Chapter 8

Six Months Pregnant

By six months, pregnancy cravings had become a normal part of life.

At least for you.

For Paige, every craving felt like a mission assigned directly by the universe.

Pickles at midnight?

Done.

Strawberries in December?

She’d find them.

A very specific brand of mac and cheese that somehow tasted different from every other brand?

Already in the pantry.

So when you woke up at 2:17 a.m. desperately craving mint Oreo ice cream, you didn’t think much of it.

The problem came when you went looking for it.

The apartment was dark and quiet as you carefully climbed out of bed.

At six months pregnant, moving around wasn’t nearly as easy as it had been a few months ago.

Your growing bump made everything slightly more awkward.

Still half asleep, you shuffled into the kitchen.

Mint Oreo ice cream.

That was all you wanted.

You opened the freezer.

Nothing.

You frowned.

Moved some frozen vegetables.

Checked behind a box of waffles.

Nothing.

You searched again.

Then again.

Then again.

And slowly your heart sank.

The ice cream was gone.

Completely gone.

“No…”

You stared into the freezer as if another container might magically appear.

It didn’t.

And unfortunately, pregnancy hormones weren’t exactly helping the situation.

Your eyes immediately started watering.

“No, no, no…”

Within seconds tears began rolling down your cheeks.

You carefully lowered yourself onto the kitchen floor.

And cried.

Because there was no mint Oreo ice cream.

Objectively?

You knew it wasn’t a big deal.

But six months pregnant and exhausted at two in the morning?

It felt devastating.

—

Back in the bedroom, Paige slowly woke up.

At first she wasn’t sure why.

Then she heard it.

A sniffle.

Another sniffle.

And then what sounded suspiciously like crying.

Paige sat upright immediately.

Her heart instantly racing.

The first thing she noticed was the empty spot beside her.

“Y/N?”

No answer.

The crying continued.

Paige was out of bed in seconds.

Half asleep and completely confused, she followed the sound down the hallway.

The moment she entered the kitchen, she froze.

You were sitting on the floor beside the open freezer.

Crying.

Paige’s panic immediately skyrocketed.

“Baby?”

You looked up.

Your eyes were red.

Tears covered your cheeks.

Paige hurried over and sat beside you.

“What happened?”

Her eyes quickly scanned you.

“Are you okay?”

You nodded.

Then frowned.

Then shrugged.

Paige blinked.

“That didn’t answer my question.”

You pointed toward the freezer.

Paige looked.

Then looked back at you.

Then looked at the freezer again.

“The freezer?”

“The ice cream is gone.”

Paige stared.

“The mint Oreo ice cream.”

Your voice cracked.

“We don’t have any left.”

For a moment Paige just sat there.

Then realization hit.

And suddenly the entire situation made sense.

The craving.

The tears.

The pregnancy hormones.

The fact that it was two in the morning.

Paige’s expression softened instantly.

“Oh, baby.”

You wiped your eyes.

“I really wanted some.”

The genuine disappointment in your voice made Paige’s heart ache.

She immediately wrapped an arm around your shoulders.

“It’s okay.”

“It’s not.”

“It is.”

“It’s gone.”

Paige had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing.

Not because she thought your feelings were funny.

Just because the absolute devastation in your voice was so dramatic.

Instead she kissed the top of your head.

Then stood up.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m getting dressed.”

You frowned.

“What?”

Paige was already heading toward the bedroom.

“I’m going to the store.”

Your eyes widened.

“Paige.”

A moment later she reappeared wearing sweatpants and a hoodie.

“I’m buying ice cream.”

“It’s two in the morning.”

“Correct.”

“You have practice tomorrow.”

“Also correct.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

Paige looked genuinely confused.

“Of course I do.”

“No.”

You stood up slowly.

One hand automatically supporting your bump.

“I don’t want to be a bother.”

Paige’s face immediately fell.

She crossed the room and gently cupped your cheeks.

“A bother?”

You looked away.

“It’s a stupid craving.”

Paige shook her head.

“No.”

“It is.”

“No.”

Her answer was immediate.

Firm.

Certain.

Paige waited until you looked back at her.

Then she spoke softly.

“You are never a bother to me.”

Your eyes watered again.

And this time it had nothing to do with the missing ice cream.

Paige brushed away a tear.

“Never.”

Her hand moved instinctively to your stomach.

The place it always seemed to end up these days.

Especially now that your daughter kicked often enough for both of you to feel it.

“You’re six months pregnant.”

A small smile appeared on her face.

“You’re carrying our daughter.”

You felt your chest tighten.

Paige gently rubbed her thumb across your cheek.

“Even if you weren’t pregnant, you still wouldn’t be a bother.”

Her voice was quiet.

Sincere.

“I love you.”

Your eyes immediately filled again.

“And right now you’re growing an entire human.”

That earned the smallest laugh.

Paige smiled.

“So yes.”

She grabbed her keys.

“I am absolutely driving to the store.”

You shook your head.

“You don’t have to.”

“I want to.”

“Paige-“

“I want to.”

She kissed your forehead.

Then your temple.

Then the top of your head.

“You’ve spent six months doing the hard part.”

Her hand briefly rested on your stomach again.

“The least I can do is buy ice cream.”

Your heart melted.

Because that was Paige.

Completely and unapologetically devoted to the people she loved.

You smiled.

Finally.

And Paige immediately pointed.

“There it is.”

“What?”

“The smile.”

You rolled your eyes.

She grinned.

“That’s much better.”

—

An hour later, Paige returned carrying multiple grocery bags.

You immediately narrowed your eyes.

“Paige.”

“What?”

“Why are there four containers?”

Paige set them on the counter.

“Because.”

“Because?”

“What if we run out again?”

You stared at her.

She stared right back.

Completely serious.

“You bought four containers.”

“You cried over one.”

“Paige.”

“I’m planning ahead.”

Despite yourself, you started laughing.

Paige smiled.

Mission accomplished.

As she watched you happily eat your mint Oreo ice cream at three in the morning, she couldn’t help smiling too.

Because if driving across town in the middle of the night made her wife happy, then it was worth every second.

And judging by the content look on your face, she’d make that trip a hundred times over if she had to.