by Dyble, S R
"Time to open your presents!" Tricia said and I placed my glass of orange juice down to watch as Kit moved towards his pile of presents on the side table.
"You know, for a bunch of guys you've all surprised me," Kit said, staring at his team that stood waiting for him to open their presents.
Most of them were bottles of alcohol and he looked at me.
"We now have a fully stocked collection," he said and I nodded, smiling at him.
He then picked up the presents from his brothers and eyed them suspiciously.
I knew from personal experience that Kit was hell to buy for, so I was impressed that they'd each thought of something to buy him.
Eric got him the full Game of Thrones box set.
Jax got him a really cool black t-shirt that had sleeves and a collar with buttons down the front. Nick got him a keyring shaped like a dollop of whipped cream with the word whipped on it. It was an ongoing joke that I'd somehow whipped Kit and had him wrapped around my little finger. He winked at me and I shook my head, laughing with everyone else. Finally, Jason's present and Kit opened it with caution, as if he was prepared for something unusual.
I wasn't sure what it was at first and frowned when I saw Kit taking a set of pinchers and goggles out of the box. He then started to laugh once he'd picked up an apron from within the box and turned it to face us.
HAZARDOUS. Baby changing has commenced.
Everyone started laughing and I smirked at Jason, who stood looking awfully proud of himself.
"My best gift yet, I know…" he said.
He smirked at me as Kit tried on the apron.
He then picked up Lilly's present and thanked her before ripping the paper off.
She'd got him a bottle of aftershave and he eyed her. "You think I smell, Lil'?" he questioned.
"Well, I figured the amount you wear, that shit is gonna run out pretty snappy so I'm just keeping you topped up."
He smirked, as did the other lads, and he thanked her before giving her a wink.
Next was my present.
He eyed me and smiled, opening each end of the package until he pulled the box from out of the wrapping paper.
I'd chosen the most corny gift ever. Like I said already, Kit was a nightmare to buy for so instead, I had something made for him.
He pulled out two pieces of clothing. One was black and the other was white. First, he held up his black t-shirt that said legend on the front. Then he picked up the small white baby-grow that said legacy on it.
I wanted to apologize for not getting him a better gift but everyone awed and he stared at me, grinning at me. I hope that meant he liked them.
"Jesus, this is too cute," Jason said feeling obviously awkward.
Kit then picked up his second present from me and inside he found a mug. A plain mug. It was completely plain and he looked at me oblivious as he looked inside. As he did, it revealed the base of the mug to everyone else and I held it together as everyone laughed.
"I'm sorry," I mouthed as he stared at me and then lifted his mug to look at the base that read I'm a twat.
Even he struggled to hold it together while everyone continued to laugh.
He moved around the table then and came towards me, bringing his hand around my neck so he could kiss me.
I couldn't help but stare as Kit and his brothers standing together.
Lilly came up beside me and followed my eyes to them.
"What you staring at?"
"Can you believe they're all different ages?"
She stood beside me, staring just like I was at each of them and shortly after they each realised and stared right back.
"Oh shit, they've spotted us," Lilly said.
We each laughed once we'd turned away.
"In answer to your question. No, they all look the same to me. How old are they?"
"Obviously Kit's twenty-five. Nick is twenty-four—"
"I already knew that," she butted in.
"Of course you do," I answered, the edges of my lips turning upwards.
I saw the look she gave me and continued.
"Okay. Eric is twenty-three, Jason is twenty-six and Jax is twenty-seven."
"I feel sorry for their mother’s vagina. That means she literally had a baby every year for five years…"
I nodded, remembering what Kit had told me about his mother.
The gathering for Kit's birthday had been a success and hours later we dropped Lilly off at her home and sat in silence for a short while. Kit extended his hand to caress my bare leg and he left it there as he drove us home.
"Did you have a good time? Honestly?" I asked, looking over at him.
"Course I did." He smiled, stroking my inner leg with his thumb.
"You really thought I'd forgotten your birthday?"
He looked at me and when he didn't speak I frowned at him.
"I didn't think you'd forget, no."
"What was that look for? Did you suspect we'd surprise you with a party?"
"Course not," he said, not looking at me.
"Kit," my frown deepened and he chuckled.
"Okay. Sort of… I knew you were at Delta before I saw you there, okay? But that doesn't matter. It was still an amazing surprise."
"What? How?" I sat further up in my seat and stared at him.
"Eves," he gave me a certain look but I wasn't backing down.
"Did Bob and Phil tell you?"
"No. They didn't have to."
When I didn't answer him, I thought about who could have told him when he reached for my wrist and held it up.
"Bollocks," I said and pushed my head back into the headrest.
"You keep tabs on my tracker?" I asked, staring at my charm bracelet that Kit had given me for my birthday. The little blue gem was still as beautiful as the day he'd given it to me, and I loved it just as much.
"Come on, Eves. Of course I do."
"So, you knew I was at Delta and suspected a party?"
"Partly… but you could have just been there to see Jerry."
"Don't bullshit me, Kit," I sighed, feeling deflated.
"Aw, come on, Eves. I wish I'd never said anything now. It was a great party, Sweetheart. It really was."
I nodded, as long as he'd enjoyed it, that's all that mattered.
"And, the cake was amazing."
I smiled. "Well, I am a professional baker… I just needed to burn the first cake in order to realise it."
He grinned and started to rub my leg again.
Having a race through a ton of sloppy wet mud seemed like the perfect thing for adequately fit guys to be doing to raise money.
Watching them seemed like the best thing ever for myself to be doing.
Truthfully, I only had my eyes on one guy, and right now he was standing with the rest of his brothers and the guys from Delta on the outskirts of the track they were about to take on.
Just as Jesse described, two miles of track was not only tons of mud, but had obstacles as well. Tricia had managed to organise a charity to donate to, their earnings would be going to children in need. I already knew Kit and the other lads had each shoved a load of notes into the collection box and their generosity had floored me. Once they'd left the collection box I placed a twenty-pound note into the box. Lilly did the same and so did Tricia.
Tricia, myself and a very reluctant Lilly stood on the outer edges of the track where a strip of tape ran the full length of the course to separate us from them. Tricia had brought a couple of binoculars with her and handed me a set. I thanked her and looked around at the sheer amount of people here. There were other teams preparing beside the starting line and they brought along with them their own entourage of people ready to cheer them on. Shortly before the race was to start, they began warming up. Kit looked over and smiled.
I was wrapped up like a bloody walnut whip. Out here in the open field and in the falling cold weather, I feared for those lads only wearing shorts and a vest. Thank god they were warming up. As soon as they sta
rted, Lilly started to perk up a bit and I eyed her as she took my binoculars and faced them in that particular direction.
"What? I just wanna make sure they warm up properly."
"Yeah, you obviously don't need me to point out which one is Nick."
"Actually, I'm looking at that blonde bloke next to Nick."
I nodded. "All right Lil'," I said sarcastically, not being fobbed off at all.
After warming up, all of the lads lined up, along with other groups of teams that were taking part in the race. They each got themselves ready and once the horn was blown they each legged it, at first, fast like whippets until their legs submerged beneath inches of thick, gloopy mud.
I heard Lilly chuckling from my side and it was music to my ears.
"God," Tricia said as she moved closer.
"That mud is like cement," she commented and I grinned at her, then watched as the lads pulled their legs up out of the mud over and over again. Eventually, someone would have to fall. I'd already seen various people from another group falling, but now one of the Delta lads had fallen and I smirked as all of the guys cheered and patted him on the shoulder before he pulled himself back up. I realised quickly that these guys weren't working as a team. They had their own private race going on and right now, Nick was winning.
Before too long only the brothers were in the lead and they eventually made it to the first assault course where they had to crawl through the mud, under ropes.
Lilly, Tricia, and I walked further down the outskirts of the course, watching as each of them dragged themselves through the mud and under the ropes above their heads.
"Holy shit, Nick literally just face-planted the mud," she laughed and I smirked, watching as each of them got out from under the ropes and Kit brought his hand to Nick's face to make sure the mud was fully spread. He then ran onto the next part of the course and I could see from here that Nick was out for revenge. Each of them were thick in mud from their feet to their necks, apart from Nick who was now wearing a mud face mask.
I could only see his pearly white teeth as he grinned at his brothers, determined for his revenge.
The next part of the course entailed holding onto a rope and swinging across a pit full of more mud. All of them made it across and I carried on walking further with Lilly, watching the five of them as they progressed.
"Jason is like a warrior," Lilly commented and I agreed. They were all fierce and handling the course like bosses but Jason was so strict and trained, it was unreal.
"He was in the army," I concluded and she nodded.
"This should be good," she commented, revealing her teeth again.
The next course was a wooden wall that they each had to climb over.
They all climbed it no problem, but as they dropped at the other side Eric got a hold of Jason's head and pushed his face straight into the mud.
We each gasped as all of the brothers looked back at what had just happened, their faces grinning and laughing.
"They really are competitive," Lilly said looking through the binoculars and I nodded, watching Jason scraping the mud from his face.
"That was bloody brutal!" She laughed and I did too, watching Jason chasing after Eric who laughed and eventually fell into the mud.
Once he did, Jason piled on top of him and I gasped again, watching both of them sink into the mud. I could hear them laughing from where I stood and they eventually got up and pushed at each other so they could get in front.
Once they'd caught back up to the others, I saw Kit swinging across another pit and he landed on the other side and threw the rope back for Jax to grab.
By this point they each disappeared into a wooded area, which meant we had to wait for them to return from within and back to the track that lead outwards and past where we were standing. Once I saw them returning from within I smiled and felt my chest expand at just the sight of them pushing at one another and having banter between them. They reached another challenge.
Monkey bars, where they had to swing themselves from one bar to the next. Above a trench of dirty looking water.
Once they'd each passed the last obstacle, they had about half a mile left to just run before the finishing line. They were all racing to get there first and in the process they pushed at each other. Kit and Nick fell on top of each other and then not far in front Jax and Jason tackled each other then both got up to throw mud at each other.
"What do they think this is, a bloody mudball fight?" Lilly said from my right and I shook my head as each of the brothers eventually piled on top of each other, Jason being last and Kit being at the bottom of the pile.
Then a bunch of the other lads jumped on and I saw Kit coming out from underneath. He laughed like he was a little boy back in his childhood and he threw a dollop of mud at Jesse and then ran towards the finishing line. Just as he reached it, Jesse collided with Kit and they both landed with a splat just over the finishing line.
"Holy shit," Lilly laughed again and we watched as they both got up and placed their arms around each others shoulders, before waiting for the others to follow after them.
"Well, that means the battle continues," Tricia said as she made her way towards us.
"They both finished at the same time," she added and I nodded, watching as they all piled on top of each other again and eventually made their way back towards us.
All I could see were sets of bright teeth because everything else was covered in mud, even the tips of their noses.
I wasn't expecting Nick to full on place both of his hands onto Lilly's face and she squealed, grabbing a hold of both of his hands. I stood in total disbelief with my mouth dropped open.
Oh, he was dead…
She glared at his grinning face and plotted her revenge as I sensed Kit and the others moving towards us.
"Don't you come near me,” I warned, holding up my hand and he smirked at me, looking absolutely perfect even with his whole face and body covered in what could only be described as shit.
"You look a little brown," I smiled and he nodded, looking at his arms.
"You look a little pale, Sweetheart, you cold?" He held out his arms to offer me a cuddle but I pulled away, careful to not let him touch me.
When he got a hold of me, I cursed him and squealed as he pulled my face into his. First, before he could kiss me, I protested and pulled my scarf up to his lips, wiping away the mud before he could kiss me. I still got covered in mud and I lavished in it as Kit's lips kissed mine.
"You twat," I said once he pulled away and I felt the familiar butterflies in my stomach as he grinned at me.
"You didn't think you'd get away with not getting a bit mud on you, did you, honestly Eves?" Jax said and I shook my head.
After the race, they trekked towards the huge banner for taking photos. They each stood together, still dripping with mud that left marks on the already dirty platform they were standing on.
Taking out my phone I took photos of them as a team, and then once the members of Delta had moved on I called back Kit and his brothers.
"I want a picture of just you five," I said.
I smiled, taking more than one photo of them as they ruffled each others hair and stood close together, grinning at me.
The further I got along in my pregnancy, obviously the fatter I got. Although, I couldn't describe it as fat because my stomach felt rock hard. It kept on getting bigger, and when I stared at myself in the mirror, I couldn't work out how the hell I was managing to stand straight. Surely all the weight to the front would make me buckle forwards. The more I spoke about it, the wider Kit's grin would get. He'd stare at me longingly and speak to my stomach on a daily basis, just so he was positive that our little girl would know her daddy's voice above everyone else's.
I wasn't sure my hormones could get any worse, but by God did they…
By thirty-nine weeks pregnant, I was a leaking mess, not only from my eyes but my tits decided to have a go too. Safe to say my breast milk had arrived earlier, only add
ing to Kit's desire as he stared at my drenched t-shirt. Two perfectly circular patches almost stretching the size of my actual breasts. I felt for Kit, I really did. The more my hormones and stomach grew, the more of a bitch I became. I knew it, and yet I couldn't pipe down to save my life. The smallest little thing and I'd cry and march out of the room like a spoilt brat, determined not to let others see me a mess. Sex was off the cards, just the thought of it made my insides feel heavy.
By forty weeks, and feeling like a ticking time bomb, I wasn't sure if I was ever going to give birth.
I'd had no signs or symptoms of labour, despite the Braxton Hicks that had made themselves known much earlier on in my pregnancy.
Until one night, I stood up to take what felt like my thirtieth wee that night, Niagara falls fell from my insides like a bath plug being pulled from inside outwards. Trust me, It felt as disgusting as it sounds. From that moment on, panic set in and I stood shaking in the dark as my body began to tremble.
"Eves? What was that noise?" Kit said from where he lay still in bed.
Yes, my waters breaking had been loud enough that even Kit had heard them break.
"My waters just broke," I said quietly, still in shock.
Everything fast forwarded then once Kit shot up and turned the light on, coming to my aid to see me shaking like a leaf.
"You're in shock, everything's fine, baby."
How the hell was he so calm?
Taking my hand, Kit led me out of the pool I'd created and walked me towards the bathroom.
"Do you wanna get cleaned up quickly? We can call the midwives straight after."
Despite all the research I'd done, I'd lost all train of thought.
"Do I have time?" I asked, staring at him.
He nodded. "Yes, Sweetheart, we just need to keep an eye out for your first contraction."
Although shock had taken over me, It hadn't taken the ability to feel pure love for him. He was being so gentle and calm. The last month Kit had invested himself into researching labour and newborn babies, just so that he could be prepared. He'd been like my personal information pamphlet, and whenever he could display his level of knowledge, he did. Especially amongst his brothers who told him he'd been double whipped. Not only by me, but by his unborn baby girl, too. It made me smile every time and as I washed myself quickly in the shower, I allowed myself time to come to terms with what was happening.