was glad she was. She loved her sisters-in-law, along with her stepmother slash mother-in-law. Add in Angie and Ashlyn, and Baylor was in heaven. Growing up with only her dad, she had yearned for a big family like the one she had now. Yeah, they were all crazy, but God, she loved them. She couldn’t wait for her little bundle to join them.
It would be complete bliss.
When her eyes met a section of the store with a sign that read Maternity, she found herself getting up and heading toward it. Looking through the dresses, she thought they were adorable, and a part of her wished she needed one. She didn’t, though.
“Oh, Baylor, I forgot to tell you,” Autumn said, coming over to Baylor and rubbing her back. “Lord, I’m losing it. Anyway, pick one.”
Baylor’s face scrunched up. “What?”
“Pick one of these dresses. I want you to look amazing at the baby shower. I hired a photographer.”
“Mom…” Baylor said in complete disbelief. This woman was insane. It was a baby shower, not a damn wedding.
“Yes?”
“You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
“For the love of…” she muttered, looking through the dresses. “But they’re all wedding dresses!”
“So?”
“They’re also expensive!”
“Again, so?”
Rolling her eyes, Baylor picked a few before waddling to the dressing room because the simple fact was there was no arguing with Autumn Sinclair. She tried on two that were too tight on her ever-growing belly, and when she went to try on the third, she paused. Scoffing, she drank in her body and shook her head. She would never look the same ever again. The baby was huge, and her usually very fit body was stretched to hell. Dark purple and red marks ran up her sides and along her thighs. She hadn’t eaten badly during her pregnancy, she had taken care of herself, but her little person decided it didn’t have enough room. She wondered if she even had abs anymore.
But she guessed that was a part of motherhood.
Sighing loudly, she reached for the third dress, a beautiful, off-white lace number, but before she could pull it over her bump, her phone rang. It was Jayden.
“Hey.”
“Hey, you guys done?”
“Nope, your mother is making me pick out a dress for the baby shower.”
He laughed. “She’s crazy.”
“Exactly my thought,” she said on a sigh. “Oh, and by the way, I’m disgusting naked. How do you still wanna do me?”
“What’s disgusting? What are you talking about?”
“My body is ruined.”
“Your body is fucking hot, and I love it, so stop talking about it.”
“But it is.”
“No, it’s not. Shut up, I love that body,” he demanded. “I’m getting hard just thinking about that curve of your ass. The thickness of those sexy thighs and God, those tits, mmm, yeah… When are you coming home?”
As her face turned red, she let out a little giggle. “Jay, be real. I’m covered in stretch marks.”
“And? They mean you grew my child, and again, I think that’s hot.”
“You’re insane.”
“About you, yes. Now hurry home so I can pick you up and do you against the wall.”
She laughed. “Please, like you could lift me.”
“Oh, baby, challenge accepted.” Giggling, she rolled her eyes, but inside she was elated. “See you soon. Love you.”