But I forget all about Carson as soon as I’m at school—even if I am running a little bit late.

“I wasn’t sure you were coming,” Rhett says, as he clears his papers off my spot at the table.

“I was planning on meeting you at your locker.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Yeah? What stopped you?”

“I got sick.”

Before he has a chance to respond, Mr. Jasper starts class by announcing we have the entire period to work on our final portfolio. With as many classes as I’ve missed, I’m farther behind than most everyone else in the class. I was planning on doing my project as a gift for Rhett. Since I found out we’re having a baby, my plan’s changed a little bit. I’m shifting the focus from us as a couple, to me and the baby. I’m hoping to give him one of the pictures as an early Christmas gift.

As soon as we’re set free for the period, I stand up from my stool, hoping to snag one of the tripods before they’re all taken. Rhett reaches for my waist when I walk by him, stopping me. He looks directly in my eyes, and I swear my heart rate is beating double time from one simple look. “You got sick? Are you okay?”

“I’m better now.” His thumbs rub back and forth over my hip bones, and all I want is for him to pull me closer to kiss me. I can’t stop staring at his lips, and he knows it.

“Hey,” he says with a laugh. “Focus.”

“Sorry.”

“Tell me if you need something—anything. I’ll get it for you.”

“I need a tripod.”

He stands up, grabbing one off the higher hooks most of us can’t reach. “Where are you taking it?” Rhett asks, curiously.

“Um, I’m not sure yet. I have to think about it some more.” I already know the only place I can take the kind of picture I’m looking for is someplace private. I cleared it with the nurse already, and she gave me permission to use one of the curtained rooms in her office.

“I guess I’ll see you when you’re done then.”

At first it’s a little weird posing in front of the camera when I’m so used to being behind it. Once I try a couple different poses, and get the hang of the timer on the camera, I get into my usual rhythm.

Even though I haven’t seen it yet, I already know the third shot is going to be my favorite. I’m so excited about it, I want to hurry back to the room to develop it, so I can give it to Rhett by the end of the day. He deserves something special after taking such good care of me.

It’s complete dejavu once I get back to the classroom. Being the first two done, Rhett and I are alone in the darkroom like we were the very first day of school.

“How’d it go?” he asks, when I lean into him for a hug.

“Perfect.”

I’m trying to tie my apron when Rhett sneaks up behind me, taking the strings out of my hands. “I got it,” he whispers, against my neck, as he wraps the strings around my back and to the front of my stomach where he ties them in a bow.

His fingers linger over my growing bump, and like he always does, he rubs his fingers back and forth on my belly. “I think it’s a little bigger today.”

“That’s because she’s always hungry.”

I grab some photo paper off the shelf, and while I could work beside Rhett like we’ve done so many times, I need a little space—mostly to keep my surprise hidden.

He glances out of the corner of his eye, no doubt wondering why I moved to a different table.

“Do I smell or something?”

“Nope, you’re wearing my favorite cologne, but you can’t see what I’m working on yet.”

“Hmm,” is all he says, when he shrugs his shoulders and continues working on his own project. He doesn’t say anything else until he’s cleaning up his space. He’s so much faster at this than I am. “Do you need anything before I go?”

Looking up from my tray, I blow a piece of hair out of my eye. “You’re so good at this.”

“Nah, but I’ll wait for you if you want.”

“No, it’s okay. Go ahead. I’ll be done in a couple minutes.”

He nods his head, but is still hesitant to leave. “Are you going to sit with me at lunch?”

I’m actually dreading lunch. I need to eat, and if I don’t, I’ll probably throw up, but the thought of everyone watching me do it makes me want to run the other way. Everyone’s going to be wondering how much the pregnant girl’s going to eat.

“You’re nervous about it, aren’t you?” Rhett asks, reading me like a book.

“A little.”

“Meet me at the table. I’ll bring your food out with mine.”

I dig into my pocket for some money, but he stops me. “I’ve got it, Sunny.”

“Thank you.” He has no idea how much I missed hearing him call me that when we weren’t talking. I haven’t felt much like sunshine these past few weeks, but when I’m with him, it’s all a little easier. The idea of becoming a mother in a couple months doesn’t consume me the way it did when I thought I lost him. I would do it by myself if I had to, but with Rhett by my side, the entire experience isn’t as scary. He makes me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world—even when I know I’m gaining weight by the day, and my body’s doing things I never knew were possible.

Rhett’s waiting for me at the lunch table when I get there, just as he promised. I slide behind a couple chairs, making my way down the row. I suck in my stomach, but Mandi takes it as the perfect opportunity to sling an insult at me. “Look out, the heifer’s coming through.”

Her stuck up groupies all giggle, but Rhett’s already flexing his fists, waiting to pounce. If she says one more thing, I know he’s going to lose his mind.

He pulls out my chair for me, and I sit down next to him. “Relax,” he whispers, as he sets my sandwich, banana, and crackers in front of me. “I got you apple juice and milk, too.”

“Aww, they’re playing house already. How cute.”

Without thinking, I know he didn’t because he would never hit a girl, he picks up one of his mandarin oranges and chucks it at Mandi’s head. Luckily, it only grazes her shoulder, but she grabs it off the table, and chucks it back at him.

He catches it before it has a chance to hit either of us, but she holds her shoulder in pain, like she was just hit with a brick, and not a tiny piece of fruit. The cafeteria proctor walks over to talk to us, shaking her head at the childish behavior she witnessed. “Is everyone okay?” she asks.

Mandi puts on one of her more impressive displays, trying to earn sympathy from those around her. “Rhett should get detention. Did you see what he did?”

She nods her head. “I did. I could also give you a detention for bullying and throwing produce. It’s your call though.”

“I’m fine,” she mumbles. “It doesn’t hurt that much.”

“I don’t want to see or hear another negative thing from this table or you’ll all go to detention. Understood?”

“Yes,” we all reply like robots.

Rhett rests his hand on my thigh while we finish eating. He makes sure I’m full before he lets me leave the table. If he’s this protective with me, I can only imagine what it will be like once our baby is born.

“I have to get to the auditorium, but I’ll walk you to your next class.” The entire end of the day is reserved for the winter talent show. Rhett’s performing with a couple of his friends. It should be a complete disaster.

“Break a leg.”

He smiles, a mischievous gleam in his eye. I can only imagine what they have planned. Rumor has it, they’re doing a dance routine to a medley of One Direction and Taylor Swift songs. If that alone isn’t enough to pique curiosity, I don’t know what is.

Funny this is, some of the participants actually take their performances seriously—because they have actual talent. But it’s the over-the-top, outrageous acts the student body goes wild for—and Rhett knows it.

I meet up with Becca after Rhett goes backstage to get ready. “Lets sit up front. I can’t see back here,” she says, as she yanks on my arm until we end up in the sixth row on the right side of the stage.