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Chapter 10 - Christmas Gifts

My thumb gently stroked Leah's cheek as she slept. I had scooted into her arms a few minutes ago. I kissed her forehead a few times, causing her to stir.

"Good morning." I whispered.

"Hi." She wrapped her arms around my waist and pulled me closer. "Where'd the little one go?"

"She wanted something to eat, so we made breakfast for everyone."

"Mm."

"You still want to go for a walk this morning? There's a lot of snow out."

"Yes." She started placing kisses on my neck. "After cuddles."

I chuckled. "Okay, baby."

She moved her head back and opened an eye. "That's new." She moved back to the position she was in. "I like it."

"Yeah?"

She nodded. "I like being your baby."

"You're corny, you know?"

"You love it."

"I do." I touched her skin with my hand. "Take your sweatshirt off." She kept her eyes closed as she sat up and pulled her London hoodie over her head. "I wish we could stay in this bubble forever."

"I do too." I'd seen Leah's body a hundred times, but I'd somehow never seen the small scar that ran along her the top of her hip. "What?"

"Where'd this come from?" I asked, my thumb running across it.

"At the World Cup, in France," she swallowed, "Jacob and I were goofing around in a courtyard. I jumped on his back and we both fell onto the ground. A sharp rock cut my skin and I needed three stitches."

"You two are crazy." Her hands were now in my shirt. "Are you excited for the World Cup in a couple months?"

"Yes. We're gonna win. I'm sure of it." She pushed my shirt up.

"No shirt?"

"Off." Once it was off, I turned with my back towards her and let her hold me. She kissed the back of my neck and across my shoulder. "I love these moments the most."

"I do too."

"I especially love it when you don't have a bra on."

"You're such a boob girl."

"I'm a you girl."

"That was good." We both laughed.

"You feel thinner. Are you feeling okay? Eating enough?"

"I've been a little stressed, but I'm okay. I promise, Le." I brought her hand to my lips. "Le?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm ready."

"For what?"

"To settle down. I don't mean this instant, but whenever the rest of our lives come, I'm ready for it."

"To marry and start a family?"

"Yeah."

"Okay." She kissed the back of my neck again.

"I know you're not."

"I didn't say that."

"You just have a lot of football left."

"I do. The World Cup and Olympics are important to me. And then the girls are in the group rounds for the Champions League. I do have a lot of football left. I'm not ready for all of that." I tried to get up, but she wouldn't let me. "Don't be upset."