Hall of Fame

Tyler walked through the aquarium, his arm around Mia’s shoulder, his hand rubbing her arm lovingly as they walked, and he handed her the ice cream cone he had just bought with a smirk. “Here ya go,” he said knowingly as he handed it over. He smiled at her before turning his eyes, looking at the array of colorful fish as they walked through the glass tunnel.

Mia adjusted the front of the sundress she was wearing; they were out enjoying activities and her ankles were not swollen which was something she was grateful for. She knew it had concerned him previously and herself, but she didn’t want to worry on this trip, and she didn’t want him to either. As they walked and he handed her the ice cream cone she smirked at him, accepting it and giving it a lick. “You don’t want any?” she asked, holding the small Jacquemus bag in her other hand as they strolled.

Nova drank a little water down from the bottle she had as she and Aaron followed behind Mia and Tyler. As they moved through the aquarium, she smirked to herself, she held the bottle of water in the same hand her Prada bag was in and she reached for his. Soon enough they enjoy moments like this with their son, showing him new sights and educating him on the world around them.

Aaron walked, trailing behind Tyler and Mia with Nova. He looked around at all the fish and he smirked slightly. This place was pretty cool. Looking to Nova as she grabbed his hand, he smiled and tugged her closer. He pulled her to his chest, pressing a kiss to her hair as they walked. “What you thinking about?” he asked her lovingly.

Smiling softly, Tyler looked at Mia and said, “no, I’m okay, I bought it for you.” He slid his arm from around her shoulder hugging her close by her waist. Leaning down some, he nuzzled the side of her face a bit. “You feeling okay?” he asked her now in a whisper as they walked.

Mia smirked at Tyler again and he hugged her close, she licked the ice cream cone once more and smiled “thank you baby” she told him gently. At his question she looked into his eyes “yeah” she said nodding her head “I feel fine” she told him honestly.

Nova looked at Aaron pulling her eyes from the massive shark that swam by and she sighed softly as she grinned. “Picturing us taking bean to an aquarium” she confessed. “I know it sounds crazy,” she said, chuckling a little. “But I was just thinking how wild it will be that we will get to show him these things and educate him on it” she said looking at the fish.

Aaron watched the giant shark swim by, and he had to do a double take. Why in the hell was a shark in the tank with all the little fish? He had no idea. Looking back at Nova, he smiled at the thought and he placed his hand on her belly. “That’s not crazy,” he said softly. “I picture us with him too,” he admitted, chuckling. “It is wild though,” he added with a smirk as he rubbed her belly. “Who do you think he’s going to look like more?” he asked her curiously. He had a feeling it was going to be him; he had some pretty strong genes in his family.

Tyler walked idly, looking around a bit as he did. “You’re welcome baby,” he said as he looked down at her, giving her a small squeeze. As she explained that she felt fine, he nodded and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Okay baby,” he said gently. As they moved into the giant, circular room, Tyler smirked. “Damn,” he said looking around at the massive shark before his eyes moved to the turtles.

Mia smiled, eyes closing as he kissed her forehead, she looked up at him and said, “I would tell you if I didn’t feel like myself baby,” she reassured him. As they moved to the next spot, Mia licked the cone twice taking in the large sea animals. She looked at the massive turtle and she said “look how big this thing is” pointing with her finger before she licked the ice cream again. “I can’t believe there are things this huge in the ocean swimming around” she told them.

Nova looked at Aaron and she looked down at her stomach poking out in her dress. She never admitted it to him, but she loved when he rested his hand on her stomach. Mainly because of how calm and soothed their son became but also because of the love she felt in each touch. “You” she said easily with a shrug “I just want him to have those dimples” she said looking up at Aaron, she pecked his cheek. As they moved into the next space she looked around before she looked at Mia chuckling “right” she said to her.

Aaron rubbed her belly gently, moving his hand in slow soothing circles idly as they moved. “Oh, just my dimples, huh?” he questioned her with a wide smile, his talked about dimples creasing through his thick beard. “You can’t even see them,” he chuckled. As they moved into the large, open area, he looked up, eyeing all the variety of fish and sea creatures. “Wow,” he breathed. “Remind me to never get in the ocean again,” he chuckled.

“I know baby,” Tyler said gently, rubbing his hand up and down her side. Looking to where Mia, pointed, Tyler chuckled. “Yeah, when you think about it, it’s actually kind of eerie,” he said. “The ocean is so vast, and we don’t even know half of what’s down there,” he said, getting a chill at the thought.

Mia licked at the cone once more looking up at Tyler with a smirk as he spoke. “You nerd” she joked, chuckling a little at him before she looked back in the tank. At Aaron’s words she looked back at him and smirked, licking her cone before she bit off the top of the vanilla ice cream, chewing it a little as it melted in her mouth.

Nova looked at Aaron and nodded her head “yeah” she said softly before she chuckled. “But I know they are there” she added with a wink as he smiled at her. “It’s beautiful though” she added in behind all of them as she watched the fish move.

Aaron smirked at Nova’s words and he asked, “think I should trim the beard down?” curiously, nuzzling her a bit with his beard. Looking around them, he nodded and said, “it is, it really is,” spotting a bench as people stood up from it, he ushered Nova over quickly, sitting down himself before he pulled her down in his lap, his hands on her belly once more.

Scrunching his nose at Mia, Tyler snorted. “That is common knowledge,” he said with a shake of his head and a smile. Watching Nova and Aaron sit down, Tyler walked Mia over, sitting as well, he gripped her full hips, bringing her down into his lap. “So, what do you guys want to do next today?” he asked curiously.

Mia giggled softly at Tyler “mhm” she said teasingly before she bit into the cone munching lightly. As Tyler brought her over to the bench, gripping her hips and resting her in his lap she munched quietly to herself. However, at his question she licked her lips and said “let’s go to that one eating spot with the music and stuff” she said as she bit into the cone again. “I think it was by the beach,” she said softly.

Nova moved with Aaron easily “I kinda like the beard” she chuckled “giving me papa Moore vibes” she chuckled lightly before she took a sip of her water once more. He sat down and brought her down with him and he looked at him offering him some water. “Want some?” she said to him before she looked at Tyler. “Um” she said thinking to herself as Mia spoke up with an idea.

Aaron laughed out at Nova’s words. “Papa Moore?” he asked her, “yeah it’s getting trimmed,” he said easily. “Just because I am a dad doesn’t mean I want to look like a dad,” he said smirking. At her offer of water, he nodded, “yeah,” he said as he took it from her, sipping a bit down. Looking at Tyler and Mia as they spoke, and Mia thought of something he pulled the bottle from his lips. “Yes, food,” he chuckled.

Tyler looked at Nova and Aaron, then at Mia as she suggested the eating place and he nodded, “okay, good, ‘cause I’m hungry,” he smirked.

Tyler sat at the table, gazing over the menu with a hum. There were a lot of options. Looking around, he asked, “what y’all getting?” Reaching over, he placed his hand around Mia’s thigh lovingly.  

Mia looked at the menu cutting out of the seafood considering she thought about what she wanted from the remaining items that were available. She licked her lips and said “I don’t know yet, maybe ribs” she breathed “or chicken” she said to her husband.

Nova looked at the menu, she couldn’t decide what she wanted. She was probably going to have a salad and make a bunch of changes to it. “I don’t know yet” she told Tyler as she sat in the nice breezy air, it was beautiful out and very worth eating outside to enjoy it.

Aaron gazed over the menu, looking at the variety and he shrugged a bit. “I’m torn between the Loco Moco and the Huli Style Roasted Chicken,” he admitted. “I think I’m going to go with the Loco Moco though,” he said as he lifted his head slowly, looking at Tyler before he glanced over to the beautiful beach.

Tyler listened to everyone as she spoke and he nodded slowly, looking back down at his menu. “Hmm,” he said biting his lip. “I might do the Sauteed Salmon,” he said, “or the Spaghetti Bolognaise,” he shrugged some as he picked up his glass of water, taking a sip. He sat his menu down before returning his hand to Mia’s thigh under the table, rubbing her there lovingly.

Mia looked to Aaron and Tyler as they spoke, she nodded her head at them before she looked back down. She felt Tyler’s hand and she smirked to herself gently before she decided on what she was going to get and sat the menu down. “Are we doing any starters?” she asked them.

Nova looked at Aaron before she looked down at the menu in front of her, she tucked her leg beneath her in the chair fixing her dress around her as before she placed her hand on her stomach. “I say the guava chicken wings if we do,” she told Mia.

Aaron shifted in his chair slightly, looking over at Tyler as he spoke and he nodded, “sounds good,” he said before looking at Mia, then Nova. “I’m always down for some wigs,” he smirked, “we could get the Acai Papaya Boat too,” he suggested.

Tyler sat his menu down now, looking over at Mia as his hand continued to rub her thigh. “Get whatever you guys want,” Tyler offered as Mia mentioned starters. He looked back at the menu, eyeing the options Nova and Aaron laid out and he said, “sounds good to me,” he said with a small smirk before he leaned over, pressing a kiss to Mia’s jawline.

Mia smirked widely at the group and she nodded her head, as long as she got wings for a starter, she didn’t care what else was added to the order. “Wings, yes,” she said with a smirk on her face and Tyler leaned over to kiss her. Mia leaned in a little closer to him resting her head on his arm before she leaned up fixing her dress again. Noting to herself that the dress was cut far too low for all the boobage she was sporting.

Nova looked at Aaron wiggling her brows, wings they would have apparently so that she was happy and excited about. She rubbed her stomach gently before she grabbed Aaron’s hand and pressed it into her side as their son moved.

Aaron nodded his head at everyone, and he looked over at Nova as she grabbed his hand. He pressed it into the side of her belly, smiling softly at the feel of their little bean moving. “He’s so active,” he mused with a smirk.

Tyler smiled at Mia and he chuckled as she leaned over, resting into him, Tyler pressed a kiss to her temple. Looking around, he let out a content sigh.

The waitress walked over to the table with a small smile. “Are you all ready to place your orders?” she asked curiously as she stood there, holding her notepad and pen ready to write.

Mia blinked slowly before she pushed long braids over her shoulder gently, she looked to the waitress and she nodded her head. “Yes” she said before she told her “as a starter we would love the guava wings and the acai boat” she told her. “And I think we all can order food as well” she said looking at everyone else. “I wanted the loco moco” she said softly “no kimchee though” she said politely.

Nova nodded at Aaron “I know it’s crazy, this kid doesn’t rest” she breathed as the child continued to move, seemingly doing flips in her stomach. She chuckled at him and shook her head before she looked at the waitress. “I want the harvest salad with added chicken breast” she told the girl next. “Can I have Caesar dressing, instead of the one that comes with it” she told her. “And just a side of French fries” she said sheepishly.

Aaron looked up as the waitress approached their table. He looked at Mia, then at Nova as they ordered and he said, “I’ll take the Loco Moco as well, hold the kimchee.” He looked over the menu a bit more before he added, “if possible, can we change that white rice to brown rice?”

Tyler looked Mia over lovingly before the waitress approached and he looked at the woman as everyone ordered. Licking his lips, he said, “may I have the Spaghetti Bolognaise with a side of grilled Salmon?”

The young Hawaiian woman nodded as she began to write the orders down one by one, making eye contact with everyone briefly as they spoke. “Brown rice,” she mumbled to herself as she scribbled it all down, nodding a bit more. When she was finished, she asked, “would you like something else?” as she began to tuck the pad away in her apron, moving to collect their menus.

Mia hummed to herself gently as everyone ordered their food and she licked her lips. “I’ll be back” she told them as she got up, she moved towards the inside of the building to find a restroom.

Nova looked at the woman as she scribbled everything down and she said to her “may I have lemons for my water, and I think that’s fine” she said to her nodding her head. She watched Mia leave to go use the restroom and she sat back still holding Aaron’s hand against her stomach even as their son settled down.

Aaron looked back at the waitress shaking his head. “No thank you,” he said for himself, glancing at Mia as she excused herself from the table. Looking back to Nova, he smirked, and he asked, “have you come up with any names?

Tyler shook his head at the woman before looking to Mia. “Okay babe,” he said easily as she got up from the table and he watched the sway of her thick hips. Looking over at Nova, Tyler asked. “How far along are you again?

The waitress nodded at the couples and she jotted down, the lemons for Nova before she said, “alright I’ll go put this in for you all and I’ll be right back with your lemons,” she said before she moved to walk away.

Nova looked at Aaron and shook her head gently “not yet, not any that have stuck out” she said quietly. “But I have been looking,” she told him sweetly. At Tyler’s question she smirked and said “26 weeks” she said with a smirk as she looked at Aaron. “You are going to blink, and he’ll be here, you’ll be a whole god dad” she chuckled looking at Aaron again.

Aaron nodded slowly at Nova, licking his lips as he gripped the bottom of her chair with his freehand, pulling her closer to him. “No rush,” he told her with a hum. Glancing at Tyler, he smirked his hand still rubbing Nova’s protruding belly. “Yeah, so be prepared to babysit before yours gets here so mom and dad can have a moment of peace,” he chuckled.

Tyler smirked, looking across at Nova and Aaron and he said, “I actually wouldn’t like that it’ll be good practice.” He chuckled a bit. “I’ll teach him about basketball and girls,” he said easily.

Returning to the table, the waitress placed down a small plate of lemon wedges, “here you go,” she said sweetly before she looked around the table. “Your appetizers will be out shortly,” she said before she scurried away.

Nova looked to Aaron and she nodded at his words, as he rubbed her stomach and she leaned into him a bit. “That would be good practice, for you and Mia” she said with a smirk. “We will have to set this up” she chuckled looking at Aaron. “Girls” she said offering him a knowing look “I hope the right things about girls, right?” she asked him slyly. “Thank you” she told the woman as she placed the lemon in the water.

Aaron laughed out at Tyler’s words and he said, “please don’t corrupt our son,” with a smirk. Looking at the waitress as she placed down the plate of lemons, he nodded at her. “Thanks,” he said easily before he looked at Tyler. “How are you feeling about being a dad?” he asked his friend. They honestly hadn’t talked about it.

Tyler looked at Nova and he nodded, “yeah it would be fun,” he said with a hum. “Though I feel like Mia won’t need the practice,” he shrugged, “seems like it just comes natural to mothers,” he said looking over at Nova. “I mean you know I gotta teach little man how to mack,” he said as he began rubbing his hand together like Birdman. At Aaron’s question, Tyler dropped his hands as he shrugged. “Uh, you know, I’m excited,” he said, licking his lips. “It’s going to be an adjustment but I’m eager,” he admitted, as he looked around, wondering what was taking Mia so long.

Mia moved out of the bathroom after having washed her hands and freshened up a bit. She moved back for their table and when she arrived at it, she sat back down in her chair. She fixed the front of her dress once more and she looked to her husband and friends wondering what they were talking about.

Nova looked at Tyler “that’s what they say” she replied back to him easily at his statement. “As Aaron said, please don’t corrupt him” easily as she dropped her hand from Aaron’s now. As he mentioned his feelings towards having a baby with Mia, she smirked gently to herself and she nodded her head at him. “You guys have what it takes,” she said with a soft chuckle before Mia returned and she took a sip from her water glass.

Aaron looked across at Tyler, nodding at his words and he said, “I feel the same way bro.” Looking down at Nova he said, “I’m nervous as fuck but like I’m just ready to hold my son in my arms man,” he admitted. As Mia finally came back to the table, Aaron reached for his glass of water, taking a sip.

Tyler looked across the table at his friends, nodding his head a bit. “I will try my best,” chuckled. As Mia sat back down, Tyler placed his hand back on her thigh easily. “Well thank you,” he said to Nova with a smirk. Looking at Aaron he said, “well you’re more than halfway there…”

Mia looked to Tyler and everyone else, listening to them as they spoke, and she rested her hand on Tyler’s sweetly.

Nova looked at Tyler and said “you are right” with a head nod, they were more than halfway there now. She smiled and looked at Aaron “I can’t wait either” she confessed “that is when the real fun begins” she chuckled.

Aaron looked at Mia and Tyler, then at Nova and he smiled. “Fun?” he questioned, smirking a bit. “I don’t know how fun dirty diapers and 3am feedings will be,” he said, licking his lips knowingly.

Tyler looked at Mia and he leaned into her slightly, nuzzling her neck as he whispered. “You alright?” he turned his palm up on her thigh, taking her hand into his and lacing their fingers. He looked over at Aaron and he smirked. “I mean… sounds like great fun to me.”

The young waitress returned to the table holding a large circular tray. “Sorry to interrupt,” he said quickly. “Here are your appetizers,” she said as she placed the large plate of wings on the table, then the bowl of fruit. “Your entrees are just about done,” she explained, “should be out shortly. Did you all need anything else?” she asked tucking a loose strand of hair that had fallen from her ponytail behind her ear before placing four plates on the table for them.

Mia smirked, closing her eyes as Tyler leaned into her “yes baby” she said, lacing their fingers along with him, she clutched his hand. “You don’t have to worry so much you know; I only went to the restroom” she smiled as she kissed his lips before the starters surfaced. She looked at the woman and nodded her head “thanks” she said to them. Mia grabbed a wing or two, placing it on her plate and tasting them with a hum, she licked her lips slowly before she took another bite, a small moan leaving her.

Nova chuckled at Aaron and Tyler, shaking her head and she looked to the wings happily. “Looks so good” she said softly as she grabbed a few putting them on her plate, she began to snack on them. “These are good,” she said softly to everyone as she cleaned the bone.

Aaron looked at the woman as she placed their appetizers down and he said, “thanks,” as he grabbed a plate and added a few wings to it. He dipped his head, saying a quick prayer before he began to eat one of the wings with a hum. “They are,” he said listening to Mia moan and groan and watching Nova suck her bone clean. He looked across at Tyler with a smirk, shaking his head at their women.

Tyler whispered back to Mia, squeezing her hand. “I know but you were gone for a cool minute,” he said with a small chuckle before he looked at the woman as she placed down the food. He nodded at her saying, “thank you,” as he grabbed a plate. He used his fork and moved a bit of fruit to his plate before he added some chicken. He looked across at Aaron and he snorted at the boy’s face, shaking his head as he bit into one of his wings.

Mia licked her lips as she picked up another wing, dropping the clean bone down she moaned against softly as she ate. She was hungry and the food was good, she couldn’t help it. She licked her lips clean of the sauce and she moved to another piece of chicken.

Nova quietly ate, she knocked down three pieces of chicken easy on the plate before she licked her lips and cleaned her hands. She picked up her water and drank it down before she grabbed another piece of chicken.

Aaron snorted at Tyler’s snort and he dropped his head as he cleaned his bone before picking up the next wing from his plate, eating it as he looked at Nova and Mia watching them devour the wings hungrily.

Tyler looked away from Aaron, trying to hold in anymore laughter. Nova and Mia loved food and they were pregnant. No judgement. Looking over at Mia, Tyler licked his lips as he ate his wings. “Good babe?” he asked her softly, trying to hide his amusement.

Mia looked over at Tyler, she dropped another bone saying “mm” to herself quietly as she moved to up another piece of chicken. She watched the men laugh and she raised her brow before she looked at Tyler. “Are y’all picking on us?” she asked in response.

Nova licked her lips again before she added three more wings on her plate and she looked at Aaron and Tyler, before she looked at Mia and back at the men. “Oh, is that what they are doing?” she asked her friends before she looked at Aaron.

Aaron looked at Mia, then at Nova at their words and he looked taken back. “What? Of course not,” he said looking over at Tyler with wide-eyes.

Tyler smiled as Mia said she was enjoying the wings before he choked on his food a bit at her question. “No,” he said quickly, reaching for his water. He took a quick sip, clearing his throat a bit. He looked at Aaron, then at Mia again. “Babe, you know I would never,” he said.

Mia narrowed her eyes at Tyler before she sat another bone down, she raised a brow at him moving to reach for her virgin pina colada. Mia took a sip of her drink for a while before she sat it back down against the table. “Mhm” she said as she looked over at Nova before she sat back in her chair. She had enjoyed her moment with the wings now she was finished.

Nova looked at Aaron and Tyler, she said “oh” before she moved back to her food. She looked at Mia and then picked up another chicken wing still eating the food without a care. Call her what you wanted she didn’t give a fuck; the food was good.

Aaron looked at Tyler and he lifted his eyebrows a bit before he dropped his head, looking at his plate as Mia stopped eating. He ate his wings quietly now, looking at Nova out the corner of his eyes as she continued eating.

Tyler watched Mia as she sat back in her chair and he sighed, “babe,” he said as he wiped his hands on his napkins. “It wasn’t even like that,” he told her as he turned to face her in his chair. “Eat your food,” he said gently.

Mia looked at him and she smirked nodding her head slowly and she licked her lips “I’m finished though” she said honestly as she picked her drink up and sipped it, passive aggressively.

Nova snorted at Mia before she moved to another piece of chicken “we should have ordered two platters” she said amused as she looked at Aaron. “Cat got ya tongue now” she said, nudging him a little.

Aaron looked over at Mia, then at Nova and he said, “nope,” as he ate another wing before he wiped his hands and reached to get some fruit. “Technically I wasn’t talking before,” he said easily.

Tyler nodded slowly at Mia’s words before he looked at Nova and he said, “I can have her put in another order,” easily. Licking his lips, he picked up the next piece of chicken off his plate, eating it without another word.

Mia looked to Nova shaking her head “you are gonna feel all that sodium later” she reminded her easily. Mia licked her lips as she shifted in her seat a bit.

Nova dropped her leg, losing feeling in it now and she shifted in her seat as she looked to Mia. “Do not start” she said too easily “I have gained nothing this entire pregnancy. I can pig out these last 2 weeks. Right A” she said looking at him. “Nah” she said, shaking her head at Tyler. “These are enough…”

Aaron picked up a piece of banana on his fork, eating it easily before he picked up a few berries, eating those too as he listened to Tyler, Mia, and Nova. “I mean…” Aaron shrugged. “If you feel that you want to,” he said, shrugging again.

Tyler nodded slowly at Nova, eating more of his food easily. “Alright,” he told her before he glanced at Mia, licking his lips. He reached for his glass, sipping down more water.

The waitress came back to the table, holding another circular tray and a stand. She carefully set up the stand before she sat the large tray down on it. “Okay so we have…” she trailed off looking at the plates, “a Loco Moco with no kimchee,” she said placing the plate before Mia. “Another Loco Moco with no kimchee and sub for brown rice,” she said as she moved around the table, placing the plate near Aaron. Moving back the tray, she picked up the salad with added chicken and placed it near Nova before she sat down the plate of fries as well, along with the two small dishes of Caesar dressing, “chicken salad and fries,” she hummed out before picking up the last plate and moving around to Tyler, placing her hand on his shoulder as she sat the plate down. “And last but not least spaghetti bolognaise with a side of grilled salmon,” she said as she stood there, hand still on Tyler’s shoulder. “May I get you guys anything else?”

Mia looked to Nova and raised her hand “fine” she said with a chuckle. She looked as the woman brought the food finally and she looked at it with a smile of appreciation. She smiled at her and said “thank you” as easily as her, everything was correct and in order. She looked over at Tyler’s food before she looked at the woman, looking at her hand and she pulled her eyes away before she looked at Nova and then down at her plate. “Yeah, it all looks perfect,” she said.

Tilting her head Nova, looked at Aaron before she looked away from him rolling her eyes a little. She will forever hate that about him truly. As the food came and was placed before them, she smiled at the woman thankfully before she said “looks good” she said softly “everything looks good” she breathed.

Aaron looked at Nova as she rolled her eyes at him and he said, “what?” quietly before the waitress returned, handing out their plates. “Thanks,” he said easily, looking his plate over with a nod of approval before he looked up, eyeing the waitress with a raised eyebrow at her hand on Tyler’s shoulder.

Tyler sat his glass down, looking at the waitress as she returned. He watched as she passed out plates before she sat his down and lingered at his side. He turned his head, looking at her slightly until she placed her hand on his shoulder and he squinted a bit. He reached over and picked her hand up by one of her fingers, moving it off of him easily before he said, “this is good, thank you…” Shaking his head at the woman’s antics.

Mia grabbed her fork, clearing her throat gently choosing not to say anything, the more things like this happened the more she told herself that it was simply something she had to deal with while being with him. She forked some rice into her mouth as she ate quietly to herself. It was kind of embarrassing for it to happen in front of their friends.

Nova looked at the woman, tilting her head at the girl did she want her ass to be beaten. She looked at Aaron at his words and she said nothing looking at Mia for a moment before she looked down. Awkward. She licked her lips and moved to dress up her salad.

Aaron looked at the woman as she continued to stand there, and he cleared his throat as he picked up his fork and knife separating his ribs a bit. With that done, he picked one up, biting into it hungrily.

Tyler looked over at Mia, then at Nova and Aaron before back at their waitress. “We’re good, you can go,” he told her easily as he eyed her up and down, a bit upset by her actions. Picking up his fork, he broke into the salmon before he dug the piece up bringing it to his mouth.

The young woman stood there, shocked by Tyler’s actions and when he told her to go, she frowned a bit before she quickly moved to collect the tray and the stand, rushing off.

Mia picked a rib up and she bit it hungrily, humming at the taste and she placed the bone back down gently as she forked some sides into her mouth. She looked back up looking over at Tyler for a moment before she picked her bone back up.

Nova looked at Tyler and the woman before she looked at Aaron. If the shoes were on the other foot, she would have knocked his ass out by now. Tyler never did anything else in private why shame the woman in private now? He should have barked at her with the same force he did with her during UNO for embarrassing Mia. But who was she was to judge; her boyfriend never gave a fuck most times?

Aaron was quiet as he ate his meal and he mumbled, “it’s good,” as he munched on his ribs. He was shocked that Tyler hadn’t said more to the woman at her actions, his friend was usually zero to one hundred. However, it wasn’t any of his business at the end of the day.

Tyler spun his fork around his spaghetti a bit before he ate some, slurping just slightly as he did. Tyler looked at Mia as she looked at him before he returned his eyes to his plate. She had begged him over and over again to calm down and to not get so riled up about things. So, he was heeding her words, finally, though deep down, he was pissed. That woman knew damn well there were two couples at the table, and she had no business trying to get his attention like that, especially not in front of Mia. His nostrils flared a bit as he reached for his glass, taking another sip of his water.

Mia cleaned the bone; the food was good, and she nodded her head at Aaron as he confirmed it for them both. “How is your food babe?” she asked him sweetly.

Nova looked to Aaron and said “good” back to him as he continued to eat his food and she forked a piece of chicken into her mouth with a smirk. It was a salad, but it was a good salad so though she didn’t pick anything heavy she was enjoying her meal.

Aaron smiled at Nova slightly as he nodded. “Your food good?” he asked her now, licking his lips before he forked some of his rice into his mouth. Looking over at Mia and Tyler, he just watched the two of them.

Tyler ate more of his spaghetti and bolognaise before he returned to his salmon, breaking off pieces at a time with his fork. “It’s good,” he said to Mia, looking over at her, his eyes saying it all, about how he felt about the waitress.

Mia moved her clean hand to rest against Tyler’s thigh, she picked her fork up and ate more food. “Good” she said in response to him gently as she forked more food into her mouth.

Nova nodded her head at Aaron “for a chicken salad, yes” she said smirking at him. She sat her fork down drinking some water down before she picked her fork backup and ate a little more.

Aaron nodded at Nova and he said, “good,” before he looked back to Tyler and Mia. He eyed them before he looked at Nova again. Eating more of his ribs, he sucked the bone a bit before he said, “I’m surprised the food is so good.”

Tyler gazed at Mia as she placed her hand on his thigh and he reached down, placing his hand on top of hers, giving it a squeeze before he sighed out. “Yeah it’s pretty good,” he said, licking his lips as he returned to his spaghetti. “Did anyone want dessert?” he asked.

Mia looked at Tyler and she nodded her head at him, he having repeated what everyone kept saying at the table. She licked her lips and she nodded her head before she smiled and said “I want the cheesecake” with a chuckle, cheesecake for a favorite of hers.

Nova looked at Tyler and Aaron, she raised a brow and said “okay, the food is good it ain’t that good” cutting the bullshit out. “We can definitely say something to her damn boss” she said seriously. “She can’t do inappropriate shit like that to people, man” she said.

Aaron nodded at Tyler then looked to Mia as she spoke. “I think I saw key lime pie on the menu,” he said thoughtfully before he looked at Nova. He licked his lips a bit before he said, “shit was definitely out of line.”

Tyler nodded at Mia’s dessert order before he looked at Nova, then at Aaron. “I’ma handle it,” he said easily as he forked more bolognaise into his mouth. “Key lime pie,” he said with a nod, “and cheesecake,” he looked at Mia, then nova, “dessert?” he asked her.

Mia looked at Tyler, she grabbed her glass and sipped through her straw at his words. She sat her cup back down and said nothing in response to him.

Nova looked at Aaron, Mia, and then Tyler before she said “I guess cheesecake too” sweetly as he asked her what she wanted again. She looked at Aaron again before she said “babe let me have a rib” with a smirk.

Aaron looked at Nova as she asked for cheesecake too before he smirked at her. He picked up one of the last two ribs and handed it to her with a smile.

Tyler nodded at Nova before he moved to stand up. “I’ll go put in the orders,” he said as he began to walk away from the table.

Mia looked at Tyler as he moved to stand up “I can go babe, and you f-finish your food. Because I am full” she lied to him easily as she licked her lips looking to Aaron.

Nova looked at Aaron with a smirk and she grabbed the rib biting into it, as Tyler got up and left the table. She moaned at the taste of the rib as before she licked her lips slowly and looked at Aaron.

Aaron looked at Nova, smiling as she bit into the rib before he looked at Tyler, watching his friend get up from the table. He pulled his bottom lip into his mouth. This could be very bad, he thought to himself as Mia stood up.

Tyler looked back at Mia. “Nah, babe it’s okay, I got it,” he said as he continued on.

Mia nodded her head at him, sitting back down and tucking her lips. She looked at Aaron and said “go stop him A, he may listen to you” she said quietly.

Nova looked at Tyler and then Mia before she looked at Aaron giving him a knowing look along with Mia’s words.

Aaron looked at Mia, then at Nova. “From what getting desserts?” he asked them confused. “Tyler not about to do nothing,” he said even as he moved to get up anyway. He walked in the direction his friend had.

Tyler moved into the restaurant, looking for the waitress and when he found her, he said, “excuse me,” to the people at the table she was talking to as he grabbed her by her arm and shoved her towards the back of the restaurant. He gripped her arm tightly as he forced her into a cleaning closet before he shut the door and he flicked on the light. He gazed down at the clearly scared young woman and he sneered at her. “That is my wife!” he screamed into her face. “I don’t know what the fuck, you called yourself doing, but don’t get fucked up,” he huffed, his chest rising and falling. “That’s rude as fuck to sit there and try and come into my in front of her and all of my friends and don’t play stupid and act like you didn’t fucking know we were together,” he sneered at her. “You saw us come in,” he huffed as he slammed her back into the wall hard. He let her go before he turned the light back off and he punched the wall beside her head before walking out the room casually, flexing his hand a bit.

Mia watched as Aaron got up to follow behind Tyler and she looked at him thankful for what he was about to do. She looked at Nova and said “he gets so angry; I can’t get through to him sometimes” she said sadly.

Nova looked at Aaron as he left, and he looked at Mia nodding her head “I get it” she said softly. “Tyler has always had a temper” she sighed, “Aaron will calm him down it’ll be fine” she said.

Aaron moved into the restaurant, rubbing the back of his neck a bit as he looked around for Tyler. He turned in a full circle in the middle of the restaurant before he saw Tyler and he walked over to him, looking down at his hand as he flexed it and Aaron sighed, “what did you do?” he asked, shaking his head.

Tyler looked up to see Aaron and he squinted slightly at his friend. “I handled it,” he said before he flexed his hand one more time. He clapped his hand against Aaron’s shoulder before he walked off, moving to the other side of the restaurant so he could place the order for the desserts.

Mia looked to Nova, before she looked back towards the restaurant nervously. Maybe her friend was right, they were on vacation he could have just been getting dessert.

Nova looked at Mia for a moment before she said “don’t worry” to her and she then continued to eat her food idly.

Aaron shook his head at his friend, and he looked in the direction Tyler came from, not seeing anything. Licking his lips, he turned and followed Tyler over to order the desserts. “Man, what happened to your hand?” he asked.

Tyler placed the order with another waiter before he turned to Aaron. “I took my anger out on a wall,” he said easily before he shoved his hand into his pocket and moved to head back outside. Getting to the table, Tyler sat down and said, “dessert should be out shortly.”

Mia looked to her husband as he surfaced and her heart raced, “everything is okay right?” she asked him, turning in the direction of his chair.

Nova licked her lips as she stole Aaron’s other rib, eating that too and when she was finished, she grabbed the Caesar dressing and she ate her fries dipping them in it as Tyler returned.

Aaron moved behind Tyler, following the man back outside and he sat down in his chair, looking to his plate before he looked at Nova. “The last rib tho?” he questioned her with a deep sigh.

Nova moved back into their condo, closing the door behind her and locking it, closing off the balcony again. She moved towards the kitchen and grabbed herself a bottle of orange juice before she moved to sit down beside Aaron once more in the living room.

Aaron sat on the couch, leaned forward with his elbows on his knees as he held the game controller in his hand tapping away. He glanced over at Nova as she sat down beside him and he leaned into her gently, bumping his shoulder against hers to acknowledge her, his fingers still moving across the controller easily.

Nova rested beside Aaron, when he nudged her, she looked to him. She had no right to judge but right now she was, he needed a real job and here he was playing video games instead of taking the time out to find something that worked for him. She cracked her orange juice open and looked to the boy saying “so… work…” quietly.

Aaron continued to play the game until he felt Nova’s eyes really on him and he paused, looking over at her and he nodded, “work…” he repeated her. “I’ve been looking,” he sighed out. “Most jobs in my field are already booked up,” he admitted sadly, “or require travel and I can’t because of school and I’m not going to leave you…”

At the mention of him having looked for work she nodded her head at him, tucking her hair behind her ear. Nova tilted her head and licked her lips; well her parents were right he wasn’t going to travel so this she now knew officially. Once he was done, she tucked her leg beneath her taking a sip of the drink before she sat it aside. Her hand rested on her bump and she said, “dad has a job for you lined up here….”

Aaron sat the controller aside, turning to Nova slightly and he sighed. He knew he had asked her to talk to her father, but he wanted it to be a last resort, but maybe they were on their last resort. “What’s the job?” he asked, dragging his hand down his face.

Nova looked him up and down and she shifted before she said “interning” easily “that’s what you asked of him, that’s what you asked of me” she said slyly before she picked up her orange juice and drank some more of it down.

“Yeah but doing what? Is it a production assistant? Maybe editing?” Aaron asked Nova with a bite of his lip, trying not to grow a bit excited as he gazed at her. He truly wouldn’t be able to thank her father enough for helping him like this.

She finished the juice. She sat the empty container down and said “he didn’t go into detail with me” she lied easily. “I’m sure it has to do with stuff like that” Nova lied again. He was going to be her father’s assistant essentially, but she couldn’t break that to him now. “No matter what it is babe, it’s going to pay more than the school and that is all that’s important right now” she said slyly, reminding him of the main focus right now.

Aaron licked his lips and he nodded as he rubbed his hands over his sweats. “Okay,” he said as he nodded more. “Uh, well when do I start?” he asked. “I need to get my portfolio together so that I can show them what I can do,” he said with a smile. “I think they’d be impressed,” he said nodding a bit more, more so to himself now.

At his words Nova used her teeth to bite her top lip and she sighed heavily. “Baby they won’t need a portfolio….” she said to him as she shifted on the couch pulling him to her lovingly. “Right now… all you can really be babe is like… his assistant” she said. “He’s going to almost pay you 20 dollars and hour. That’s good money we need that” she stressed to him knowingly “please Aaron, do it. Even if it isn’t what you want to do because in the long run it’s going to pay off for the baby’s sake” she reasoned.

Aaron completely deflated at Nova’s words and he sunk down into the couch as he gazed at her. “What?” he said softly. “Just… the errand boy?” he asked her, his face now drained. “Babe…” he sighed out deeply at her begging and he dropped his head, rubbing the back of his neck as he mumbled. “I’ll do it…”

Nova looked to him and she sighed softly “Aaron you have to sit your pride aside right now” she told him. “If I could get up and work right now I would proudly. But I can’t” she told him. “And the baby isn’t going to get any cheaper, so I don’t know what else to do. Anything else he found you’d have to travel” she said to him. “As a matter of fact, why not do that?” she asked him. “Travel” she shrugged.

“I said I’ll do it,” Aaron repeated himself. He had already sat his pride aside when he asked her to speak to her father in the first place. This was just the bottom of the barrel now. Her words struck him. “I am not leaving you to do all of this alone,” he told her. “Don’t bring it up again,” he said sternly. “I’ll do it a’ight, I’ll take the job for you and our son…”

Nova looked at him as he repeated himself and she nodded her head. As he went on speaking to her with a bit of authority in his voice she said “fine” defensively raising her hands. She moved to pull herself up on her feet and she grabbed the trash moving to toss it away in the kitchen trash can before she turned the light off in the kitchen.

Aaron looked at Nova as she got defensive and he sighed out. As she stood up, he picked up his controller and forfeit the game before he started over, playing from the last saved checkpoint. As she flicked off the kitchen light, he glanced over at her for just a millisecond before he returned his eyes to the TV.

Nova walked out of the kitchen with a heavy sigh and she moved towards their bedroom in her LV slippers. She rolled her eyes to herself as she slammed the bedroom door behind her before she instantly regretted it. Hopefully, he ignored it and her, she didn’t want to escalate things she was just frustrated. They built everything on their parents’ help and now all of a sudden upon finding out they were having a son he had become high and mighty. She thought it was so damn stupid. Kicking her slippers off she climbed into the bed adjusting her biker shorts over her belly, they were causing a faint line on her bump and she pulled them down below her belly as she stroked the area a bit.

Aaron beat the level quickly, ignoring Nova slamming the door as he did. He didn’t even want to argue with her. It was no use. He felt useless and defeated. He couldn’t take care of her and their son without a damn handout, what type of man was he? He knew Nova didn’t say it, but she thought differently of him because he didn’t just have wealthy parents and money just lying around. She never said it, but it was in her actions and the way she went about things. Sighing out, Aaron turned off the game for the evening and he turned off the TV. Dragging his feet, he flicked off the light and moved into the bedroom. He pulled his shirt off and tossed it on top of the dresser before he toed off his socks and climbed into the bed, getting under the covers and laying down with his eyes closed as he let out a deep and sad sigh.

Nova caressed her stomach for a while before she moved to change her clothes for the day. She placed some shorts on her body, they were too small, but Nova didn’t care one bit she was always the hottest at night and once the heat brought on her attitude that was it. If the heat woke her up, that was it. She licked her lips, unfastening her bra and tugging it off herself before she pulled on one of his tank tops. She climbed back in bed and turned the tv on, a few minutes later he surfaced not saying a word as he climbed into bed with her. She looked at him and she shifted rolling onto her side, and she rested her hand on his broad chest. “I love you” she said sadly to him, a pout on her lips.

Opening his eyes, Aaron looked at Nova and said, “I love you too,” as he gazed at her. He let out a deep sigh once more, just taking her in before he closed his eyes once more, turning his head to the side a bit. He looked to her once more, dropping a peck on her lips before he closed his eyes again, his broad chest rising and falling easily.

At his words she pouted more, gazing at him as he gazed at her. He pecked her lips and she kissed him back fully before he pulled away and she said with a heavy heart. “Tell me what you are thinking and what you are feeling baby…” Nova didn’t really ever feel they were the deep type and maybe that was the problem. Mia told her she needed to talk to him, really talk to him and considering her friend had the ring and she didn’t she figured she needed to try.

Aaron looked back at Nova at her words and he said, “girl what you talkin’?” as he shifted on the bed a little, rolling his head some as he stretched a bit.

Nova looked at him at his words and she shifted looking to him crazily, she sighed as she shifted rolling off him. “That’s the issue Aaron” she said to him seriously “you never want to talk about anything” she stressed as she laid on her back. “You are so cut off from everything” she voiced agitatedly; she rolled her eyes as she repositioned herself. “How are we going to raise a child and we can’t even communicate” she mumbled to herself.

Aaron looked at Nova at her words and he smacked his lips some as he ran his hand down his face. As Nova rolled over and said her peace, he let out a huff. “You don’t need me Nova,” he said as he stared up at the ceiling. “You’ve got it all under control,” he said. “Your parents are wealthy, and you’re set for life,” he mumbled. “I have to grind every single day and I feel like I ain’t shit because I can’t truly provide for you and him,” he said, still staring up at the ceiling, his hands folded over his stomach. “You don’t do it on purpose, but you make these little comments or gestures or looks, and I know you’re judging me…” he said shaking his head a little. “I walk over to the clearance rack because that’s what I can afford and you turn your nose up,” he said. “I work for hours, doing what I can here and there, but it still ain’t enough,” he huffed softly, his eyes still on the ceiling. “I just feel so fucking inadequate…” he said as he patted his stomach idly now. “I don’t want to have to beg for handouts…” he sighed, “but I am… for you…” he mumbled. “But I don’t feel appreciated or… like it means shit at the end of the day…”

Nova looked to him as he began to speak his truth and she sighed to herself, she did need him was he crazy? She couldn’t have done half of this without him and was only doing this because of him. He didn’t know how many times he walked into a clinic to rid herself of the responsibility of carrying their child, but she loved him. She licked her lips as she pushed the covers down a bit, to cool her body off as she rested there listening. “I’m sorry” she breathed to him, she grabbed his hand and laced their fingers. “You are crazy if you think I don’t need you. I need you every second of every day. I need you for things big or small, things you aren’t even aware of. I breathe you Aaron” she said getting emotional. “I’m not judging you” she said shaking her head as she too looked up at the ceiling herself. “You are going to succeed; you are going to jumpstart all of those dreams but realistically everyone needs help Aaron” she said to him. “My dad wasn’t always who he was, and someone helped him lay the foundation he built for his family” she told him. “We need help, we can’t do it alone Aaron. We can’t. I can’t do it alone, no matter what you think” she said looking at him. “Having him could limit my potential… and of my dreams from coming true. We are all sacrificing here. This pregnancy is pulling us both in directions we don’t necessarily desire Aaron, this is life” she said sadly.

Aaron continued to look up at the ceiling as Nova apologized and he nodded slightly as she spoke how she felt now. Slowly he looked over at her, taking her in as she spoke and he sighed softly, giving her hand a squeeze as she laced their fingers. As she grew emotional, Aaron tugged her closer to him and he brought her hand to his mouth, kissing it softly. Slowly he looked back at the ceiling, taking in her words as she spoke, and he sighed. Everyone did need help. No one really did it on their own merit anymore. As she spoke about her sacrifices, he bit his lip. He hadn’t thought about that. There was no way they would both be able to travel all over with a child. One of them was going to have to take a step back. He frowned slightly and he dropped a kiss on her lips. “I hadn’t thought about that,” he admitted. “Nova I’m sorry,” he whispered.

As he brought her closer, she moved without a second glance or thought. She looked at him as he spoke again and she shook her head “there’s no need to be, I’ve dealt with it and cried my tears. It’s fine. Sacrificing is what a mother and father does” she told him heartbrokenly. “You can still graduate and get your work out there though” Nova said “you just have to pace yourself, baby steps. Dad wanted to get you that big break babe, but I knew you weren’t going to leave my side. So now we have to work with what he has. Either fly out Aaron or… grab sandwiches. Whichever you choose, remember it will be a hell of a lot better than what we are trying to get by on” she told him. She kissed him back and she rested her chin against his shoulder “things aren’t easy right now” she said a tear falling “but I have faith it will get better” she said softly.

Aaron held Nova close, gripping her hand against his chest. He bit his lip softly and he said, “Nova,” softly. He didn’t want her to give up on her dreams but in truth one of them had to and his field would bring more money in quicker. He dropped his head back against the pillow and he listened to Nova. “You’re right,” he said quietly. “I’ll get the sandwiches for now…” he said humbly “and maybe a few months after he’s born… and we’re good and stable, I might travel if an opportunity presents itself,” he said quietly. Feeling her tears, Aaron rubbed it away and he hugged her to him. “God don’t make no mistakes,” he said softly.

Tyler walked through the doors of the large villa, lugging a few of the bags into the place with a deep hum of appreciation. Sitting the bags down off to the side, Tyler looked back at everyone and said, “well this is it, four bedrooms, six bathrooms, and hella space.” He chuckled as he ran his hand over his short hair.

Mia followed behind Tyler with a small trunk like bag, it was her makeup case and about all he’d allow her to carry from the car that he arranged to pick them up. She looked around the villa with bright eyes, taking it all in especially the view from the backyard space. “Baby,” she squealed, her eyes moving to him still just as bright and appreciative as they were when they boarded the plane. “It’s beautiful,” she told him happily. “I love it already” she told him, walking over to him and leaning up on her toes to peck his lips gently.

Nova held her LV carry-on bag strap as she walked with it on her shoulder and she took in the spot Tyler had booked for them. Damn. She couldn’t believe he’d invited let alone paid, but after seeing the Villa she knew somewhere down the line she had to pay him back, it had to cost an arm and a leg a night. She licked her lips and took it all in, in aw. Wondering if there would be moments like this where Aaron surprised her with expensive trips, throwing money in everyone else’s faces without a care. Looking back at Aaron she smiled softly as she lowered the bag from her shoulder sitting it off to the side. “It’s bomb Tyler” she told him thankfully.

Aaron moved into the villa holding Nova’s bags on his shoulders and in his hands. He licked his lips as he looked around, sitting the bags with a surprised hum. “Wow,” he said aloud as he gazed around. The place looked expensive as hell. He looked over at Mia and Tyler, then at Nova and he licked his lips. “This is insane,” he chuckled, looking back at the two male workers as they brought in the rest of their bags on a cart, rolling it into the spacious living area for them.

Tyler chuckled softly as he pulled Mia close as he walked up to him. He held her by her waist, his hand gripping the thickest part of her hip as she kissed him. He kissed her back lovingly, his forehead resting against hers briefly before he lifted it and looked over at their friends. “Glad you guys like it,” he said, slipping one hand into the pocket of his cargo shorts, the other hand still gripping Mia’s hip. He looked around a bit more before he looked at the two men as they wheeled the cart into the room and he thanked them, sliding his hand from his pocket to slide them both one hundred-dollar bills. He looked down at Mia and smirked, kissing her nose before he looked to their friends again. “Fridges should be fully stocked. There’s a pool out back, it’s heating, plus the hot tub,” he began explaining. “Like I said there are four bedrooms, two bedroom on each wing of this villa, so I guess Mia and I will take the right wing and you two can take the left wing and we all meet in the middle. There’s obviously two extra bedrooms, do with yours what you will,” he said, looking to Nova and Aaron before he looked down at Mia, squeezing her hip. “Babe, I’m going to set up some stuff in our extra bedroom in case you want to record and I think there's a vanity in there for you to do your makeup,” he said thoughtfully.  

Mia smiled at Tyler happily, sitting her makeup trunk down for the moment as he spoke. She looked back at Nova, pretty happy to be enjoying this trip with her best friend. Who might she add, didn’t look as pregnant as she was, which only made her wonder just how big she’d get and how quickly or slowly. As Tyler went on to explain the layout she smiled again, privacy but with the excitement of friends nearby she liked that idea. Looking up at him she smiled “you are so thoughtful baby, thank you so much” she said sweetly planting another kiss on his lips. “I see you trying to get some cookie later” she joked in a hushed tone as she pecked his lips twice over.

Nova looked at Tyler and she nodded her head at him “okay, great” she said softly before she looked at Aaron. “I know” she breathed back to him, wrapping her arms around his waist gently as she watched the men bring in their things and she hummed softly to herself. She wanted to get all clean and do something right now, there was no telling when the next time she and he would get to experience a real vacation or even some along time once their son was born.

Aaron wrapped his arms around Nova as she wrapped her arms around his waist and he pressed a kiss to her hair. His strong arms held her firmly as he nodded along to Tyler’s words and he said, “oh word?” as he looked to the left side of the villa, eyeing the hallway there. He nodded a bit more before he leaned down, whispering into Nova’s ear. “I’ma make you scream tonight,” before he lifted his head.

Tyler looked around a bit more, his hand slowly sliding from Mia’s hip to her ass at her words. “You’re welcome baby,” he whispered to her before he looked at their friends, “and you guys don’t have to thank me, it’s Spring Break and we only live once right?” he said chuckling before he grew quiet at Mia’s whisper. Looking down at her, he smirked, squeezing her ass firmly in his large hand. “Oh most definitely,” he said back to her in a soft tone before he looked at Nova and Aaron again, “uh, there’s plenty to do,” he said, licking his lips, “a couple of hikes and nature walks, shopping -- of course, the botanical gardens, the aquarium, the zoo, there’s this dope ass art museum, I heard there’s this 5-hour food tour, surfing lessons for Aaron and I, canoe rides,” he paused looking at Mia, “there’s a bunch of fireworks shows and shit, plus there’s always the beach,” he said with a smirk.

Mia looked up at Tyler again and she licked her lips slowly as he gripped her ass with his large hand. Her eyes flickered before he began to explain all the activities they could do and she nodded along with his list. “All of it sounds fun, I think we can squeeze most of it in” she said looking back at her friends happily. “Especially the museum babe” she said looking into his eyes “I know you want to see that” she said softly.

Nova looked at Aaron at his words and she chuckled “oh I can imagine” she said to him, pecking the side of her face. She looked at Tyler pulling away from Aaron now as she rested one hand on her lower back and the other over her stomach. “It does” she agreed with Mia “I think us getting out and exploring sounds like a great idea. We should make the most of the trip, the villa is beautiful. But despite Mia and I being pregnant, I am sure we can get a decent amount of activities in” she told them.

Aaron let Nova go as she pulled away from him and he leaned against a pillar as he folded his arms over his broad chest casually nodding his head. “All that sounds fun,” he admitted, nodding along to Nova’s words. “I’m down for whatever,” he said as he dropped his arms and moved to sit down on the sofa, pulling Nova down into his lap. “I am a bit jet lagged though,” he admitted. “Maybe we should just chill and unpack for the night and get started bright and early tomorrow,” he suggested.

Tyler rubbed Mia’s ass in his hand idly as he looked down at her, then at their friends. “Got to go to the museum,” he smirked. “One of my pieces is in there,” he admitted. He shifted on his feet slightly as he nodded to Nova and Aaron, “yeah I tried to make sure I looked at the list of activities that you and Mia could partake in,” he said, “I wanted to be inclusive,” he chuckled. Looking at Aaron, Tyler said, “yeah that’s a good idea.”

Mia looked to Tyler and she smirked “really?” Mia asked him both shocked and having just learned about this for the first time today. She would have to take photos and vlog that for their child. Mia’s hand rested on Tyler’s hip as she looked back at Aaron and Nova, she nodded. “Okay” she said to the three.

Nova smirked at Tyler “you had it all mapped out bro” she chuckled at him as Aaron pulled her down in his lap and she sat. Rubbing her belly gently as she did, calming their moving son.

Aaron rubbed Nova’s stomach with her as they sat and he nodded along, looking at Tyler. “Oh dope,” he said as he shifted slightly on the couch. Nodding, Aaron rested his head back against the couch.

After doing a little unpacking and taking a shower, Tyler sat at the table in the middle of the villa shuffling a deck of UNO cards as he looked around the table at everyone. “No cheating,” he said knowingly.

Mia sat among her husband and friends, she had on an airy sundress and her braids were half up half down. As Tyler shuffled the UNO deck, she smirked at him, chuckling a little from her seat before she lifted a glass of pineapple and mango juice up, taking a sip from it.

Nova shifted in her chair next to Aaron and she popped a strawberry into her mouth, chewing lightly on it. She looked at Tyler and smirked “who cheats playing UNO?” she pressed with a knowing smirk. She wasn’t a cheater, but UNO could make the best of friends, the worst of enemies. “Baby you want some?” Nova asked Aaron, offering fruit from her bowl to Aaron, as her other hand rubbed her stomach idly.

Aaron sat back, holding his beer on his knee as he looked around the table and he smirked. “No cheating over here man,” he said before he lifted the beer to his lips, taking a sip. Looking at Nova, he nodded as he took the fork, eating a few pieces of the fruit. “Thanks bae,” he said softly.

Tyler squinted at everyone and he said, “y’all know y’all some cheaters,” as he paused his shuffling to pick up the instructions, “we playing UNO rules, man, none of that hood shit ya mama taught you,” he chuckled as he began to hand out cards one by one.

Mia snorted at Tyler shaking her head “I remember one of two games spanning all the way to freshmen year” she said with a grin as she looked at Aaron and Nova. Somewhere down the line she figured they did it to get a rise out of Tyler, which now amused her knowing what she knew about him. Mia took another sip of her drink before she popped a cracker into her mouth. “Oh lord” she said in response to Tyler, looking at him from her seat to his left.

Nova pulled the strapless dress she had on up in the front a bit, tucking her large breast away as she did, and she crossed her ankles gently as Aaron ate. Nova chuckled at Tyler “sometimes you gotta leave the past in the past brother” she said playfully as she sipped from her glass of water idly.

Aaron snorted a bit and he looked at Mia, hands up in defensive, “it wasn’t me,” he admitted throwing Nova under the bus. “I was just an innocent bystander,” he chuckled, taking another sip of his beer, collecting his cards one by one. He had a pretty decent hand.

Tyler licked his lips as he finished passing out the cards and he chuckled as he said, “yeah, yeah,” before he dropped down his first card, a green zero. Picking up his beer, he took a sip before he sat his cards down on the table, moving his hand to Mia’s thigh, giving her a loving squeeze.

Mia looked between Aaron and Nova chuckling gently as she picked her cards and placed them in order to her liking before she looked at the green zero. Feeling Tyler’s hands on her thigh she put down a yellow zero puckering her lips out for him to kiss as she closed her hand around her cards protectively.

Nova looked to Aaron with raised brows and she said “wow” to him shaking her head and licking her lips. “You're wrong for that” she told him easily as she took a sip of her water, smirking. Watching Tyler and Mia she grabbed her cards and looked at them, having nothing. She pulled a card from the deck before she put that one down, sitting the yellow five down luckily.

Aaron smirked at Nova and he leaned over, kissing her jawline. “It’s all love baby,” he said sweetly, trying to sneak a look at her cards in the process. Leaning back over in his chair, he looked at the options that he had before he placed down a yellow draw two, looking at Tyler with a shrug, “sorry bro,” he chuckled.

Tyler smirked as Mia leaned in and he kissed her back sweetly, watching as she protected her cards in the process. Smart. “Love you babe,” he said before he looked at the pile then at Aaron with a scowl, “oh it was all Nova,” he said mockingly as he picked up two cards, a yellow one and a green five.

Mia looked to Aaron and then to Tyler, shaking her head at both men as she dropped a yellow reverse card and she looked at Aaron smugly. Hopefully her husband had a good card in his hand to play.

Nova looked at Aaron pursing her lips “uh, uh get back” she said to him knowingly. “Trying to see my hand” she mumbled as she popped a grape in her mouth. Nova looked at Tyler and Aaron’s exchange before she looked at Mia and she hid behind her hand. Hm.

Aaron looked at Nova and he smirked, chuckling a little. “I am not, just trying to get a little sugar,” he said, lying through his teeth before he took another sip of his beer. Looking over at Mia as she placed down a reserve, Aaron frowned. “Oh c’mon,” he said, shaking his head.

Tyler looked at Mia and he smirked as she placed down the reserve. He looked down at his hand before he picked out his wild draw four and placed it down on the pile, looking at Aaron with a smirk. “Payback is a bitch ain’t it. The color is red.”

Mia looked at Tyler as he dropped the draw four on Aaron, and she grabbed her glass taking a long sip of the juice before she sat it back down, having been hiding her cards against her chest. She was going to win this little did any of them know.

Nova looked at Aaron and cut her eyes at her boyfriend before she looked at Tyler gloating and she smacked her lips. “Lord” she said as she placed a red eight down on the stack. She popped two more grapes into her mouth.

Aaron grumbled softly to himself as he looked at Tyler and he picked up four cards with a huff. “It’s cool, I got you,” he said as he nodded his head, already plotting his revenge. Reaching over, the grabbed the fork, getting a piece of pineapple out of Nova’s bowl.

Tyler sat back, his cards in his hand under the table as he looked around at everyone, trying to gauge their expressions.

Mia looked to Aaron hiding her amusement as she looked at her hand, now per the rules whatever she was left with as a high card would count against her. And a draw was a high card, the likelihood of her losing is about 50/50 so she had to get rid of it. Dropping the red draw two card down Mia looked to her husband apologetically.

Nova looked at Tyler and Mia, then to Aaron as he stole some fruit and she licked her lips hiding her hand from him feeling he was cheating himself right now.

Aaron watched as Mia placed down the draw two and he smirked, his eyes growing a bit wide. Mia had just drawn first relationship blood. It was about to get wild now. He licked his lips as he placed down his green draw two, looking at Nova with a smirk.

Tyler slowly turned to look at Mia after she placed the card down. He blinked slowly, his expression sad and his eyes hurt. “Wow, it be your own wife man…” he said, shaking his head as he picked up two new cards, adding them to his hands. As Aaron dropped a draw two on Nova, he snorted softly.

Mia looked to Tyler with a pout “I’ll make it up to you later baby,” she cooed at him lovingly. Mia watched Aaron and then looked to Nova before she dropped a wild card and changed the color to yellow.

Nova looked at Aaron with a hard gaze “oh, we playing at this shit tonight I see” she said shifting with her chair moving it away from Aaron. “You dead wrong” she said, eyeing him up and down as she drew two cards from the deck, sorting her hand now.

Aaron looked across the table at Mia and Tyler before he looked at Nova and he said, “baby all’s fair in love and war,” with a chuckle.

Tyler looked over at Mia and he said, “you better,” before he looked at Aaron and Nova and laughed a bit. He placed down a yellow four, it was a safe bet.

Mia looked to Tyler, amusement written across her face at his words and she looked back at the table.

Nova looked to Aaron again and she squinted “keep it up” she threatened him lightly as she popped another grape into her mouth, sliding her bowl over where she was resting now.

Aaron looked at Nova with an expression of sorry as he dropped down a yellow skip and he puckered his lips some as he said, “I still love you though,” sweetly. “You’re my fucking cinnamon apple,” he chuckled.

Tyler snorted at Aaron and his recall of the old vine that they all used to laugh over. “You’re an idiot man,” he said shaking his head as he finished off his beer before he got up from the table, holding his cards close to his chest as he did. He walked around the table slowly, moving into the kitchen to toss the empty beer bottle into the trash before grabbing another, using the drawer handle, to pop it open.

Mia looked at Aaron and she shook her head with a smirk as she placed a yellow six down. She popped another cracker into her mouth.

Nova looked to Aaron as he skipped and she blinked slowly finding no amusement in his or Tyler’s antics. As Tyler got up to get another beer, she sat back slowly eyeing the table now. Shit just got serious around her.

Aaron sat back, looking at Nova with kissy faces as she ignored him. As Tyler got up, Aaron said, “aye grab me one too,” as he quickly guzzled down the last of his beer, sitting the bottle on the floor.

Tyler looked over at Aaron’s words and he said, “bet,” as he grabbed another bottle, opening it up against the drawer as well, before he walked back over to the table. Sitting down he handed Aaron his beer across the table before he took a sip of his own. “Oh, is it my turn?” he asked as he fanned out his cards once more, his hand back under the table as he eyed his options. Sitting the beer down, he grabbed a blue six and placed it on the top of the pile.

Mia watched Tyler go grab him and Aaron another beer from the kitchen; she rested her hand aside as she picked up the plate of cheese and crackers. She popped a piece of cheese into her mouth munching on it. He had managed to change the color but that was fine, she was still going to win this round of the game easy.

Nova continued to ignore Aaron as she finished the bowl of fruit alone, placing the last strawberry into her mouth and chewing on it as she watched Tyler return and play.

Aaron took the beer as Tyler handed it over and he said, “thanks,” as he took a sip before he dropped down a blue skip with a snort, looking at Nova out the corner of his eye. It wasn’t his fault the cards got reserved. Truly Mia was to blame. He was just trying to get the big cards out his hand.

Tyler snorted at Aaron, dropped down another skip for Nova and he sat back, shaking his head. Nova was going to be pissed, this Tyler knew to be fact.

Mia looked at Aaron as he skipped Nova again and her eyes grew, he was taunting her, and she had to hide her amusement because of it. Mia sat the plate aside as she picked her cards back up “UNO” she said as she dropped the wild card “the color is yellow” she told them all.

Nova looked at Aaron again and said “really?” to him her eyebrows to her hairline as she shifted in her chair. She leaned up against the table, there was no way Aaron was about to continue to play with her like this.

Aaron looked over at Nova and he said, “I’m just trying to lose my hand,” chuckling. “Mia reserved it, blame her, this should all be going to Tyler,” he countered.

Tyler shook his head, “uh-uh, don’t blame my baby, you got other cards in ya hand,” he said easily as he placed down his yellow one. If Mia won, he wouldn't be too mad, though he surely wanted to win for himself.

Mia looked at Aaron and snorted “you are so full of it, please, Nova he is enjoying doing that to you” she corrected easily. She smirked and looked at Tyler “that’s right baby” she said pecking his cheek.

Nova looked at Aaron with a raised brow before she looked at Mia and said “oh I know” easily shaking her head as she drank down some more of her drink.

Aaron looked over at Tyler and Mia and he smacked his lips. “Y’all make me sick,” he joked as he placed down a yellow eight before he looked at Nova.

Tyler smirked, looking at Mia as she leaned in to peck his cheek and he covered his cards. “I got your back baby,” he said with a small laugh at Aaron’s words.

Mia looked at Aaron and said “we love you too” slyly. She pushed her plate aside and drank down her drink, finishing it as she sat her empty glass aside as well.

Nova said nothing as she placed down what she had which was a blue eight, and she sat back with her cards still in her hand watching Tyler and Mia both.

Aaron squinted at Tyler and Mia and he said, “yeah, yeah,” as he watched Nova finally take a turn. “Gimme kiss,” he said as he leaned towards Nova.

Tyler chuckled, taking another sip of his beer. He looked at Mia as she finished off her drink, asking, “did you want more to drink?”

Mia didn’t have anything to place down so she drew a card and she licked her lips, someone just had to change the damn color she could have won by now. Looking at her husband she said “yes, water please” she told him sweetly.

Nova looked at Aaron as he puckered his lips up towards her, she scrunched her face and her mouth twisted before she said “uh, uh” to him easily “boy get out my face” she fanned as she shifted away from him once more. “Think you cute… butthole” she mumbled under her breath as she swung her feet, one leg crossed over the other.

Aaron looked at the pile out the corner of his eye as Mia drew a card before he looked back at Nova and he said, “c’mon baby, just one,” even as she leaned away from him again and he smirked.

Tyler nodded at Mia’s request and he placed down a blue five, before he got up with his cards in his hand. He grabbed her glass and moved into the kitchen. Quickly he rinsed the glass out before he opened the fridge and pulled out the pitcher, quickly filling Mia’s glass.

Mia watched as Tyler put down a card before getting up to get her some water and she shifted in her chair looking at the two across from her with a smirk.

Nova looked at Aaron, eyeing him up and down “oh no, snake” she said with a chuckle. “A snake is a guy that can’t get no love from me” she told him as she sipped her water gently.

Aaron leaned up, playing a blue two, before he said, “now how you going to ruin a hit song like that,” with a chuckle.

Walking back over with his cards in hand, Tyler handed Mia her glass over water as he sat down.

Mia snorted at Aaron and Nova before she said “she really just tried to remix Scrub” laughing all the while. She looked to Tyler and said “thank you baby” softly.

Nova looked to Mia and Aaron hiding her smirk as he dropped a blue draw two on Mia and she shook her head. “Easy” she said slyly to them both.

Aaron laughed softly, looking across at Tyler and Mia before he said, “ohhh,” as Nova dropped a draw two on Mia.

Tyler shook his head, “a disgrace,” he said looking at Aaron with a shake of his head, “left eye somewhere rolling over in her grave,” he said chuckling before he paused, looking at his wife.

Mia looked at Tyler with a snort before she looked at Nova with raised brows “wow” she said picking up her two cards from the deck. She put them in order, trying to hide her annoyance that she could had the game moves ago if it wasn’t for the color being changed.

Nova licked her lips and she tilted her head at Mia “what?” she asked her softly “I had to get rid of that card” she shrugged playing stupid like everyone else.

Aaron looked between Mia and Nova and he bit his lip. Oh boy. Things just got realer. “Simmer, simmer,” he said with a smirk.

Tyler looked at Nova then at his wife and he shook his head as he drew a card, not having had anything to play.

“On me huh?” Mia said, pursing her lips at the woman for a moment. “Mhm” she drugged out, nodding her head as she took a long sip from her water glass.

Nova chuckled at Mia “it’s okay big baby” she teased at her playfully as she looked at Aaron who was up next.

Aaron looked at Mia, then at Nova and he tucked his lips in as he played his blue seven, he was not touching that.

Tyler chuckled until Nova spoke her words and he said, “aye, won’t be none of that shit,” he said to Nova quickly, shaking his head. “I’ll shut all this shit down,” he told them all.

Mia said nothing in response to Nova, squinting at her lightly until she heard Tyler’s words and she looked at him. “Ty” she breathed easily to him; he was supposed to be working on that. “She’s joking, calm down” she said to him quietly, he hand squeezing his leg under the table.

“Well damn the jokester, can’t take a joke” Nova said putting down a blue nine as she gazed at Tyler. In many ways they were night and day others, they were just the same. She angered quickly and so did he.

Aaron looked at Tyler and he sat up a bit, “aye now,” he said as he sat his cards down on the table gesturing between all of them. “Shut it all down,” he said looking at all of them. “I get you defending your girl now Tyler, but this…” he said pointing to Nova, “don’t do it…”

Tyler looked at Mia at her words and he rolled his jaw slightly. “Shit ain’t funny,” he said to Nova before looking at Aaron and he smacked his lips. He looked at Mia before he sat back, licking his lips slowly. He’d be cool.

Mia looked at Tyler as he continued his banter with Nova, and she just looked at the side of his face. Mia turned back to her hand quietly, saying nothing more as she put down the draw four and said to everyone “the color is green” very quietly.

Nova looked at Tyler tilting her head slowly before she looked at Aaron as he barked back at the man. Nova smirked to herself as she sat back in her chair again, when Mia dropped her card, she looked at Tyler expectantly.

Aaron looked across the table at Tyler and he licked his lips slowly. If he needed, he would fuck Tyler up, the trip be dammed.

Tyler looked over at Mia as she placed down the wild draw four and he nodded slowly as he picked up four new cards, adding them to his hand.

Mia looked at her hand and she licked her lips slowly, she looked over at Nova speaking a full conversation with her eyes.

Nova looked at Mia, she shrugged her shoulders lightly as the women both spoke telepathically to each other across the table.

Aaron grew very quiet, drawing back some as he let out a sigh. Looking at his hand, he huffed a bit, he didn’t have anything green. Reaching out, he grabbed a card before he let out a triumphant noise. He placed down the wild card and said, “yellow.”

Tyler sat back, dragging his hand down his face as he looked at his hand full of cards, a little irritated now.

Mia pulled her eyes away from Nova and she looked at Aaron as he changed the color again. She licked her lips looking at the cards in her hand now.

Nova looked at Aaron as he changed the color to yellow and she dropped a yellow eight down behind him luckily.

Aaron rubbed his hands together a bit, his cards hiding under the table. Looking over at Nova, he hummed as she placed down her card.

Tyler shifted in his seat, picking up his beer and he took a long sip, chugging it down. He finished the bottle before he sat it aside.

Mia placed a yellow five down, it was all the yellow she had at the moment she looked at Tyler’s empty bottle as he sat it down, her eyes moved to his face afterwards. She caressed his leg loving again under the table before she placed another cracker in her mouth.

Nova looked over at Aaron and she finally leaned in pecking his lips, for his knight and shining armor act he’d get the pussy slung to him tonight no doubt.

Aaron looked over at Nova, smirking a bit as she kissed his lips. He smiled slightly, letting out a hum as he reached over, placing his hand on Nova’s thigh. “Love you babe,” he whispered.

Tyler glanced at Mia as she placed her hand down on his leg. He rubbed his lips together, placing his hand over Mia’s briefly before he placed down a yellow two.

Mia looked at Tyler, watching him place a card down and she pulled her hand away focusing on the game once more.

Nova smirked “I love you more” she told Aaron easily before she raised her glass to her mouth finishing her drink and sitting it back down against the table as Tyler dropped his card.

Aaron smirked back at Nova before he leaned back, placing down his yellow four. The silence around the table was honestly a bit unbearable. However, he wasn’t going to say anything.

Tyler let out a sigh, reaching across to place his hand on Mia’s thigh, giving her a squeeze there.

Mia pulled her lip into her mouth for a moment before she reached for her glass and drank down some more water. She sat the glass back down, eyeing the deck of cards.

Nova pulled a card from the deck and sighed at the color of it, now she was curious to see who would win the fucking game at this point. She moved to stand up and she said “bathroom break” she held her cards in her hands. “You niggas cheat I’m beatin’ all y’all asses” she said pointing around the table as she walked off towards the bathroom.

Aaron watched Nova draw her card and he looked at the expression on her face before she stood. At her words, he chuckled, and he smirked, watching her hips as she walked away. Looking over at Mia and Tyler he grew quiet once more.

Tyler licked his lips, pulling his hand away from Mia and he looked over at Nova, shaking his head at her words. Licking his lips once more, he sighed out, rubbing his hand down his face again before he stood, going into the kitchen to grab another beer.

Mia looked at Nova and she snorted lightly at her “if you come back with more cards than you left with, we know who the real cheater is” as the girl disappeared. Mia looked at Tyler as he got up to get another beer and she looked back at the table in the meantime she drew the card she needed to and held it for a moment in her hand knowingly.

Nova chuckled at Mia, she moved in the bathroom sitting the cards aside and she relieved herself for a moment before she finished and fixed her clothing. She washed her hands and dried them off before she picked her cards back up and moved back out to where everyone else were and she sat back down.

Aaron watched Tyler rise from the table and he looked at his own beer, he had a ways to go. He was good. He took a sip of the drink before he looked over at Mia, watching as she held the card in her hand.

Tyler came back to the table, drinking down some of the beer as he sat down. He looked over at Mia, then at Nova as she sat back down, and he looked at the cards in his hand. “Did you go?” he asked Mia.

“I was holding it in my hand for Nova to return,” Mia said to Tyler, not looking at him directly. She placed the yellow nine down in the stack and licked her lips as she waited for the next person to move.

Nova looked at Tyler as he returned and she rolled her eyes slightly, he was going to be uptight and mad this entire trip now which would piss me off, seeing as it already was and then she and Aaron would be monkeys in the middle. She looked back at Tyler, to apologize would be to confess she was calling Mia more than a big baby which she wasn’t.

Aaron looked at Nova as she came back and he glanced at Mia as she spoke. He nodded slowly, looking at the card Mia placed down before he looked at his own hand.

Tyler nodded at Mia’s words and he took another sip of his beer. Looking at the card she placed down, Tyler drew a card, holding the wild draw four in his hand. “Pass,” he said easily, looking around the table.

Mia watched Tyler pull a card from the deck and pass up his chance to go and licked her lips with a smirk, interesting. She grabbed her glass of water and finished it before she sat it aside completely.

Nova looked at Tyler and she raised a brow at him before she looked at Aaron knowing it was his turn to play.

Aaron looked at Tyler a bit shocked as he skipped his turn and he rose an eyebrow. He looked around the table slowly, taking in their expressions before he placed his card down, a yellow one.

Tyler looked at the cards in his hand, eyeing the draw four and he licked his lips slowly. Did he want to use it? Tilting his head to the side a bit, he took another sip of his beer.

Mia looked to her husband hiding her hand from him, he was about to do something fucked up she could tell by his demeanor and she squinted. “What are you over there thinking about?” she asked amused, as she chuckled lightly to herself.

Nova looked at Tyler as he sat there sipping his beer, at Mia’s words she chuckled as she dropped her green one, changing the color thankfully.

Aaron eyed Tyler and he picked up his beer, taking a sip. Looking at Nova, he watched as she placed down the green one, changing the color. He smirked a bit.

Tyler looked at his wife, rubbing his hand over his scruff a bit. “Nothing,” he smirked a bit, shaking his head. “Get out my hand,” he chuckled, holding his cards close.

Mia snorted at Tyler “we are married, what’s yours is mine baby. Your hand is my hand” she said to him as he tried to hide it protectively from her. No matter Mia said “UNO” cutely towards him and dropped her green nine against the table.

Nova looked at Tyler “who is the cheater now I wonder?” she said aloud as Mia called UNO again and she sighed heavily. The girl was going to win.

Aaron looked over at Mia and Tyler at their banter and he chuckled before Mia called UNO and dropped down a green card. He looked at Mia shocked, when had she placed down all of her cards. “Wait a minute,” he said, shaking his head, “I’m calling bullshit.”

Tyler looked at Mia as she spoke, and he shook his head. “Oh yeah, so what’s in your hand?” he asked her before she played, calling UNO and his neck jerked back. “What?” he said looking at her, “what the fuck?” he asked, confused. “How?” he questioned as he placed down his wild draw four for Aaron. “Red,” he said.

Mia looked at everyone at the table and she chuckled “oh so now I am the cheater? Mia out of all people? The quiet Christian woman” she joked lightly as Tyler dropped his card and she looked to Aaron. “Oop.”

Nova looked to Tyler and Aaron and she smirked before she looked at Mia. When Tyler dropped his card, she looked at Aaron and she pulled the card. Having nothing else in her deck and she pulled a red skip and she dropped it skipping Mia.

Aaron looked at Mia, “yes you, the quiet Christian woman, those are the ones you gotta watch,” he joked. As Tyler made him draw, he pursed his lips as he picked up four cards. “Fucker,” he muttered out as he added the cards to his hand before Nova skipped Mia and he smirked.

Tyler shook his head. “Ain’t so innocent to me,” he said knowingly, watching as Aaron picked up his cards and Nova skip Mia. He chuckled before he placed down a red reserve, turning the game around.

Mia looked at Tyler and she nudged him “hey” she said softly “you are my husband; you co-sign me boy” she playfully as Nova skipped her. She squinted before her husband reversed and she licked her lips slowly. Mia had to draw a card but when she did, she called out “UNO” again and placed the red three down on the table.

Nova shook her head, chuckling as the direction was reversed, she looked at Tyler, if Mia dropped a high card, she was going to beat him up. However, she did luckily, and Nova dropped a blue three changing the color on them all.

Aaron rubbed his full beard, looked around the table as Tyler reversed the game. He smirked, taking a sip of his beer with a chuckle as Mia drew a card only to play a card, calling UNO once more. “Damn.” As Nova changed the color, Aaron smirked and he played his blue four, humming softly.

Tyler looked over at Mia and he gave her a look, smiling. “Mia,” he said wiggling his eyebrows at her. As she called UNO once more, Tyler snorted, shaking his head. “Ain’t this ‘bout a bitch,” he grumbled softly. As Aaron played his blue four, Tyler smirked, Mia clearly didn’t have red, so he changed the color with a red four.

Mia looked at Tyler shaking her head before she noticed the color being changed and she sighed heavily. It was getting down to the wire or so she thought. She pulled a card from the deck and said “UNO” again, dropping a red five down on the stack. Looking to her husband she pecked his cheek sweetly.

Nova looked at Tyler and said “well I’ll be, working together now I see” she told him before she licked her lips. She pulled a card from the deck unable to move and she sat back.

Aaron looked at Tyler and Mia, shaking his head as he licked his lips. How in the hell did Mia keep getting lucky man. At Nova’s words, he snorted before he placed down a red reserve card, flipping it once again.

Tyler looked at Mia as she shook her head before she pulled and played once more. “Fuck man,” he grunted as she kissed his cheek and he grumbled softly. “Mhmm,” he hummed out before he smirked, placing his hand on her thigh. As Nova pulled and Aaron reserved the game, Tyler licked his lips.

Mia looked at Tyler and she smirked before she watched Aaron and Nova fast at work. The game had been reversed again and she waited.

Nova looked to Aaron and she pulled another card before she dropped the red four, she picked up onto the table.

Aaron looked over at Nova, then at Tyler and Mia as Nova played and he sipped his beer. “Game long as fuck,” he joked, shaking his head.

Tyler squeezed Mia’s thigh gently before he removed his hand, picking up his beer and sipping some down. At Aaron’s words he smirked, “‘cause y’all nigglet’s cheating.”

Mia looked at Tyler and she nodded her head “exactly!” she said aloud “I should have been out 10 times, damn cheaters” she chuckled. Mia reached in front of her and grabbed a card from the deck once more, rolling her eyes. Damn them.

Nova licked her lips and she chuckled “it’s about you not winning baby girl” she said mockingly, knowing Tyler often called her such. “Dog eats dog World”.

Aaron looked over at Mia and Tyler and he grunted, “yeah and that’s some bullshit, how you ain’t got no cards,” he huffed, looking at Mia’s hand. At Nova’s words, Aaron shook his head.

Tyler looked at Mia, licking his lips. “Uh-uh, you right where you need to be,” he said, “with them cards in ya hand,” he said as he played his red eight before he squinted at Nova.

“All I hear is a bunch of niggas hatin’” Mia said looking around the table. “Sore damn losers” she added to them all as she shook her head. Mia shifted in her seat, leaning further away from Tyler as she crossed one leg over the other.

Nova looked to Tyler and smirked widely at him, provoking the beast as usual. She looked to Aaron wondering what move he’d make next.  

Aaron snorted out, laughing at Mia’s words and he said, “I’m just saying, you the only one to have called UNO four times,” he laughed before he played his wild card, “yellow.”

Tyler looked at Mia as she leaned away from him and he chuckled. “Remember that,” he said to her with a smirk, watching as Aaron changed the color.

“J-e-a-l-o-u-s” Mia spelt out to Aaron with a smirk before she hoisted her swollen ankle up into Tyler’s lap and said “remember that” to him easily as she licked her lips. “This nigga wants to change the color to yellow” she mumbled to herself.

Nova looked at Aaron, she chuckled to herself silently before she looked at his pick and heard the color he chose. Rolling her eyes, she pulled from the deck and held the card in her hand unable to take a turn. She hated her hand right now.

Aaron smirked at Mia and he shook his head. “B-I-G M-A-D,” he spelled out to her before he laughed, watching as Nova pulled and didn’t play. He nodded slowly, so she didn’t have yellow.

Tyler chuckled, looking at Mia as she placed her feet into his lap and he adjusted his cards into one hand, holding them close to his chest as he began to massage her feet and ankles with his other hand.

Mia looked as Nova pulled a card and she sighed doing the same, she had nothing to use. She pulled from the deck and lucked up on a yellow reverse card and she dropped it down. She looked at Nova as she rolled her ankle in Tyler’s hand gently.

Nova looked at Mia as she reversed it back to her and she pursed her lips a bit, she didn’t have anything didn’t Mia know that. She chuckled, shaking her head as she pulled another card “this is a shame” she said aloud, she grabbed a yellow skip card and smacked it down looking at Aaron. She winked at him gently before she looked at Tyler.

Aaron looked at Mia as she picked up a card and placed it back down, reversing the game once more. He licked his lips, looking at Nova as she picked up a card before dropping a skip. “Damn babe,” he said, shaking his head. “Cold world.”

Tyler chuckled softly, watching the game play out as he looked at the cards in his hand. He didn’t have a yellow, so when it became his turn, he drew a card quickly, sitting back with a sigh as he continued to massage Mia’s feet and ankles.

Mia smirked at Nova as she smacked the card down skipping Aaron, it was Tyler's move and he had nothing. Amusing. She still didn’t have anything to use so she pulled a card from the deck and she rested in her hand before she shifted with a groan “I have to use the bathroom” she said as she removed her feet from Tyler’s lap. She moved to stand on her feet, and she sat her cards down on the table, at this point of time she didn’t care how it swayed the game was long as hell. She gathered her flowy sundress and moved for the bathroom.

Nova looked at Aaron and began mocking him “aww babe” she said puckering her lips. “All fun in love and war” she told him with a head shake and a smirk, licking her lips as she rested back against the chair. As Mia got up to use the bathroom, she rested her hand of cards against the table waiting for Mia to go, she had to draw anyway.

Aaron scrunched his nose at Nova and he laughed out, “don’t use my words against me,” he chuckled. As Mia announced that she had to use the restroom, he nodded, sitting back in his chair as he asked, “so we ordering out for dinner?”

Tyler licked his lips, sitting his cards face down on the table as Mia pulled her feet from his lap and stood up to go to the bathroom. He nodded slowly, standing up himself to stretch a bit. “Uh, we can doesn’t matter to me,” he said truthfully. “What you wanna to Nova?”

Mia moved into the restroom and she relieved herself for a moment looking down at her feet and ankles as she did. When she was done, she cleaned herself up and fixed her clothes before she washed her hands. When she was done with that, she dried her hand before she looked down at her feet again, taking both in and the swell of her ankles. After a moment Mia walked out of the bathroom, finally dropping her dress as it now hid her swollen feet once more. She moved into the room and she looked to Tyler quietly before she sat down at the table. She picked up her cards and said, “did anyone go?” avoiding their faces.

Nova looked at the two men and she said “I kind of want to try something native to them, though I am sure everything is some kind of seafood dish and Mia and I aren’t supposed to have much of that” she told them both. “Maybe there is like a pizza place, or somewhere with a nice burger” she breathed happily. She watched Mia walk back in and she looked her over, before she shook her head “no we were talking about dinner, trying to see what we are going to do” she said. “You good?” she asked her. She leaned forward and pulled a card from the deck still unable to play.

Aaron listened to Tyler and he nodded before he looked at Nova as she spoke. He said, “I’m sure they’ve got some good American food too,” easily. “Pizza or burgers sounds good,” he admitted, rubbing his stomach a bit. As Mia returned, he asked, “what you trying to eat?”

Tyler looked at Nova and he nodded slowly. “I don’t think all of their native dishes have fish,” he said with a shrug, honestly not sure. As Mia returned, he looked at her and he patted his lap for her to return her feet there, they needed to be elevated to reduce the swelling. “Yeah we’re trying to decide on dinner,” Tyler told Mia, licking his lips.

Mia placed her feet in Tyler’s lap once more and she looked to Nova at her question “yes” she said, though she was concerned about her feet it didn’t have to be everyone else’s concern. She looked to Aaron and then to Tyler, sighing softly she shrugged “whatever you guys choose is fine” she said her mind elsewhere. “I’m not picky right now.”

Nova looked at Mia and nodded her head at her gently, before the girl rested back in her sleep. “Pizza and burgers” she said easily then to everyone as she waited for the next person to go. She licked her lips before she moved to get up, grabbing herself some more water from the kitchen, she added a little lemon to it before returning to the group and sitting back down.

Aaron rubbed his beard a bit more, watching as Nova didn’t play and he said, “sounds good to me,” as he played his yellow three.

Tyler allowed Mia to place her feet back in his lap and he resumed his massages with a hum. “I’ll order in a few,” he said as he played a green three, changing the color with a smirk. With that one, he sat his cards down on the table and reached into his pocket for his phone, unlocking it and navigating it with his freehand as he continued to massage Mia’s feet with his other.

Mia watched their moves, the color changed again and she nodded her head. “Sounds good” she said offering them a smile as she looked to her husband as he prepared to order food for them. Mia dropped a green eight thankful the colored had changed, no maybe she could end this game.

Nova watched the play of cards against the table and after Mia went, she smirked. She used a green draw two on Aaron and looked at him quickly before she drank some water. “Sorry baby” she said to him.

Aaron watched Tyler and Mia as they interacted before he nodded as Tyler pulled out his phone. Looking at Nova as she placed a draw two, he grabbed his two cards shaking his head and he said, “it’s okay,” with a sigh as he leaned over, puckering his lips.

Tyler moved to his Postmates app, quickly finding a variety of options. “So, burgers or pizza or both?” he asked curiously, chuckling at Nova and Aaron as he placed his phone down for a moment to look at his cards and he played a green six, before he placed the cards back down and picked his phone back up.

Mia looked at Tyler and she said “I kind want pizza and fries” sweetly to him as he continued to massage her feet for her. Mia looked to her hand and said “UNO” once more as she placed the green seven down on the table.

Nova looked at Tyler and said “both” easily as she watched Mia and she cocked her head to the side. “You better win too” she told her after all of this. That was until she looked at her own hand and she shook her head, dropping the red seven and changing the color, it was all she had. She leaned over to Aaron and pecked his lips sweetly, staying there a little longer than anticipated before she pulled away.

Aaron looked over at Tyler and Mia and he nodded, “both,” he said easily. Licking his lips, he said, “try to see if you can order wings with the pizza,” he said easily before Nova kissed him and he smiled as he leaned back in his seat properly, playing a red two.

Tyler listened to their words and he said, “gotcha,” as he began ordering. First, he added the pizza and the wings into the order. “I’ma get two pizzas one meat lovers and one cheese and the 75 bone-in wings, 25 hot, 25 BBQ, and 25 lemon pepper” he explained. Before he said, “and I’m just going to get eight cheeseburgers and eight orders of fries,” he said as he put the order into the phone. “Anything else?” he asked as he moved to quickly play his red one.

Mia looked to her husband as he ordered some food and she licked her lips slowly at the thought of it. Biting her lips, she watched the men play their cards and she pulled one having no other option.

Nova shook her head at Tyler “I think that’s good” she said to him easily as she played a red six behind the men seeing as Mia couldn’t go.

Aaron nodded at Tyler as he listed off what he was ordering, and he nodded his head. That was a lot of food, but the night was still young, and they were probably going to get hungry again and the more leftovers meant less cooking later. Reaching out, he grabbed a card adding it to his hand.

Tyler placed the order and he sat the phone down before he played his red one, sitting his cards face down on the table as he used both hands to rub Mia’s feet, looking over at her with a slight worried expression.

As before Mia had nothing and she pulled a card still unable to move, she looked to her husband as he looked to her, she tucked her lips in and waited for Nova to move before she looked back at her hand.

Nova looked to see that Aaron was unable to play, and when Tyler dropped a card down, she looked over at Mia. she wasn’t able to play either and she sighed leaning forward to pull a card as well it was a red card and it was a draw two. She sighed and dropped it down “sorry again baby” she breathed quietly.

Aaron rubbed his hand down his face as Nova dropped another draw two on him and he sighed out as he grabbed the cards, adding them to his hand. He eyed his cards with a shake of his head. No way he was coming back from his.

Tyler eyed Mia with a bit of his lip before he looked at the pile on the table. He looked at his hand before he drew a card, adding it to his deck before he sat his cards back down and he returned his eyes to Mia, looking at her knowingly.

Mia watched as Tyler pulled a card and she looked back at him tilting her head a bit. Why was he gazing at her like that, she didn’t know why they were swelling either and she was trying not to think about it too much. She leaned forward with a stretch and grabbed a card before she looked back at him.

Nova bit her lip watching Aaron and then she watched everyone else before she pulled a card. Receiving something she could use she placed the red five down on the stack, watching the other deck lower with time.

Aaron looked around the table, watching Mia play, then Nova play before he used a green five, changing the color with a hum.

Tyler looked at Mia and he licked his lips as he watched her and Nova play. He looked down at her ankles in his lap, rubbing them tenderly. There was clearly something going on but neither of them knew specifically what. They’d have to see the doctor as soon as they got back to Texas. Lifting his cards, he looked at his options before he too played a green five.

Mia watched Tyler examine her ankles much like she’d done herself in the bathroom. And she looked at the table, the color had changed again finally. Mia dropped what she had available, skipping Nova.

Nova looked at Aaron and then Tyler as the both of them played, when Mia dropped her card skipping her, she shook her head at her.

Aaron looked around the table, trying to eye the amount of cards everyone had before he played his green two, sitting back slowly.

Tyler rubbed Mia’s ankles and he continued to bite his lip as he played his green nine; he only had a few cards left in his hand. Would he be able to finesse this win?

Mia placed a green three down as the game began to heat back up again a little for the crew and everyone became very serious again about the game.

Nova looked at Mia, making sure she didn’t have another trick up her sleeve before she dropped a blue three down, changing the color once more.

Aaron leaned forward, close to the table as everyone slapped their cards down and he looked at their hands with a huff shaking his head as he played his blue one.

“Uno!” Tyler called out quickly, also slapping a blue one down on the table. He was hype, he could find this if no one fucked him over.

Mia looked at Tyler “wow” she said to him “no way” she breathed as she looked to the table. “Uno” she said behind him, dropping a blue seven down on the table.

Nova looked at Tyler and then to Mia, damn, she hoped the girl didn’t have any cards that color. She dropped her card down saying “UNO” as she displayed the blue four.

Aaron looked at all of them as they called UNO and he sucked his teeth as he reached forward, grabbing yet another card and adding it to his hand before he sat back looking at Tyler expectantly.

Tyler looked around the table with a smirk, this was his game. “Uno out motherfuckers,” he said as he slapped his green four down on the table.

Mia watched Nova follow behind her to her surprise and then she looked at Tyler sighing heavily as he won the game. “Should have known” she said with a playful eye roll. She sat her cards down against the table before she removed her feet from his lap standing up now.

Nova looked to Tyler as he ended the game for them all and she smacked her lips loudly. “I knew you’d be the one to cheat, that's why you tried to call all of us out on doing the same thing” she said, dropping her cards down against the table.

Aaron watched as Tyler won the game and he dropped his cards down on the table shaking his head. “Distracted us with the idea of something to eat,” he said as he stood up from the table, grabbing his beer and chugging the rest down.

Tyler laughed out as everyone spoke about him winning and he rubbed Mia’s feet lovingly. “All I hear is a bunch of sore losers,” he said with a smirk.

Mia looked at her husband and said “you could have let me win” with a chuckle as she grabbed her and Nova’s cup in one hand, balancing his empty beer bottle in the other. She moved in the kitchen putting the things up, rinsing the glasses out before washing them quickly and resting them aside.

Nova looked at Tyler and said “yeah sure” as she pushed all the cards together, sorted them and stacked them back into the middle of the table. “Remind me not to do this with y’all anymore” she added.

Aaron moved into the kitchen, dropping the empty beer bottle into the recyclable trash bin before he leaned up against the counter. “How long for the food?” he asked Tyler.

As Mia removed her feet from his lap, Tyler stood up smirking. “Haters man, haters,” he said as he grabbed his phone, looking at the order and the time as he moved for the couch. “About 10 minutes,” he said easily as he sat down.

Mia moved out of the kitchen after she dried her hands off and she moved to rest near Tyler, sitting down on the couch with him.

Nova moved to stand up from the table stretching her back and she moved to use the restroom again. Emptying out all the water she had drunk.

Aaron moved to wash his hands before he moved into the living space as well, plopping down in a loveseat. He looked over at Tyler and Mia and said, “so Mia, your YouTube thing is pretty cool,” with a small shrug.

Tyler smiled as Mia came and sat near him and he pulled her close, rubbing her hip a bit as he whispered into her ear. “You okay?”

Mia looked at Tyler and said “yeah babe, I’m okay” softly to him, when Aaron joined them, she smirked. “Thanks A” she said with a grin.

Nova resurfaced and she moved to sit down when everyone in the living room, sitting on Aaron’s lap without a care as she wrapped her arms around his neck lovingly.

Aaron nodded at Mia and he chuckled as Nova returned and sat down in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her, patting her hip before he moved his hands to her belly. He kissed Nova’s lips sweetly.

Tyler rubbed Mia’s side lovingly. He nuzzled her neck a bit at her answer and he nodded. Looking at Nova and Aaron, Tyler said, “so what do we want to do tomorrow?”

Mia leaned into Tyler, resting her head on his shoulder gently as he spoke with their friends. She closed her eyes for a moment inhaling his scent deeply before she opened her eyes again.

Nova looked down at Aaron and she kissed his back gently as he rested his hand on her stomach. She smiled, feeling their son move against it before she said “I want to go to the museum, I want to see this piece you have in there” she said vocally.

Aaron rubbed Nova’s stomach lovingly, feeling their son move around and he smiled. “Hey bean,” he whispered. “Museum,” he said as well. “Then maybe come local cuisine?” he suggested.

Tyler ran his hand up and down Mia’s side lovingly before his hand settled on the side of her stomach. He smiled at Nova and he said, “well, museum it is,” before he nodded saying, “I’ll try to find some good local food that's not all seafood, “ he said thoughtfully. At the knock on the door, Tyler carefully stood up, unwrapping himself from Mia. He walked over to the door, opening it and collecting the food. “Thanks,” he said easily.

Mia nodded her head in agreement with everyone “I want to go to the museum too” she added with everyone. “Maybe look around and grab some food,” she said nodding her head. “Sounds like a great plan” she told them. When Tyler got up, she looked back “you need help babe?” she called out.

Nova nodded her head at Tyler before she looked at Aaron smiling “Bean is being busy” she said to him softly as she rested her hand on his.

Aaron nodded along, rubbing his hand over Nova’s stomach as their son kicked and moved. “Very,” he chuckled. As Tyler got up to get the food, he looked back. “Here, let me help him,” he mumbled softly to Nova as he lifted her carefully, standing to his feet. He rested her back in the chair before he jogged over, giving Tyler a hand.

Tyler collected everything, the two pizza boxes in his arms and the rest of the bags stacked on top. Turning, he closed the door with his foot before he said looked at Aaron and he nodded as the boy took the bags. Moving into the kitchen, he sat the boxes on the counter, spreading them out.

Mia didn’t get a response however she did move to stand up, smelling the food in the area hungrily. She licked her lips slowly and moved for the kitchen looking at the food “looks good” Mia said to them.

Nova nodded as Aaron moved to sit her down on the chair, she rested back in the seat and looked as they all flocked to the kitchen.

Aaron grabbed the bags, moving in the kitchen, turning to the other side, placing the bags down there, taking items out, spreading everything over the counter. He reached over, grabbing a few plates from the cabinet as he began to make Nova a plate. He placed a few of all the chicken wings on the plate before he added some fries. Turning to the other counter, Aaron flipped opened the boxes of pizza, adding one slice of each to the plate. He walked over holding the plate out to Nova. “Here you go baby.”

Tyler grabbed a plate as well after Aaron sported out the food from the bags, he moved behind Aaron, looking at Mia. “go sit down,” he told her. “I’m making your plate.” He placed some wings on her plate before he added some fries and a two slices of pizza. He looked back at the burgers and he grabbed a knife from the drawer, cutting a burger in half before he placed it on her plate.

Mia sat there with her hands on her hips fully prepared to make Tyler a plate when he commanded her to sit down. She nodded her head at him and said “okay babe” hiding her amusement as she moved to sit back down on the couch, fixing her dress as it flowed around her.

Nova looked at Aaron as he walked her over a plate, and she smiled saying “thank you babe” gently before she grabbed the plate. “Do you mind bringing me water as well?” she asked him as she fixed her position. Nova picked up a piece of chicken and bit into it hungrily before she licked her lips.  

Aaron leaned down, kissing Nova’s lips. “You’re welcome,” he said easily. “Of course,” he hummed out as he walked back into the kitchen, grabbing a glass and filling it with water for Nova. “Here you go,” he said as he walked back over, sitting the glass on the end table near Nova. Moving back into the kitchen, he began to make his own plate.

Tyler moved to pour Mia a glass of water, with lemon, before he walked into the living area, handing Mia her plate before he sat the glass down on the coffee table. He pressed a kiss to her forehead before he said, “here ya go babe,” before he added, “need anything else?” as he backed away slowly.

Nova kissed Aaron back gently, as he placed the glass of water down, she smiled at him thankfully. She loved how attentive he was to her needs; she knew it was for his son’s sake, but it still made her feel good. She continued to eat the chicken wings hungrily, cleaning the bone as she moved to sit Indian style against the seat, she fixed her dress a bit around her legs as she picked up another piece of chicken.

We’re going to Hawaii. 

Aaron, Nova y’all too. Pack your shit! The flights booked.

Bro you forreal?

Nova walked idly down the store, a shopping cart before her as they moved for the infant section. She had been itching to buy some things for their baby boy since Aaron completed his nursery, but they hadn’t gotten around to doing it until now. With Aaron working on campus a lot recently, their classes taking up much time, and her involving herself in her mother’s most recent project their time was divided thinly right now. She rested her hand on her lower back as she looked the electronics in relation to breast pumping “hm” she said looking at the pricey pump that was so modern and sleek.

Aaron walked alongside Nova slowly, his hands in his sweatpants pockets as he looked around. Nova had finally coaxed him into shopping, and he had finally felt like he had enough money to do so. He knew their parents were helping them and that Nova’s parents had money but as a man and as a father, he wanted to truly be able to provide for his child on his own. With his own hard-earned cash, though he didn’t think Nova fully understood that. He sighed softly, looking at just how expensive things were, and he began doubting his ability to really be able to splurge today. Looking at the pump Nova was looking at; he bit his lip. It was pricey. Very pricey, however he said nothing as he placed his hand on her lower back, rubbing a bit there.

Nova looked back at Aaron and said, “what do you think?” questionably as she picked up the displayed item. It looked so cool and futuristic and there were empty spots on the self, that meant it had to be good right? It was retailed for 219 but if it assisted her in the pumping process it would be so worth it. “This could be a really good buy” she said happily to him.

Aaron rubbed Nova’s back still as she asked her question and he sighed out. “It looks nice,” he said trying to be thoughtful and attentive to what she wanted and needed. She was going through the pregnancy, not him. “Will it help you?” he asked, trying to weigh the pros and the cons of buying it.

Nova looked up at him and she shrugged “it looks like it’s really good” she said reading the information tags on it. She sat the pump back down on its display before she shifted forward “it’s too pricey” she said knowingly as she looked at another, and then another.

Aaron nodded at her, reading the back of the box over her shoulder a bit until she put it down. He frowned. “Baby, if you want that one, get that one,” he said as he thought about how much he had remaining on his credit card limit. He could manage.

“Nah” Nova tried to laugh off as she looked at the other product before biting her lip as she read over the information. When she was too tired to weigh pros and cons, she moved on all together looking at something totally different now. She moved to the baby care things and she looked at those items quietly.

Aaron knew Nova really wanted the pump, so he kept it in his little storage locker in his mind to get for her later. He just wanted to make her happy, rather that meant going broke or not. He followed her over to the baby care items and he looked around curiously. He had read the books, but he set up the entire nursery without Nova’s input, so he was giving this to her. This was her lane; he was just a passenger.

She wanted to go shopping but for what she didn’t know anymore. She knew the child would be taken care of, but she also wanted to buy him things that she and he picked out for him as well. Nova licked her lips and she moved to the next section again, moving into the clothes and she looked at the boy things now, eyeing them all slowly.

Aaron trailed just behind Nova as she moved through the care section and into the clothes. He looked around slowly, taking in all of the items and the prices with a bite of his lip. He noticed some stuff for sale and on the clearance rack and he moved for those items, flipping through them.

Nova picked up an outfit and its matching hat and mittens, and she mused over them easily before she rested them in the cart. Looking back to see Aaron wasn’t behind her and she turned back to her task knowing he’d resurface eventually.

Aaron moved through the clothes thoughtfully, pulling a few items off the rack and holding them in his hands. He moved for the next rack, grabbing things from there as well. With 6 hangers in his hand, he moved back over to Nova, laying what he had picked out in the cart as he rested his hands on her hips.

Nova picked up another set and placed it in the cart as well before Aaron returned with clothes, she looked at them each and smiled. “How cute” she told him easily and she picked them up looking them over.

Aaron smiled softly ay Nova. “You think so?” he asked honestly. He knew Nova had expensive taste, because she could afford expensive things, so he was never really sure if she would like anything he would pick out for the baby.

“Yeah” Nova responded “it is a baby after all” she told him downplaying her real thoughts. Much like her friend stated in a YouTube video days ago, why would she live an expensive lifestyle and then not do the same for their kid? There was no logic behind it. She licked her lips resting them back in the cart before she said. “I know other people will spoil him and we haven’t had a baby shower yet…” she said as she pulled her bottom lip into her mouth looking back at the wall of things.

Aaron nodded slowly, shoving his hands into his pockets. Nova’s lips said one thing, but he knew she meant another. He sighed deeply, looking at the items in their cart, “yeah…” he said, rubbing his hand over his hair and down the back of his neck before shoving it back into his pocket. “I’m sure people will buy him nice and expensive things…” he said, a little dejected.

Nova looked at him at his words and she nodded “mhm” she told before she said. “Let’s pick up some socks” dancing over the topic. She really wanted to talk about this money thing they were dealing with, but she also knew Mia told her to let Aaron handle what he needed to and to not press him about it. That was easy for her to say, look at Tyler.

Aaron rubbed the back of his neck again. “Okay,” he said as he followed Nova over to the socks, his feet dragging a little. He had been working as much as he could, trying to save up to support Nova and their son but he really felt that Nova didn’t see or just didn’t appreciate all the effort he was putting forth.

Nova moved down a little further and she looked at the tiny socks and smirked. “They are so small” she said looking back at him, taking him in.

Aaron followed Nova to the socks, and he pulled his bottom lip into his mouth. “He’s so small,” he said resting his hand on her stomach gently. “Think we should get a couple of sizes?” he asked, knowing babies’ feet grew.

Nova rested her hand on top of his and she chuckled lightly “yeah they do come out small” so she heard. She moved his hand along her stomach with her own as their son actively moved about in her stomach. “If you want” she said picking up some newborn sized white socks.

Feeling their son moving, Aaron smiled, and he nodded as he reached for a few 2-3-month-old socks with his freehand. “Did we get skullies?” he asked.

Nova continued to hold Aaron’s hand there against her stomach as she picked up another pair of newborn pairs of socks and rested it in the cart. She looked at him and nodded “I picked up two of them” she said “they match the outfits I picked up” she said honestly.

Aaron nodded slowly at Nova, just feeling her stomach as their son kicked. He had to find another job. He had to find a way to fully give Nova everything that she wanted and needed for their child. Maybe he would talk to Tyler and see if he could hook him up with some art gigs.

Nova shifted finally releasing his hand and she said, “I think we got some good stuff for today, you ready to go?” she asked him. She wasn’t even going to look into strollers, car seats, or any more gadgets for the baby right now. There was no point.

“You don’t want to look around at anything else?” Aaron asked her softly. He just wanted to get an idea of how much some of this other stuff would cost.

“We can…” Nova said not convinced that they needed to at the end of the day. However, she moved to walk around towards some other areas of the store.

Aaron bit his lip. “Only if you want to, babe.” He moved with her to different areas of the store. He’d at the various prices, making mental notes in his head. “Uh, babe,” he said, stopping her now. He was setting his pride aside.

Nova continued to walk, hips twisting as she did and when the man called her name, she looked back at him. “Hm?” she asked.

“Uh… you think your dad could get me onto a few sets?” Aaron asked. “Like as a paid intern or something?”

At his question she smiled at him, finally a breakthrough, thank goodness. He was using his head for once and she loved that. “Of course, he could” Nova said with a smile as she rested her hand on her belly. “I’ll text him right now” she said turning to her purse in the cart and she pulled out her cell phone texting her dad quickly and pressing send before she tucked it away.

Nodding slowly, Aaron looked down at the floor as he said, “thanks, babe.” He had to do what he had to do. Her father could open a lot of doors for him. This he knew for a fact. It wasn’t the route that he wanted to take but it was the route he needed to take for his family.

Nova was giddy inside finally; he’d decided to steer himself in the right direction. He had no clue how long she was waiting for him to do what she already had devised in her head. She smiled and walked over to him wrapping him up in her arms tightly “this is going to open so many doors for you babe” she said happily.  

As Nova wrapped him up, Aaron held her close, kissing her forehead. “I know,” he said softly, hugging her to him. “It’s not really what I want to do,” he admitted, “but it’s what I need to do for you and the bean,” he said with a hum. “So, I gotta step up,” he said knowingly. “It’ll be great in the long run.”

Nova looked up at him as he kissed her forehead and she scrunched her nose a bit. She nodded her head as he spoke “it will” she breathed out proudly. “I am so proud of you for even considering this” she told him, eyes filled with love as she gazed into his.

Aaron smiled softly, the love in Nova’s eyes making him feel better about the entire situation. “All for you and our little bean,” he said sweetly.

“And we love you for it, daddy” Nova said with a wiggle of her brows before she leaned up on her tippy toes meeting him for a kiss.

Aaron leaned in, kissing Nova’s lips lovingly. “You ready to get out of here?” he asked as he pulled away, looking down at their cart.

Nova nodded her head and said “yes, we can go” easily to him as she turned back to the cart, pushing it towards an open register.

Aaron smiled and he moved with Nova towards the registers. His hands rested on her hips and his chin on top of her head. He moved with her sweetly, his arms coiling around her small belly now. “I love you babe,” he said sweetly.

As they waited in line for the expectant parents before them to check out, Nova smirked at Aaron. She said “I love you too babe” easily before she said “I want french fries” with a hearty chuckle.

Nova sat on the examination table swinging her legs back and forth for a moment before she stopped. As always, she gained next to nothing from the last appointment, she hardly looked how pregnant she was, and her vitals were always perfect. Right now, they were just waiting on her doctor to come and perform the actual examination on her.

Aaron sat off to the side, texting his mother back as she asked for details about their appointment. He kindly let her know that when he knew something, she would know something before he tucked his phone away and rubbed his hands against his jeans idly. He looked at Nova asking, “you excited to see the bean again?”

Mia looked at him and she chuckled “always” she told him easily “it’s truly best part of the appointments outside of learning that the baby is okay” she said to him. “I know you are excited” she told him with a smirk.

Nodding with a small smile, Aaron said, “I am indeed.” He stood up, walking over to Nova, his hand resting on her belly. “That’s my little man, gotta make sure he’s good in there,” he said lovingly before he leaned down, pecking Nova’s lips.

She smirked at him, as he stood up, she closed her eyes for a moment resting one of her hands on his. “Don’t I know it” Nova chuckled as she opened her eyes and kissed him back sweetly.

Aaron chuckled a bit as he rubbed her belly, repeating. “My little man,” protectively. “I can see the gold chain around his neck already,” he told her with a twitch of his lips.

“Oh, my goodness” Nova chuckled with a head shake “a gold chain? Really?” she asked him as she shook her head again. “I wouldn’t expect to see anything less for, your little man” she said back to him.

“A gold chain,” Aaron said smiling, showing off the golds in his mouth. He chuckled a bit, his hand still rubbing her stomach. “He’s going to be as decked out as I can afford,” he said honestly.

At his words her smile slipped a bit, if that were the case their son would never get that chain. She licked her lips and nodded her head faking a smirk however “I know you are going to spoil him rotten” Nova said trying to chuckle along with him.

Aaron gazed at Nova lovingly as he nodded his head. “Absolutely,” he said with a proud puff of his chest.

Knocking twice on the door, Dr. Green moved into the room with the couple and she said “hello, hello” to them easily.

Aaron looked over at the door at the knock and he smiled softly at the doctor. “Hi,” he greeted softly.

Nova heard the knocks and before she could say enter the woman had done so. She smiled and said “hello” to her as she shifted on the table.

Dr. Green smiled and she said “vitals check out” to the girl looking the information over. “Any changes? Concerns? Questions?” she started easily as she washed her hands and dried them before she pulled some gloves on.

Aaron thought the questions over, and he shook his head. “Uh, I can’t think of anything at the moment,” he said truthfully.

Nova looked to her doctor shifting on the table and as she asked them a question, she looked at her, thinking for a moment. She shook her head no “I finally am craving stuff, but nothing too crazy” she said with a chuckle. “Lately it’s been french fries and ranch” she said with a longing sigh, she wanted some now.

Dr. Green laughed a Nova and nodded her head “that’s good to hear” she told her before she said, “who doesn’t love french fries right?” playfully. “Okay, well let’s get your exam started” she told her, ushering her to lean back and lift her shirt for her.

Aaron chuckled softly at Nova and the doctor’s words. Day and night that’s all she wanted now was french fries and ranch. He was sure it wasn’t too healthy, but he couldn’t fault her. As the doctor instructed for Nova to lay back, he helped her some.

Nova chuckled at the woman and she moved to lay back with Aaron’s help, she rested comfortably against the examination table before she raised her shirt exposing her cute petite baby bump. She rubbed it gently as their baby moved before she rested her hands on her chest keeping her shirt in place.

Dr. Green moved towards the woman and she pressed against her stomach feeling for the boy and his position before she moved to measure his length against her stomach as well as the size of her stomach. “Some people may be skeptical about your size, but you weren’t a really plus-sized woman to begin with. Your stomach was flat and he’s growing as he should be. You are just all baby” she chuckled at her. “Though he’s a long little guy” she acknowledged to them “which makes sense” she said referencing Aaron with another chuckle. “If I had to make a prediction, the closer you get to your due date the rounder you’ll become…” she said seeing it all the time. Women thought they were in the clear and then overnight the big belly grew.

Aaron placed his hand on Nova’s shoulder after she was lying back comfortable and he looked at the doctor, nodding as she spoke, and he chuckled. “I was wondering about that,” he said honestly. As the doctor looked at him, in reference to their baby boy being long, he smirked. “That’s my boy,” he said sweetly. He nodded more, licking his lips.

Nova nodded her head as she listened, she had spent a major portion of her pregnancy not hungry and turned off by a lot of things. She assumed that is why she hadn’t gained much but 10 pounds or so this entire time, she gained, and she’d lose it was a constant pattern. But now she knew things happened in various stages and everybody was different. As the woman pressed against her stomach and took her normal measurements she watched.

“Oh no, no” Dr. Green said, shaking her head “she’s fine Aaron. As long as there is no stunt in his growth or his weight gain, I am fine with her not having gained much weight herself” she told him. “People take that eating for 2 thing to the extreme, she really isn’t doing that” she said to him accurately “Any swelling?” she asked them both.

Aaron took in the information with a nod and he said, “okay, good.” At the question, he took a minute to think it over before he began chuckling. “Just her feet,” he said with an amused look on his face. “She can fit my shoes right about now,” he joked.

Nova nodded her head at the woman’s words and before she could answer he did, and she slowly looked at him “are you joking?” she snorted chuckling at him “I cannot” she said easily with amusement laced in her voice. She looked back to her doctor and said “but he’s right, my ankles do swell. But mainly when I have a full day on campus” she breathed.

Dr. Green looked at Aaron and her eyebrows rose before she chuckled at him; he was joking she knew. “Well if that were the case, I’d have to look deeper, so I hope it isn’t” she told them. As Nova explained further, she nodded her head “that I could understand” she breathed. She squeezed the cold gel on the girls’ stomach and then pressed the transducer against her stomach looking at the imaging on the machine.

Aaron was very amused by his own comment and he said, “I’m joking.” As Nova explained that her ankles do swell after a full day of walking around the campus, he nodded. He had spent many nights rubbing them. As the doctor squirted some of the gel into Nova’s stomach and pressed the device there, he looked to the screen excitedly, a bright smile on his face.

Nova looked at him squinting for a moment before she released a chuckle again. As he looked to the screen as their son appeared and she smiled. She would never get enough of seeing him honestly. She watched as he seemingly rested with his hand near his mouth and she smiled at him. “Aw” she said softly to herself, she was such a big softy now thanks to him.

Dr. Green checked Nova’s fluid, she monitored his heart rate, looked at the position of the baby and everything else she normally did. She smiled at the baby and turned up the sound “he’s looking good” she said happily. Overall. Nova was having a very normal and healthy pregnancy, exactly what she liked to see.

Aaron smiled at Nova, rubbing her shoulder lovingly. As their son appeared on the screen, he beamed, his dimples creasing under his beard. “Wow,” he breathed out, looking at their son, just growing and growing. “How big is he now exactly?” he asked.

“In your case” she chuckled “he’s 1 and a half pound and 14 and a half inches long” Dr. Green replied to Aaron with a smile as she continued to watch his heart rate happily. “He’s a big boy” she exclaimed with a head nod.

Nova continued to look at the screen and she smirked to herself as she watched. She had to bring up to Aaron that she wanted some 4D ultrasounds done of their baby boy before she gave birth to him. She was dying to see who he resembled already.

Aaron listened to the doctor as she explained how much their son weighed and how long he was, and he smirked. “I was 25 inches at birth,” he told the doctor before he looked at Nova and chuckled.

Nova looked at Aaron and she furrowed her brows “huh?” she said with a chuckle. She shook her head unable to imagine it.

Dr. Green chuckled before she removed the transducer cleaning up and she wiped Nova’s stomach off with a napkin before she tossed it away. “I could imagine” she replied easily before she cleaned up the equipment as well.

Still chuckling Aaron nodded, “and you know how tiny my mom is,” he said with a laugh. “She was not happy.” As Dr. Green cleaned off Nova’s stomach, he looked down at her. “All done?” he asked.

Dr. Green nodded at the man and said “yep” easily to him “I am going to grab those sonogram photos for you guys and all you have to do is schedule your next appointment” she said as she moved the machine back in its place.

Aaron nodded at the doctor and he looked down at Nova with a small smirk. “Sounds good.”

“Hang tight” Dr. Green told them both as she removed her gloves and tossed them in the trash moving to leave with the clipboard in her hand.

Nova sat up fully and pulled her shirt down, “I have to call mom as soon as we leave” she said exasperatedly. “She wants to know all the details” she told him with a head shake and a chuckle.

Aaron looked to Nova and he laughed. “Mine too,” he said with a smirk. “She was texting me before we even got here,” he admitted to Nova.

She chuckled at that, climbing down from the table “you know my mom asked me a question the other day that I had been meaning to bring up to you” she said to him. “She asked if we had started looking at names for him” Nova said with a smirk as she looked up at Aaron now.

Aaron moved for Nova, helping her off the table a bit. “Hmm,” he said thoughtfully before he smirked, “I have actually, I thought of a few,” he admitted. “Have you?”

Nova shook her head “no, I guess my mind has been elsewhere” she confessed, shocked he’d thought of some. She moved to grab her YSL bag and place it onto her shoulder as she fixed her shirt.

Aaron chuckled. “We’ve been busy with school and stuff,” he said knowingly. “Uh, I’ve thought of Noah… Skylar… Nasiar…” he listed off a few.

“Yeah” Nova agreed as she placed her hands on her belly, as he gave his name collection, she looked at him impressed. “Those aren’t half bad,” she admitted.

Smiling, Aaron placed his hand on her belly, rubbing a little. “I try, I try,” he said modestly.

“We have to sit down, and bounce ideas off each other. Not that there is a rush on that really” Nova said modestly. “But it is something that has to be done eventually…. I mean you already finished the nursery. That weight is off our shoulders…”

Aaron nodded slightly. “I bought a name book,” he said with a small blush. “We can flip through it together,” he told her sweetly as he smiled. “I’m really glad I got that out of the way,” he said truthfully. “What do you want to do for the baby shower?” he asked.

“Aw” Nova said with a chuckle “you didn’t tell me” she said softly as she playfully swatted his arm. She nodded “I hadn’t thought about the baby shower, and I think your mom and mine have gotten together to plan it honestly” she said with a shrug.

Dr. Green returned with their sonograms and a card with their next appointment and time on it. “See you guys again next time” she said happily to them as she left the door open for them, to leave when they felt ready.

“I know,” Aaron told her. “It’s hiding on the top shelf in the closet,” he said with a snicker. “Oh, I don’t put it past them,” he said seriously. As Dr. Green popped her head in, Aaron looked at the woman with a smile. “Thanks!” he said quickly as he took the items from her.

“Sneaky self” Nova said with a grin and she thanked their doctor before she grabbed his hand and prepared to leave. She moved down the hallway and said “you know A, if everyone wants to take the work off of us, we should let them, you know. We don’t have any worries” she said intelligently. “All we’d have to worry about is him getting here safe and sound, and school” she told him as she looked up at him. Just treading slowly down “lucky for us, he’ll be born around the summer and even school won’t be such a hassle on us” she breathed.

Aaron beamed at Nova. “Shorty,” he teased her sweetly. Taking her hand, he moved with her down the hallway, listening to her as she spoke. She had a point. “This is true,” he said thoughtfully. “Is that what you want to do?” he asked her. “Let out families do all the work?” he added. “So, we can focus on him?”

Nova looked at him with a grin, she pushed the door open exiting out of the patient area before she moved for the other exit door. “Why not?” she asked him with a chuckle. “Let them try to figure out the hard part of this all” she said, easily moving for his car. “We can enjoy each other, him, our milestones… prepare for a life of 3 instead of 2. Get some dates in” she said looking at him again.

Nova sat among her family and friends, and she shifted in the chair she was in a bit. Pushing it up to the table so that her short body could actually eat comfortably instead of straining. She dipped her fork into her plate and ate quietly as she watched their parents go on and on as if they’d known each other for years. It was so amusing to her; she didn’t know how much everyone seemed to love each other and the idea of them so much until she got pregnant. Off to the side of them, sat random gifts for their unborn child, a tiered cake that would reveal the gender of their child soon, and more decorations. Her father had bought out a restaurant for them to celebrate and a guest list of maybe fifty people had grown to one hundred plus fairly quickly. She felt a little overwhelmed, but she said nothing and decided to enjoy the evening with everyone.

Mia sat across from Nova and Aaron, they all had assigned seats dedicated to them and their seats had a special pink and blue balloon tied to it. She looked at Tyler and leaned against him gently, she didn’t feel like herself, but she couldn’t put her hands on it at the moment. Her body was just… tired? She guessed. She wanted to eat, but didn’t really feel up to it, it was bad enough she had used the restroom about four times in the forty minutes they’d been at the party. However, she knew she had to eat something, so she picked her fork back up and stuck it into some lobster mac, chewing it lightly. It sucked because she actually had attempt to get a little dressed up and cute for today.

Aaron sat beside Nova at the table, eating his lobster mac and salad hungrily as he looked around at all of their guests, many of which he didn’t know. He thought this was supposed to be a small event, he didn’t understand how it grew so quickly. However, he didn’t exactly mind either. It was about Nova and the baby. If she was happy, he was happy. Looking across the table he eyed Mia before he asked, “you good?”  

Tyler sat eating his food quietly. It was delicious and he was just about ready to get up and grab seconds. However, as Mia rested her head on him, he coiled his arm around her, pulling her and her chair a bit closer to him as he rubbed her side gently. “Tired?” he asked her softly, a small smirk on his lips. She was definitely pregnant and didn’t know it.

Nova looked to Mia taking a sip of the sweet tea that definitely was sweet, she sat the glass down and looked to Aaron curiously. Her friend was surely not her bubbly and infectious self. She wasn’t eating either which was so not like her, she thought Mia would’ve had the room bursting with energy especially with the huge rock she was sporting.

Mia looked at Tyler and she nodded her head against him before she said “not that hungry either” she commented. “I just don’t feel like myself” she said sighing softly to him, resting her hand on his thigh. Looking at Aaron she shifted, sitting up a bit in her seat and she nodded “yeah, I am fine” she said smiling a bit at him for good measure. This happened to be a special day for them, she didn’t need to spoil it.

Aaron looked at Nova as Mia said that she was fine and he nodded slowly, not fully believing her, but he wasn’t going to press the issue either. Reaching over, he gently took Nova’s hand into his, kissing the back of it lovingly. “How is my baby doing in there?” he asked her with a smile as he let go of her hand to place his large one over her stomach.

Tyler hugged Mia close, his hand moving from her side to gently rest on her stomach. He pressed a kiss into her hair and whispered to her. “It’s alright baby,” he said lovingly, his hand gently rubbing her stomach now. “You didn’t sleep well again last night,” he said knowingly.

Nova looked to Aaron finally pulling her eyes away from Mia and she smirked. “Doing fine, you know ever since last night. When felt the baby” she said trying not to reveal the current secret “this little one has not really stopped moving” she chuckled as he rested her hand above his. “Someone has energy” she nodded.

Mia sat her fork back down and she nodded at him, a small pout on her lips. “No, I threw up twice and after that, I was just so restless. Not to mention all those potty breaks” she told him as she cuddled up to his body, wrapping her arms around his midsection.

Aaron smirked, his hand rubbing her belly as the baby kicked just as she said. “An active one,” he said with a chuckle looking at her belly lovingly. “Maybe we’ve got a little sports player on our hands,” he said with a smile. “I’d be so proud,” he admitted.

Tyler nodded as Mia spoke and he whispered into her hair. “You’ve been throwing up a lot, maybe you should see a doctor,” he said slyly.

Nova cheesed and she nodded her head at him “I mean look at you” she said running her hands down his chest gently. “The baby would have it honest” she admitted.

Mia looked to Tyler as he whispered to her and she said “stress does that” with a shrug. “I haven’t felt really well since we left my parents’ house, I just think I let them really get to me you know” she said obliviously.

“I have a toast to make” Sean said standing up on his two feet as he looked to his daughter and her boyfriend. He waited for everyone to fall a little quieter before he said, “I have a speech if you will, to make,” he said proudly. “The day I found out that my baby girl was expecting her first child will be one for the books” he said confidently. “I’ve had to make many speeches and I have been grateful enough to get awards for my work. Which I thought were the greatest gifts I’d ever received outside of my children and wife until that fateful day” he said glass in hand. “When Ken called her mother and I on facetime, no less” he said with a knowing look causing some older people in the room to laugh “and showed us the photo of our future grandchild, nothing else in my entire world mattered. It was as if it hit me that, I was building a legacy not just for me and Nova or Giovanni… but for my grandchild down the line” he said as he rested his hand on his chest. “A child is a blessing” he told everyone getting an agreeance for that “and this child is blessed” he added “blessed to have not only us surrounding it but blessed for having Nova and Aaron and its parents. I know these two will make us proud and I know they will try their absolute best to give this child everything that he or she needs” he said. “So, I want to salute Nova and Aaron, as they journey off into parenthood, which is not easy. But I am confident in knowing that with each other’s help they will make it through. I love you guys, we all do” he said as he raised his glass up everyone following suit.

Karen smiled graciously up at her husband as he gave his speech, he was always so good at this and she was supposed to follow behind him but what could you say after that. She always thought to herself as she raised her children that she wanted them to do everything the right way, and though they weren’t married and hadn’t graduated college yet. She knew that the two of them would be okay, and she was content with that fact. As her husband finished, she rose and wrapped her arm around him “I was supposed to get up and say something of my own, but my husband has always been so much better at that” she laughed. “I am a good writer,” she said modestly “but sometimes words leave me” she acknowledged. “However,” she breathed “like your father said Kennedy, we love you so much baby. And you as well Aaron and we are over the moon about this baby. There is no greater gift you could have given me this year” she said happily.

Aaron chuckled as he continued to rub her belly. “Well that’s true,” he said with a smirk before he looked up at Sean as he spoke to begin a toast. He sat back, listening to the man and his smile grew wider and wider as he nodded along, feeling so blessed and grateful. As he finished off, Aaron picked up his glass and rose it in the air before he looked at Karen and he chuckled, smirking with a shake of his head. Nova was the exact same way. She wasn’t exactly the best at speeches and things. Clearly, she got it from her mother. As Karen finished off, Aaron clapped carefully with his glass in hand before he sipped from his drink.

Tyler pressed another kiss to Mia’s hair and said, “possibly, you should really try and speak with them it may calm your nerves,” he told her lovingly. Slowly he looked up at Sean as he made his toast and he nodded along, smiling over at Nova and Aaron before he looked to Karen, lifting his glass into the air. “Salute,” he said before he sipped.

After Karen and Sean’s speech, Paxton stood up slowly. “Well since we’re making toasts,” he began with a chuckle, “I might as well say a few words.” He looked around the room and took in the crowd before he said, “When Aaron came and told us that Nova was pregnant, I was shocked,” he admitted. “You know Aaron is always so cool, calm, and collected but when he told us, he was just… he was excited, he was proud. It was like he was lit up from the inside out and that just warmed my heart,” he told everyone. “I know Aaron and Nova are young but I truly believe that they’re ready for this adventure they’re about to take into parenthood and I know within my heart of hearts, that you two are going to be amazing parents,” he said looking at the young couple now. “There are pieces of both of you that will help to raise this child so well and I’m just so proud to become a grandfather,” he said lovingly. “I wish you two the best and I know that this child will be blessed and highly favored.”

Audrey stood with her husband, looking up at him as he spoke, and she nodded along in agreement the entire time. As he finished up, she said, “Nova and Aaron, I am so proud of you two,” she began shyly. “I know you will make excellent parents,” she said with a smile, “even though I’m too young to be a grandmother, I am honored,” she said chuckling softly, her eyes looking down a bit nervously. “I truly believe that you two are made for this and I love you both so much,” she said blowing them kisses before she rose her glass and said, “to the newest addition to the Moore-Taylor family.”

Nova looked to her father as he stood up to speak among the crowd and she listened smiling brightly at him. She held her glass in her hand leaning into Aaron and she took in his words, honored that they thought so highly on them both. As one person after the next rose to speak, she smiled at them all appreciatively. They were making this so easy for them and they didn’t even know it, everything was covered and all they had to do was supply the baby to the tribe. Her eyes watered a little, but she kept her tears tucked away as she raised her glass “thank you guys” she said happily before she took a sip of her water and sat her glass down.

Mia looked to Tyler and furrowed her brows lightly at him, he was acting a little weird to her. But she didn’t mind it as she looked to Nova’s father, lifting her glass up she listened to them. Everything their parents had to say was sweet it made her think of her own, she got teary eyed a bit, quickly wiping a small tear from the corner of her eye as she smiled at everyone as they concluded their speeches. “That was so sweet” she said to herself as she sat her glass down.

Sean looked to Tyler and Mia, before he said, “Tyler and Mia?” questionably. “The newly engaged couple, it’s your turn” he added with a smile as he sat down expectantly.

Tyler listened to Aaron’s parents speak next and he smiled even wider for his friends. They truly had a tribe behind them to make this baby’s world. He really hoped that Mia’s parents would come around when they reveal to them that they are expecting. Looking to Sean as he offered himself and Mia up to speak, Tyler shook his head. “Oh no,” he said with a chuckle. “I didn’t plan anything,” he admitted waving it off before he looked around at everyone looking at him and Mia and he sighed with another chuckle before he unwrapped his arm from around Mia and stood. “Well, I guess, I’ll say a little something, something,” he said with a smirk as he looked around at everyone. “Uh, well, Aaron and Nova, I’m really happy for you two, I know that you’ll be great parents. I’m actually shocked, but now that’s it’s happening, I couldn’t see things turning out any different for the two of you,” he said before he looked around at everyone. “You’ve got a wonderful family combination to help you guys out, plus Mia and I are always going to be there… just… congratulations you guys. It’s all love,” he said before he moved to sit back down.

Mia looked to Sean with wide eyes, dammit, she thought to herself she hated being put on the spot like this. Moving to stand up alongside Tyler, she smiled at all the eyes looking at them and she looked at the side of Tyler’s face as he spoke nodding her head. As he moved to sit down, she chuckled awkwardly “well, I met Nova when we were just kids. In fact, she essentially beat up these girls that were bullying me” she said playing with her fingers, however the statement caused people to chuckle, those who knew Nova most. “I just remembered thinking to myself. Who is this tiny thing with all this fire and passion behind her, Nova didn’t even know me. I was a mouse throughout school” she said quietly. “I said all that to say” she told them all “I know Nova would go to hell and back for this child and to me that is what already makes her an amazing mother. She is the most loving person I know” she said looking at her friend. “I couldn’t have imagined us here right now” she told her happily, intimately speaking with her friend. “And I am so happy for you and Aaron. Aaron, thank you for loving my best friend” she said softly. She lifted her glass to them both and said “to the gift that love grew” she said poetically before she sat down gently next to Tyler.

Aaron listened to their friends as they said their speeches and he gently wiped the corner of his eyes because a little fairy dust had gotten into them and made them water. He felt so grateful and blessed to have family and friends rally around and support them like this. It was amazing. “Thank you all so much,” he said after Mia sat back down. “From the bottom of our hearts we appreciate each and every last one of you,” he said honestly.

Nova looked to Tyler and Mia with a smirk on her lips, what would they say Lord she didn’t know. As they spoke though it warmed her heart completely, their friends were amazing, she may have not noticed until now truly. As Mia ended her speech, Nova wiped a stray tear and she looked to Aaron nodding. “Yes, thank you so much guys. I was so nervous about all of this. But your guys have been a really good comfort also, Tyler and Mia” she as she moved to stand up. She grabbed the small white box on the table and moved to sit it before them. “Aaron and I wanted to present this to you both” she said as she looked at her boyfriend and then their friends.

Mia looked to Tyler and she ran her hand down his leg gently before she looked to Nova. She couldn’t get enough of the little belly she was sporting. She was so cute, she thought to herself before she sat a gift box before them. Mia looked to it and then to Tyler with confused eyes and a grin, she didn’t know what this was all about at all. She didn’t know if she should open it or he should, so she whispered “open it baby” cutely.

Tyler listened to Aaron and Nova and he chuckled before Nova handed him a box and he took it, looking it over curiously. He had no idea what it could be. As Mia told him to open it, he looked at her with a smile before he did so. He unwrapped it and flipped the lapel open, reading the words. “I need an extra pair of hands to help me learn and grow, I think that yours will be the best because mommy and daddy told me so! Will you be my godparents?” Tyler looked up slowly, gazing at Nova and Aaron with tears in his eyes before he looked to Mia as he carefully picked up his glass. “Wow,’ he said, shocked. “I would be honored,” he said before he cleared his throat and smiled brightly.

Mia looked to Tyler again, they were like two kids on Christmas day and as he opened the box, she gasped loudly reading the words with him before she looked to her friends. “Oh my God” she said exclaimed “of course we will be the godparents” she said happily as she moved to stand up. “Of course,” she said meeting Nova halfway for a hug and they gripped each other for dear life as Mia got teary eyed all over again. “I thought you’d never ask” she chuckled as she wiped her wet eyes drawing back from Nova.

Nova looked at the two and she smiled at them before she looked at Aaron and as they agreed she stood happily. “Thank you” she said as she moved to meet her friend in a bear hug, the two of them crying. Her because of her hormones and Mia, because she always seemed to be crying about something no less. “Who else would I ask?” she replied as she wiped her tears gently, not to mess up her makeup. Patting Mia’s face as little too she looked at her, she was a glowing perfection before her, and her eyes widened at the thought. “Mia” she breathed to her before she looked away. Nova looked to her parents instead and said, “is it cake time?” happily as she pulled from Mia and moved towards Aaron again. Fuck Mia was pregnant.

Sean looked to the kids and as his daughter asked the million-dollar question he stood up. “Oh yes!” he said gladly “let’s cut this cake and see what we have baking I am ready, aren’t y’all?” he asked everybody.

Karen looked to her husband as he hopped up, chuckling lightly, she hadn’t seen this man so happy like this in so long time it was amusing. They sent their children off to school and it was quiet around the house. Now he was counting on some noise to be made once again. “I am ready” she said though she didn’t care about the gender, a healthy baby was all she needed. She knew her son and husband wanted a boy out of this though.

Tyler placed the glass and box on the table, standing to hug his friend. It couldn’t be happier or more honored to be the godfather and once it was time, he would reveal Aaron to be the godfather of his own child, so it was only right. “Thank you, man, thank you,” he said with so much emotion in his voice before he pulled away from his friend and looked to Nova chuckling with a nod. “Yes!” he said clapping happily, he was more than ready to see what they were having.

Aaron hugged Tyler back. “It’s all love,” he said patting his friends back before he pulled away and looked to Nova with a wink and a smile. “Yes, let’s put everyone out of their misery.”

Nova smiled at that and she grabbed Aaron’s hand as she moved over to the cake with him. She allowed her father to hand them the cake cutter and she stood excitedly before it. “You ready baby?” she asked Aaron as she prepared to slice the cake with him.

Aaron smiled as he took Nova’s hand and followed her other to the cake. He stood behind her; his chest pressed against her back as his large hand cupped her smaller one as she held the knife. He was way to geeked for everyone to know the gender. “Ready,” he said beaming at her as he gently guided their hands over to the cake. Together they made one diagonal cut, then another. He then guided their hands to slide the knife under the slice of cake and he intentioned, moved their bodies to the side just a bit more so that everyone could see before he lifted the piece out of the space and pulled it back to reveal the blue inside.

Tyler stood there, waiting with bated breaths, his eyes glued to the cake as the couple took their time slicing it. As they geared up to pull the slice out, he leaned forward, hands pressed against the table and as the blue was revealed, Tyler stood up so quickly that his chair fell back as he let out a dog woof, pounding his chest and stomping his feet before he began to slam his hands against the table rhythmically, chanting out with dog woofs.

Paxton held his wife’s hand tightly in his own as he waited for the reveal. He honestly would be happy no matter what they were having, however, he really prayed for a boy. So, when the blue of the cake was revealed, he let out a holler and stomped his feet along with Tyler before he released his wife’s hands and walked over to Tyler, slapping hands with the boy out of joy.

Audrey squealed out as the baby was revealed to be a boy and she squealed out, jumping up and down happily. “Oh my god!” she said smiling widely with excitement as she walked over and hugged Karen happily. “Can you believe this?” she asked the woman in a tiny voice.

Mia looked at the cake, everyone was looking at the cake. Like hawks their eyes stayed glued, she wanted them to have a girl personally so that Nova and she could spoil her, but she knew either way. She’d be happy and so would everyone else. As she saw the blue her eyes grew as the room erupted with loud noises. Everyone was all over the place she couldn’t help but to chuckle even as she watched her future husband act like a complete fool before her. “Congrats” she called out loudly to them both from her seat.

Karen hugged Audrey back lovingly “it’s a boy, my goodness they are going to spoil him rotten Audrey” she said with a chuckle. “This is crazy,” she said looking around at the room.

Sean stood behind his wife, he was so close to Nova and Aaron he might as well been cutting the cake himself. As he watched them display the color of choice, he all but screamed “yes” so loud the entire building could hear him. “Yes!” he chanted “I knew it” he said pointing to his son who chuckled to himself and clapped. “A boy, that’s what I am talking about” he said all riled up.

Nova looked to the slice and then everyone else chuckling hard, she covered her mouth slightly as she watched everyone. She grabbed a plate and sat the slice on it carefully as the room boomed with bodies and loud laughter, talking, and chanting. “My goodness this kid has no idea what’s he’s in for” she breathed amused.