A Time for Hope (Lexi, #3)(82)

“Yes, you’re going to be a dad.” I could never have imagined the happiness that those words would bring. Alex was positively beaming. Perhaps the whole pregnancy glow bypassed me completely, choosing to iridescently illuminate Alex instead.

“Are you ok? Is that why you’ve been so sick? Do we need to get you a Doctor?” Alex’s happiness turned to concern as he clutched me closer.

“Alex, we have another eight or so months of this. Pace yourself with the crazy. We are both perfectly healthy.” I lightly brushed off his concern knowing that while I had been unwell, my symptoms were normal and to be expected.

“But you are so thin, that can’t be right. Should you even be flying?” Alex asked desperately. My confident and self-assured husband’s face plunged into confusion. It was endearing how concerned he was and, while unnecessary, how much he cared still overwhelmed me.

“Alex I love you baby, but we are fine. I have been battling some really bad morning sickness so I haven’t been able to eat but it’s normal and of course I am ok to fly.” I unwrapped his arms from around my body and took his hands in mine, kissing his knuckles. “We are both fine.”

“I love you Lexi.” Alex swallowed as he got down on his knees resting his mouth against my stomach. “I love you and our baby so much.”

“Dude, I’m all for going down on your girl but you need to aim lower. Seriously, I feel bad for her if that’s the way you’ve been doing it.” Dan’s voice shattered our tender exchange. As usual, he had misread the situation and put his own unique Dan spin on what he had walked in on. He stood idly with his hands in his pockets, unable to disguise his wicked grin.

My body gently shook as the laughter travelled through my body. I didn’t even have it in me to be upset. Of all the things Dan could assume, it would be that Alex and I would be dumb enough to engage in oral sex in the open space of an airplane. I hoped it didn’t give him fuel for thought in an attempt to one up us, thank God there were no groupies on the plane.

“Dan do you honestly think I’m going to just go down on Lexi right here in the galley way?” Alex smirked as he stood. He too was clearly unable to be annoyed at Dan’s completely incredible summation.

“Why the hell not? I would.” Dan scoffed as he leaned up against the wall, still unsure as to what he’d actually caught us doing.

“Is everyone ok?” Matt rounded the corner and our informal gathering by the first-class bathrooms expanded.

“Hey!” James added as he also joined the party, “What was with the inflight entertainment?”

“I’m fine,” I assured everyone, knowing that my little performance was going to require some sort of explanation.

“Lexi!” Hannah exclaimed excitedly as she bounded through the sea of bodies that had accumulated. “Are you insane? You could have hurt the baby!” Noah was clutched closely to her chest as she grabbed me and encased me in a concerned hug. “You crazy, crazy girl!”

“Baby?” James looked feverishly between Hannah and I, obviously not missing the highly relevant word despite its understated placing in the sentence.

“Oh my God!” Hannah pulled away from me. Her hand flew to her mouth as horror over took her. “Shit Lexi, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s ok Han,” I smiled, not the slightest bit upset that she had unwittingly divulged my secret. We were going be travelling closely together for the next few months. It’s not like I would have been able hide the morning sickness, fatigue and frequent bathroom trips (especially if they were mid-air) and while men were notoriously unobservant, my erratic behaviour would have eventually raised eyebrows.

“Alex and I are going to have a baby.” I announced just as Jason and Troy moseyed over to see what the commotion was about.

Alex threaded his arms around me. “Lexi’s pregnant,” he added in case my explanation hadn’t been clear enough.

“Fucking amazing!” James grabbed Alex by the shoulder; his huge smile broadened as he wrapped his arm around my back to include me in the emotional three-way hug. “I am so f*cking happy for you guys.”

“Thanks James,” I giggled, my eyes spontaneously starting to water. Damn it, I hadn’t managed to control the emotion swings yet.

Alex and I fielded hugs and well wishes from Matt, Troy and Jason, who all seemed genuinely happy for us. Hannah was ecstatic she no longer had to keep it under wraps and could openly be excited about Noah having a playmate in the near future.

“Seriously *s?” Dan stared at us in disbelief. I couldn’t gauge whether he was happy for us or annoyed.

“Yes Dan, seriously.” I wiped away my tears as I nestled closer to Alex’s chest.

“I couldn’t be f*cking happier! Fucking A!” Dan clapped Alex across the shoulder. “Actually I can’t believe it took you this long to knock her up. Was thinking maybe all your little fishies stopped to look in the mirror on the way.”

“Ewwwww Dan!” Hannah laughed as she cradled Noah in her arms.

“Thanks Loser.” Alex winked, “But my little fishies work just fine.”

“Can we stop talking about this in the hallway and maybe move back to our seats?” I was not sure I ever wanted to discuss the virility of Alex’s fishies anywhere, least of all with Dan.