I said goodbye to Stacey then called my parents to let them know I’d gotten my results.
“Congratulations, sweetheart,” Mum said when I told her the news. “We knew you could do it.”
“Thanks, Mum.”
“I know you have plans with Stacey after graduation, so how about we all go for dinner the night before to celebrate?”
“Yeah. That sounds good.”
“Ask Kian too.”
I laughed and replied, “Sure thing.”
After Mum’s reaction to Kian when I’d been in hospital, I thought she was going to have a problem with us getting together, but her response had surprised me, and she was really happy for us. She’d even been bugging me for weeks to invite him down for Sunday dinner, so I figured this was the next best thing.
After getting off the phone from my parents, I sent Kian a text. Since officially buying into the gym, Kian had been back in training every day, getting in shape for coaching the new guys joining, so I never knew if he was busy or not. I knew he’d call me back as soon as he had a break.
I was just making lunch, when he phoned.
“Congratulations!”
“Thank you.”
“I’m so proud of you. You fucking killed it.”
I settled on the sofa and asked, “So, how is your day going?”
“Yeah, not too bad. Davi has me looking through videos of guys we might offer try-outs to.”
“Anyone interesting?”
“There’s this one guy, same weight division as me, a little on the older side. But holy shit, his strikes are insane.”
I could hear the excitement in his voice and smiled. It wasn’t that Kian had been unhappy before, but since going back to the gym, the old spark he had when I first met him had returned, and whenever we hung out, he had something new to tell me about how work was going.
“Think Davi will take him on?”
“I’ll have to convince him, ‘cos I seriously think this guy could be something special.”
“Here’s hoping Davi sees it too.” There was a brief pause, and I heard Kian shout something to the guys. “My parents want to take us to dinner the night before graduation. You up for it?”
“Of course. And we’re still going out with Brownie and Stacey after the ceremony?”
“Uh-huh. I don’t think we’ll get a minute alone this week.”
Kian laughed. “Think you can manage to keep your hands off me for that long?”
“I don’t know. I’ve just been sat here all day, pining away for you.”
There was another pause as Kian shouted something else, then he said, “I’m really sorry, I’m going to have to get back to it.”
“It’s cool. Go kick some butt.”
“I’ll call you later.”
Once I’d hung up, I decided to take a nap. The restless night was catching up with me, and I knew if I wanted to stay awake past eight-thirty, I’d need some extra rest.
As the week progressed, I tried not to worry about Kian meeting my parents or graduation, but the closer I got to both, the more anxious I became.
The morning of graduation eve, Kian left mine, having stayed over the night before, to spend the day working at the gym, leaving me alone to get everything sorted for my parents’ visit and graduation. I had to make sure my outfits for dinner, graduation, and the post-graduation celebrations were all ready, pick up my graduation robe from the hire shop, and clean my flat. What I really wanted to do was remain in my pyjamas watching cat videos on the Internet. I forced myself away from the computer and into the shower then had some breakfast, before heading out to collect my graduation robes and some cleaning supplies. When I got home, I got to work cleaning the flat. It wasn’t that I was untidy, but something about having my parents visit always made me want to make sure the place was pristine.
I was mopping the kitchen floor when my stomach tightened and my back started to ache. A sure sign I needed a break.
Pouring myself a glass of water, I flopped down on the couch and switched the TV on. I watched some random crap for a while until the aching subsided then got back to it. Thankfully, the rest helped, and I only got a few twinges for the remainder of the day.
Finally satisfied the flat was clean enough for my parents, I jumped in the shower and began getting ready for our meal. I was drying my hair when Kian text to let me know he was finished at the gym, and was heading home to shower and change before coming round.
>>Perfect. I’m just doing my hair and makeup.<<
I sat in front of the mirror, straightening my hair, which thanks to pregnancy hormones was super glossy, while Ella moved around in my belly.
“That’s right. Now it’s evening, it’s time for baby acrobatics, isn’t it?”
I smiled and rubbed my tummy. Drawn to the sound of my voice or the warmth of my hand, or something, Ella kicked my belly where my fingers rested.
I tapped where her foot had just been and said, “Hey, Missy. No kicking Mama!”
I’d just finished my make-up, and had changed into stretchy black maternity trousers and a teal tunic top, when the doorbell rang.
Grabbing my jacket, shoes, and a small handbag, I left the bedroom and walked down the hall to answer the door.
“Hey,” Kian said as he stepped into the hallway.
I was momentarily lost for words as I stared at him. It was the first time I’d seen him dressed formally, wearing suit trousers and a dark shirt. He looked super hot.
“Hey, handsome,” I said, rising up on my tiptoes to press my lips against his.
Before we got too into the kiss, the doorbell rang again.
I pulled away from him and turned to let my parents in.
Mum rushed in, a flurry of hugs and kisses, while Dad and Kian shook hands and made polite small talk.
“Congratulations, Megan,” Mum said, wrapping her arms around me. “We’re so proud of you.”
“Thanks.” I untangled myself from her and tried to catch my breath.
My stomach tightened again; more Braxton kicks. I’d be glad when Ella was born and I didn’t have to put up with this.
“Ready to go?” Dad asked. “I booked us a table for seven, and we still need to get across the city.”
“Lead the way,” I said, taking Kian’s hand and opening the front door.
Mum and Dad went back to their car, pausing before they got in.
“Are we all going together?” Mum asked, then before anyone could answer, she opened the rear doors. “It seems pointless taking more than one car.”
Feeling it would be rude not to, I climbed in, and shuffled across so Kian could sit down next to me.
Our knees brushed in my parents’ tiny Ford Fiesta, and I looked over at him then mouthed, ‘Sorry.’
“It’s cool,” he whispered back, rubbing the pad of his thumb across the back of my hand.
His touch sent tingles down my spine, and I wished we’d had a little longer alone together.
The meal was mostly good, though a little tense. My parents didn’t display any outward hostility towards Kian, but their probing questions might as well have been, “What are your intentions towards our daughter?” It was more than just polite curiosity about his work, and I knew Mum and Dad were making sure Kian would treat me and Ella right. Even though they were just looking out for me, after all Kian had been through, with people judging him and scrutinizing his every move — his own family included — I wished they’d been a bit easier on him and taken my word that things between us were good.
Ella kept up her usual acrobatics act, and despite the discomfort, it was reassuring to know my little girl was okay, even when she was kicking me in the ribs. Thankfully, I managed to stave off the tiredness until about nine, but when I started yawning as we finished dessert, Mum was quick to catch on.
“We should probably ask for the bill now so you can head off and get some rest. You’ve got a big day ahead of you tomorrow.”
“Don’t remind me.” Knowing I
only had about twelve hours until I had to start getting ready for the ceremony made my temples pulse.
I knew the hard part was over. I’d gotten my results, and the graduation ceremony was just a formality, but I still felt uneasy. I wouldn’t be able to fully relax and enjoy the last couple of months of pregnancy until it was out of the way.
Mum and Dad took Kian and me back to my place, and after more hugs – Kian even got one, and a kiss on the cheek from Mum – they went back home; Kian and I were alone at last.
“God, it seems like forever since we saw each other last,” I said, kicking off my shoes and then wrapping my arms around him.
We stood in the hallway for a minute, just holding each other. Kian’s head rested on top of mine and his hands stroked up and down my back.
Finally, exhaustion got the better of me, and I stepped out of his arms. “Are you stopping the night?”
“I’d love to, but won’t I be in your way in the morning?”
“I’m going to need you here to keep me calm.”
“In that case, who am I to say no? I’ll have to pop home in the morning to get a change of clothes, though.”
“What you’re wearing is fine.” We went through to my bedroom, where I peeled off my clothes and changed into my pyjamas, then started removing my make-up. “But if you’re worried, you can always toss them in the washer-dryer. If we put it on now, they’ll be ready for the morning.”
“All right.” Kian stripped down to his boxers, and as he scooped up the laundry, I admired the view. Even after just a couple of weeks back at training, I could see the definition coming back to his muscles. He wasn’t as ripped as when he had a fight coming, but he still looked damn good.
Turning towards me with an armful of clothes, he smirked. “Like what you see?”
“Always.” I stood up from the dressing table, crossed the room to him, and ran my hands up his arms, then kissed him. “Now shoo. Get those clothes in the washer so we can snuggle in bed.”
Kian laughed. “Yes, boss.”
He made his way down the hall, and I went over to the bed and climbed under the covers.
“You want a cuppa?” he called from the kitchen.
“Please.”
A few minutes later, I heard the washing machine rumble into action, and then Kian entered the room with two mugs of tea in his hand. He passed one to me, and placed the other on the bedside table, before getting into bed beside me.
“Dinner was fun,” he said, as I sipped my drink.
“You have a strange definition of fun. Mum and Dad were quite obviously grilling you.”
“I figured, which is why I tried to be as open as I could with them. This is new to them too. Even though they’ve gotten used to the idea of us having Ella together, now they need to adjust to us being a couple.”
“I guess. I just wish they’d ease up on you. You’ve got nothing to prove.”
“I made a lot of mistakes in the past, and I’ve got to expect people to be a little wary of if I’ve really changed.”
“Yeah. I suppose so.” I shrugged and took another sip of tea. “So how is work? Did you speak to Davi about that guy you liked?”
“I did. I showed him the video. He was really impressed, too. I’ve called the guy up to set up a try-out. He’s heading by the gym next week.”
“Exciting!”
“It is. I didn’t know I’d get such a buzz from scouting fighters, but after seeing this guy fight, I just can’t get him out of my head. I hope his try-out goes well, because I’m dying to get in the cage with the guy and start training him.”
I grinned. “That’s the gayest thing I think you’ve ever said.” I couldn’t help but tease him. “I love that you’ve taken to training so well. How is it with everyone else?”
“Good, yeah. It took some of the lads a little while to get used to me being their coach not their buddy anymore, but things are fine now. It helped going out with Brownie the other night. Some of the other guys came along too, and just having the opportunity to chill out outside of the gym made all the difference.”
I placed my half-drunk cuppa on the nightstand, and turned towards Kian. “I’m so proud of you.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my lips to his.
Kian cupped my face and deepened the kiss by slowly slipping his tongue into my mouth. We both moved down the bed, shifting to lying on our side, my legs entwined with his.
Kian’s hands moved from my face, snaking down my body, and then under my nightshirt. He stroked my tummy, before his hands trailed up to my breasts.
He broke away from the kiss. “Is this okay?”
“Yeah, just be gentle. They’re pretty sore.”
He caressed my breasts softly, and we continued kissing until I was almost breathless, and my body hummed with desire for him.
When we broke apart again, I turned so I was nestled in his arms, my butt resting in his lap. With his legs curled around mine, and his arm still wrapped around me under my nightshirt, I drifted off into contented sleep.
I woke in the middle of the night needing to pee, and had to carefully untangle myself from Kian’s embrace. Making sure to be quiet, I crept to the bathroom.
When I got back into bed, I tried to snuggle up to him and go back to sleep, but Ella was moving around again, and the Braxton Hicks had returned. Trying to focus on my breathing, instead of the tightening sensation in my belly, I shut my eyes and willed myself to sleep.
I don’t know how long it took me to drop off, but it seemed like only a few minutes had passed before my alarm sounded the following morning.
I fumbled for it on the nightstand, and managed to knock over the half empty cup of tea from the night before. The mug rolled onto the pillow, liquid spilling out and soaking my sheets.
“God damn it,” I said, scrambling out of bed.
Kian sat up and scooted away from the damp patch.
“You okay?” he asked, squinting in the morning light filtering through the curtains.
“Yeah, just not the best start to graduation day.”
He climbed out of bed. “Why don’t you go take a shower, and I’ll make us some breakfast.”
“Yeah, I will in a sec. I need to strip the bed down first.”
“I can do that. I’ve got to get my stuff out of the machine anyway. You go get under the hot water and try to relax.”
I flashed him a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
When I got out of the shower half an hour later, Kian’s clothes – now freshly ironed – were hanging on the back of the bedroom door, and my bed had fresh linen on.
I did my usual post-shower routine of moisturizing and putting some leave-in conditioner on my hair, then wrapped myself up in my dressing gown and went to the kitchen, where the smell of food cooking greeted me.
“I figured you won’t want anything heavy, so I made us scrambled egg tortilla wraps.”
“Sounds yummy.” I settled at the breakfast bar and tucked in.
“Feeling any better now?”
“Yes, thank you. The shower really helped.”
Once we’d finished breakfast, Kian had a shower, and I styled my hair and painted my nails in a shade that matched my dress. He was just coming into the bedroom as I slipped on the burgundy wrap-around, lace-trimmed dress I’d bought especially for graduation.
“Zip me up?”
“Sure.” Kian came up behind me and fastened the zipper, pressing his lips to my neck as he did so. “You look gorgeous.”
I did a small pirouette so the full skirt flared out around me, and smiled.
“I have something for you,” Kian said, crossing to the door. “Wait here. I’ll be just a minute.”
I tried to be patient as he headed down the hall, but the curiosity was killing me, and my stomach fluttered with butterflies.
When Kian returned, he had a long thin jewellery box in his hand.
“I wanted to get you something special for graduation,” he said. “And to show you how muc
h you mean to me.”
He handed me the box, and I took it with shaky hands.
Flipping the lid, I revealed a gold figure of eight pendant on a long gold chain. In the bottom loop of the pendant was a glimmering emerald.
Tears welled in my eyes, and for a moment my throat was too choked up for me to speak. Finally, I managed to say, “Thank you. This is gorgeous.”
I took the necklace out of the box and held it up to the light, where the emerald sparkled.
“Do you want me to fasten it up for you?” Kian asked.
“Please.” I placed the necklace around my neck, scooped my hair to the side, and then turned my back to him so he could fasten the clasp.
“Let’s have a look.”
I turned to face him, grinning from ear-to-ear. “What do you think?”
“Perfect.” Kian pulled me to him and kissed me. “Okay, I better get dressed before I freeze my balls off.”
It was only then that I realised he’d been wrapped in a towel all this time, and I scooted back so he wouldn’t get my dress damp.
Kian got dressed as I finished off my make-up. As I continued getting ready, I could hardly take my eyes off the pendant he’d bought me. It was beautiful, and I couldn’t help but wonder if there was more meaning to it than just a graduation gift, given the emerald was a similar colour to my eyes, and a figure of eight symbol turned on its side meant infinity.
Trying not to read too much into it, and just appreciate the gift for what it was, I focused instead on the forthcoming ceremony.
The nerves I’d felt earlier on in the week had turned to excitement, as I looked forward to seeing all my friends and classmates, and celebrating the culmination of our academic careers.
“Ready to go?” Kian asked, running some of my styling putty through his hair so it looked ruffled in a sexy ‘I don’t give a fuck’ kind of way.
“Give me a minute.” I slipped on my shoes, grabbed my handbag from the night before, then took my graduation robes out of the wardrobe. Taking them out of the protective plastic slip, I put them on and smiled. “Okay. Now I’m ready.”
Kian grinned. “In that case, Miss Green, this way.” He held his hand out to me, which I took, and he led me out of the bedroom.
All It Takes Page 31