Walking to the stove, I began fixing two plates of spaghetti. Just like I’d done on our very first date at my house, only it was our very first night in our house.
“Here you are, my lady.” I set the plate in front of her, and before I had even made it to my side of the table and sat she’d taken a bite.
“Hmm, yummy, so delicious!”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I don’t think you’ve ever cooked one thing that I didn’t like.”
“Maybe you’re just easy to please,” I said.
“I don’t know, maybe you should take me into the bedroom and please me that way too,” she said, a lascivious look in her eyes before she took another bite.
“Woman, you are insatiable.”
“But trying to satiate me is half the fun, right?”
“You are far too good for my ego.”
“You know what?” London put down her fork and stared at me intently.
“No, what?” I smiled back.
“I think that when we have children that we should name them after the places we love.”
“I don’t think a kid is going to want the name London’s pussy for the rest of their life.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I, you said places that I love.”
“I’m being serious.” Tears filled her eyes.
“I’m sorry, honey, I was just teasing. What kind of places were you thinking?” I had no clue why London was getting so upset over a hypothetical question.
“My mom named me and my sisters and I after places she wanted to see. I was thinking that if we had a girl, we could name her Tera. You know, it means Earth, and we both have, or rather I had, Irish last names. Wouldn’t Tera Kelly McManus, be a nice name?”
Her words slowly sank in. “London, are you trying to tell me something?”
She nodded slowly and smiled.
I pulled her into my arms and spun her around. I couldn’t believe I was going to be a dad.
“You’re making me dizzy. Put me down.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” I set her down then yanked up her shirt, dropped to my knees, and placed fervent kisses on her belly. “I’m sorry, baby. Daddy is so happy.”
“Jesus.” She pressed her hands onto my shoulders and pushed me away so she could slide back into her seat.
“What? I’m just talking to my daughter.”
“Daughter, how do you know it’s a daughter?”
“We aren’t naming a son Tera, and well, your family seems to be strong with girls so I think that we’re safe.”
“You do realize that I don’t have anything to do with the gender, right?”
“Of course I knew that.”
“But if the baby is a boy, we could always name him Terance.” London twirled some pasta onto her fork and shoved it into her mouth.
“No. That’s a horrid name. He’d get beaten up for a name like that. How about that woman, the dark haired one from the Tera movie.”
“You mean Gone With the Wind?”
I nodded as I took a bite.
“No, we are not naming a daughter Scarlet. Scarlet was a bitch, and she’d end up being called Scarlet the harlot or something or another. We can’t use your dad’s name either, too many kids know the nickname for Richard.”
“Maybe we should make a list of names that we don’t want.”
“Oh that’s stupid, there can’t be that many.” London stood up and began clearing the plates while I started putting away the leftovers. “No to Lucy because some boy will start Lucy Goosey and pinching her ass. No to Charlotte for the same reason as Scarlet.”
“I’ve got an idea.” I took the plates from her hand and set them on the counter.
“What?” London gave me a doubtful look.
“I think better when I’m in the shower. I believe that if we shower together, the perfect name might come to us. If not, we’ll just have to shower together every day until he or she gets here.”
“Umm, I like the way you think, Mr. McManus. Lead the way.”
Stetson Playlist- London & Braden
Shoot Me Straight- Brothers Osborne
I Hate Love Songs- Kelsea Ballerini
Lose My Mind- Brett Eldredge
Fancy- Reba McEntire
Gonna Wanna Tonight- Chase Rice
Kiss You In The Morning- Michael Ray
I Do- Morgan Evans
Inside Your Heaven- Carrie Underwood
Thank You
Editing by AW Editing
Proofreading by Karen Boston
Proofreading Emily Kirkpatrick
Cover Design by F Squared
Publicity and Marketing - L.Woods PR
Bitch extraordinaire- Tina Snider
Stetson Page 16