Chapter 26

Shepherd

"What is this for?" I ask, holding up a basket of toilet paper rolls.

Anya swats at me playfully. "It's for guessing how big Felicity's belly is."

It's been two months since Felicity and I officially became a couple. She's now seven months pregnant, and her belly is noticeably growing every day. Felicity has been incredibly resilient throughout the pregnancy, and I couldn't be prouder of her. We've recently started Lamaze classes, and while she manages most things well, I've taken over tasks like tying her shoes—though I joke with her not to get too used to it.

Now, we're gathered at Atta Boy Brewery in the party room, setting up for Felicity's baby shower scheduled to begin in half an hour.

"And what's this for? Are we all going to hang laundry?" I joke, dipping my hand into a basket of clothespins.

"It's for a game. Why don't you go check on the restaurant?" Anya suggests, gently nudging me toward the door.

"Fine, fine. I know when I'm not needed," I jest, laughing as I exit the room.

As I stroll through the restaurant, the comforting hum of conversations and clinking glasses fills the air. I exchange nods with the waitstaff buzzing around, delivering plates of steaming food to eager patrons. The warm, inviting aroma of freshly cooked meals adds to the lively atmosphere.

Approaching the host stand, I catch sight of Sarah, our reliable hostess, who greets me with a quick smile before returning her attention to the computer screen. She flips through the reservation list, her fingers tapping away at the keyboard with practiced efficiency.

"Hey, Sarah. How's it looking tonight?" I ask, leaning casually against the counter.

She glances up, her expression a mix of concentration and assurance. "We're fully booked for the evening. All tables are set, and the kitchen's on top of it."

"Great to hear," I reply with a nod of approval. "And the private room for the baby shower?"

"Set up and ready to go," Sarah confirms, gesturing toward the direction of the party room. "Anya's been overseeing everything, so I'm sure it's all set."

"Perfect. Thanks, Sarah. Keep up the good work," I say, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder before continuing my rounds through the restaurant.

"Have you seen Felicity yet?" I ask Trudi, the bartender, as I make my way toward the kitchen.

She shrugs casually. "Nope. Maybe she's in the party room."

"Maybe," I reply absentmindedly, pulling out my phone to check for any missed calls or messages from her.

Before I can type out a text, Felicity walks into Atta Boy's, and for a moment, everything else fades away as I'm struck by her radiant beauty.

"Wow," I breathe out, instinctively moving toward her.

"Shep, hey. Sorry, I'm late," she says with a hint of apology.

I gently place my hands on her hips, savoring the warmth of her presence. "You're right on time. You look absolutely amazing."

She exhales with a hint of exasperation. "I feel like a cow."

I chuckle softly. "Well, you don't look like a cow. You're beautiful."

Felicity leans in to peck a brief kiss on my lips. "You're too sweet. Seriously, how did I get so lucky?"

"I'm the lucky one," I reply, returning her kiss and letting our lips linger together.

"Hey, Shepherd," Helena interrupts, approaching us from behind.

"Miss Lark, hello," I greet her, reaching to take the bags she's carrying. "What do you have here?"

"Baby shower things. Felicity thought it would be nice to give all the girls who helped organize everything some gifts," Helena explains.

"That's incredibly thoughtful," I remark to Felicity. "But today is about you. Remember that."

Felicity smiles gratefully. "Thank you."

"Yeah, because once that baby comes, everyone's going to forget all about you," Helena teases as she heads toward the back room for the party.

I shrug playfully. "I won't forget about you."

Felicity beams at me. "I won't let you."

I lean in to give her one more kiss, right there in the entryway of the restaurant, not caring who might be watching.

Now that Felicity is carrying my child and we've already decided to move in together, I can't help but feel the urge to make another big move—like asking her to marry me. But I'm uncertain of how she'd react.

What would Felicity do if I proposed?

Are we moving too quickly?

I'm afraid that this bubble of happiness we've built might burst once the baby arrives. It feels like everything is going so well, I'm waiting for something to go wrong.

I push the negative thoughts away and think about how I can show Felicity I'm serious about having a future with her.

For now, I'm going to focus on the baby shower. Baby steps. I don't want to scare Felicity off. I don't want her to ever question how I feel about her.

Do I love her?

I'm honestly not even a hundred percent sure at this point. Does she love me?

Is it crazy that I'm too afraid to ask her because I think she'd feel the same way I do. Like maybe things are moving a bit too quickly and we're rushing things.

But I know I don't want anyone else. I know I want her.

It's hard to go from a one-night stand to married in the course of days. I feel like that's what we've done. We're moving quickly, and even though the past months we've grown to know each other better, I still feel like there's something we're missing.

I gaze at Felicity from across the restaurant and she smiles at me, and her whole beautiful face lights up, and the way the sun pours in through the windows, making her brown eyes shine bright has me nearly out of breath. Like I just ran a mile.

My heart squeezes in my chest.

Fuck. How did I get so lucky?

I love her.

There's no questioning it now. I love this woman, and I'd do anything for her.

I think briefly what it would be like to not have Felicity with me every day, and I can't bear the thought of it.

That's how I know.

I'm in love.

I head into the back room, ready to play silly baby games, and watch Felicity smile with her friends as they get ready to welcome my new son into the world.

Damn. I'm going to have a son.

My heart beats a bit faster in my chest, and I smile. I'm going to be the best father I can be.

And the best husband.

Because I'm going to ask her to marry me.