Fighting Redemption(76)

“Fuck yeah,” he mumbled with a laugh.

“Well don’t. I have months to go yet.”

“Really?”

His voice took on a high pitched sound of disbelief that made her laugh. “Shut up!” Tucking the phone into her shoulder, she began spooning out Crookshanks’ breakfast while he sat there growling impatiently. “I do not look like I’m ready to pop!”

“If you say so.”

“So does baked beans on toast sound good for dinner?”

“I was only teasing,” he said quickly.

“Sure you were.” She placed the bowl of food on the floor for her cat and with a flick of the kettle, headed back towards her room. “I have to go get ready for work.”

“Shouldn’t you be on maternity leave by now?”

“Kyle!”

His laughter was loud. “Okay, okay. See you tonight.”

“See you then.”

“Oh, Fin? You can ring me anytime, okay?”

“Thanks, Kyle.”

Hanging up, Fin tossed the phone at her bed. How long had it been since she’d sent that email to Ryan? If it was him that rang, why had he waited so damn long?

Later that night, Fin answered the door to a grinning Kyle and a tub of ice cream. “Pregnant women eat everything in sight, right? So I figured ice cream would taste better than a bunch of flowers.”

Fin snorted and then covered her mouth, flushing with embarrassment as she let him in.

“Did you just snort?”

“No.”

“You so did.”

Fin reached for the ice cream, but he held it aloft in his good arm as he stepped inside. “I so did not.”

Kyle arched a brow at her. “Admit it or you get no ice cream.”

She pressed her lips together, fighting a laugh. “Don’t ever get between a pregnant woman and food.”

His eyes widened with alarm, dropping to her belly when she clutched it with a groan. When Kyle reached for her, she snatched the ice cream out of his arm and did a waddle type run for the kitchen.

Following behind, he pointed at her, his eyes narrowing. “You played me!”

Fin dug through the kitchen drawer for a spoon and waved it triumphantly. “I warned you.”

Spooning out a mouthful, Fin sighed with pleasure before tucking the ice cream into the freezer and getting Kyle a drink.

As they sat talking and laughing through dinner, Fin couldn’t remember the last time she felt so relaxed. Kyle reminded her so much of Jake that when he was around, it was almost like Jake had never left.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” she told him from where they were both splayed out the couch, trying to decide on what movie to watch. “I got you a present.”

Kyle’s eyes lit up like a kid at Christmas. “Really?”

“Oh, it’s just a little thing,” she muttered, grabbing hold of the armrest to lever herself out of the seat. She’d been walking past a small row of shops when it caught her eye, tucked into the window of the tiny gift store, begging to be taken home.

Picking up the gift bag from her dresser, she carried it out and handed it over as she sat back down.

Kyle let out a shout of laughter as he peeked into the bag. He pulled out the cute, furry penguin she couldn’t resist buying and shook his head, still grinning.

“You have to give him a name now,” she said.

“Percy of course. Percy Penguin.”

Fin rolled her eyes. “Of course.”

“Fuck,” he muttered, and putting the stuffed toy to the side, reached out and took both her hands in his. Fin looked at him, surprised at the hint of anger in his eyes. “Ryan’s an idiot.”

Her mouth fell open. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Because he’s a stubborn * who let you go.”

A wild kick forced the air from Fin’s lungs. Gasping, she closed her eyes.

“Christ, you’re not—”

“Kyle!”

“Jesus, Fin. It didn’t help any with you faking a labour thingy just to get ice cream.”

“They’re called contractions.”

“That’s more than I needed to know.”

Her brows flew up with surprise. “I feel sorry for the mother of your future children. It was just the baby kicking.”

Kyle eyed her belly with deep suspicion.

“I promise.”

“It’s not a real promise unless you cross your heart.”

Pressing her lips together, Fin crossed her heart. “Feels like I’m back at school when I’m around you.”

Kyle nodded knowingly. “I make you feel young again. I get that a lot.”

Fin laughed, rubbing her hands over her belly in a gesture that was becoming familiar.

“Can I …” He looked at her before glancing down to where her hands now rested comfortably, hesitating. “Is it okay if I …”

“Sure. Everyone does. Most don’t even ask.”

With gentle hands, Kyle raised the soft cotton of her stretchy tank top and placed both hands over her huge stomach. Fin closed her eyes, shivering at the warm scrape of his palms on her skin. Her heart ached for Ryan and what he was missing.

The baby kicked hard as though understanding her feelings, and Kyle let out a shout. “Holy shit! There’s a real baby in there.”