Strong (Book 2 in the No Control series)

*35 Weeks*

This morning Liam wakes me up with breakfast in bed. “We are turning our phones off, spending the day in bed relaxing. Just the three of us.”
I smile, touching my belly.
As we eat breakfast, I feel the baby moving. “Daddy, someone’s awake.”
“Liam’s face lights up. “Good morning, Baby. Daddy loves you.”
He lays his head on my chest, singing sweetly to the baby.
All of a sudden, Liam’s head pops up. He looks at my belly, then into my eyes. “Did you see that, Love?”
I grin. “I did. He or she likes Daddy’s voice, very much.”
“What was that?”
“A hand or a foot.”
“Should I feel bad if it made me think of Alien?”
I laugh. “No, that’s exactly what I thought the first time.”
Liam grins, then puts his hand on my quite large belly. “Wanna high five, Buddy?”
I watch as the baby moves what I assume is it’s hand under Liam’s. He turns to me with the most adorable, surprised look.
Keeping his hand on my belly, he moves to kiss me. His mouth firm and warm against mine.
Pulling back, looking into my eyes. “ I love our little family, Liz.”
“Me too, Liam.”
“I almost forgot, I made a present for you, Beautiful.”
As he reaches in his night stand, I hesitantly ask. “You made it, should I be concerned?”
He turns back to me and I wink, to let him know I’m teasing.
He smiles. “Normally, I’d say you should be concerned. However, my sisters helped me, so it’s all well.”
I unwrap the gift he’s handed me.
“Oh, Liam, I love it.”
It’s a scrapbook, with two pictures on the cover. One of us at the beginning of our friends with benefits relationship. The second is a recent picture of us, baby belly and all.
Liam cuddles in close, putting his arm around me, propping the scrapbook against my belly.
We spend the next hour or so, reliving our relationship through pictures.
So many amazing memories. From our first trip to the villa in Italy. “I never could have imagined that we would own it one day.” I say.
Pictures of us from my birthday. Liam and I surrounded by the purple balloons. Then later at the castle, dressed as Cinderella and Prince Charming.
Liam kisses my head. “My princess.”
I kiss his cheek. “My prince.”
All our special moments at the gazebo, captured perfectly.
“I love the picture Rosa took of us after you asked me to marry you.”
Liam smiles. “Me as well, Love. Look at us, we’re both practically glowing.”
“I think that’s just the reflection of the huge ass diamond.”
Liam laughs, gently pushing on my shoulder. Taking my hand he says. “We could exchange it for something smaller if you’d prefer.”
I teasingly pull back my hand. “No way, no take backs, Payno.”
He laughs, then leans in for a kiss. “I wouldn’t dream of it, Beautiful. You’re stuck with me.”
I grin. “I guess I can live with that.”
We come to the pages of our wedding pictures.
Liam kisses my cheek. “Some of my favorite pictures from that day, are the ones we didn’t know anyone was taking. The way we look at each other.”
I look up into his eyes. “So in love.”
“And even more so today.”
The final pictures in the wedding section, are from our wedding night at the cottage.
Liam turns the book towards my belly. “Look baby, that’s where you were made.”
I laugh. “He or she needs a “Made in Italy” shirt.”
Liam laughs as he turns the page to the pictures of our honeymoon in Greece.
“That was such an incredible trip.” I say.
Liam winks. “You just miss that big shower.”
I smirk.
Liam whispers in my ear. “Me too.”
After that section, are pictures from the night I told Liam that we were having a baby. Then a picture of Liam, me, and my belly every week.
The scrapbook is the kind that you can add pages to. I expected a few empty pages, saving them till the baby is born. However, there are several blank pages left in the book.
“Why so many blank pages, Handsome?”
Liam grins. “Those pages are for continuing our love story, Beautiful.”

Notes