“Yes,” I tell her, removing my hand from her mouth so I can kiss her.
“It’ll be in full working order when I give birth, doing its job,” she says. “Are you prepared for that?”
“Of course. I will be right there front and center, nudging the doctor and nurses out of the way so I can catch our baby,” I say with authority, envisioning the moment in my brain.
“Our baby is not a football,” she says, sounding amused.
“It’ll be small like one. I’ll tell you hike, and you can just push the baby out right into my hands.” I laugh.
So does Ava.
“Can we order a pizza?” she asks. “Or go somewhere to eat?” She makes a face. “I really don’t feel like going anywhere.”
“Let’s have one delivered then.” I reach over to grab my phone from the nightstand. “What do you want on it?”
“Pepperoni and pineapple. Oh, and olives,” she says. A little crease forms between her eyebrows. “Maybe some red onion?”
“Ava.” I grimace. “That sounds disgusting.”
“I think it all sounds good. Like…really good.” Her eyes widen. “Maybe I’m having a craving?”
“If that’s your craving, it’s kind of awful.”
She rolls onto her back, her head propped on a stack of pillows as she stares up at my ceiling. “Thin crust. Light sauce. God, the pineapple sounds so delicious right now, and I don’t even like pineapple on my pizza normally. But I’m willing to try it.”
I open up my phone and go to the local pizza place’s app. “I hate pineapple on pizza.”
“But you’ll eat it for me?” She turns to look at me with the sweetest expression on her pretty face.
“For you, I will do anything.” I lean over and kiss her. “Except eat pineapple on my pizza.”
She mock frowns. “You’re no fun.”
“I’m going to order you your own, plus one for me.” I shoot Caleb a quick text, asking if he wants pizza too. “Not sure if I want to try yours.”
“What if it’s awful?” She sits up, running her fingers through her hair. “It won’t be. I just know it.”
I sit up next to her, pushing her hair away from her neck, so I can kiss her there. “Baby, you are sexy when you’re pregnant.”
She shoves me away, a giant smile on her face. “Shut it. You’re just saying that.”
“Nah, it’s true. But I think you’re sexy all the time so…” I kiss her neck again, dropping my phone on top of the comforter, so I can reach for her, slipping my hand under her T-shirt so I can touch her. My fingers drift from her stomach to her ribs, to her breast, tracing the lacy edge of her bra.
Ava shivers. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like?” I feel good. Invigorated. That nap with Ava in my arms helped, I’m sure.
“Eli…” Her voice drifts and her eyes fall closed when I kiss along her jaw.
“Hmm?”
“I’m hungry,” she whispers.
“I’ll give you what you want,” I tell her, cupping her breast fully.
“For food. Pineapple pizza.”
I pull away from her and lie back down, grabbing my phone. I notice that I have a text.