“Yes, that’s why I’m pregnant—because I have a dick.” She rolls her eyes, rubbing her stomach.
“Are you sure that’s your kid?” Jace asks me. “It’s probably a demon spawn or something.”
I snort. “Could be, I suppose.”
Thea’s jaw drops and she throws a pillow off the couch at me. I laugh and catch it easily.
“Nice try, sweetheart.” I toss the pillow back and it lands beside her.
“You’re all a bunch of jerks.” She frowns and crosses her arms over her chest, resting them on her stomach.
We end up hanging out and talking until more people start arriving. Thea kept it relatively small this year, only inviting Jace, Nova, Cade, Rae, Joel, and some girl she works with. She told me I could invite some guys from the team if I wanted so some of them might show up.
Joel arrives first, dressed as Zoro just like Nova said he’d planned. He even talks with a funny accent to complete the look.
Next is Rae and Cade, dressed as Salt and Pepper. Not the band, but the seasonings. I just shake my head at the weirdness and go on with my life.
A couple of the guys arrive next and we bump fists in greeting.
I know I should hang out with the guys more outside of work, but it’s not my thing. Once I’m done with work, I like separating myself from it and hanging out with Thea. Plus, now that we have the baby coming that’s where all my focus has been.
Clark comes dressed as Batman, Zack is some kind of steampunk looking character, and Drake is a Viking. I’m sure Thea will find that hysterical. I’m honestly surprised she hasn’t made me dress up as a Viking yet. Though, she’ll probably see him and that’ll be next year’s costume.
The girl Thea works with arrives last, and introduces herself as Georgie. She’s dressed as a hippie.
Prue runs around with her unicorn costume half off and Thea chasing after her.
“Prue,” she cries. “You’re naked! Come back!”
Prue runs up the stairs and Thea pauses, hands on her hips as she struggles to catch her breath. “Ugh, fine. Go then.”
I grab a plate of food, suddenly starving, but I avoid the meatballs. I can’t eat them now.
For the most part the party is low key and more mellow than usual. It’s actually kind of nice to hang out with everybody and not have so much chaos. The first year we had a party, when we were still living with Rae and Cade, it was insane. The music was loud, and the party bled outside. I’m sure our neighbors loved it.
I’m also fairly certain Jace and Nova had sex in the laundry room that time.
The party ends early, since it’s really more of a get together than an actual party. Thea and I clean up as best we can and head to bed.
I pull the covers back and she hops inside, her face clear of makeup and her hair in a ponytail. She wears a tiny pair of underwear that barely covers anything and a loose tank top to sleep in.
I lie down beside her, covering us with the blanket and she rolls to me, laying her head on my chest.
Both of us are quiet and I hear her yawn.
“Xander?”
“Yeah?” My chin rubs her hair.
She traces a finger over my belly
button. “When did we get old?”
I stifle a laugh. “What do you mean, sweetheart?”
She shrugs against me. “Just that … I don’t know, we’re so boring now. This was the most mellow party ever, and I actually loved it.”
“I guess things just change gradually. We become different people. We can’t help it.”