behind the camera - fake dating sports romance (wlw)

Bonus Chapter

HARPER

It's snowing softly outside, but the fire crackles behind us, warming the whole living room with a glow that makes everything feel just a little more magical. I'm leaning back against Millie's chest, my legs stretched over hers, head nestled on her shoulder while her arms wrap instinctively around my very pregnant stomach like she's already holding our baby. Like this is already home. Her fingers trace lazy, absentminded circles over the cotton of my dress—slow and soothing—and I don't even think she realizes she's doing it.

Everyone else is scattered across the room. Summer and Willow are on the floor with their twins, trying to keep them away from their phones. Aurora sits cross-legged by the coffee table with an almost three-year-old Ciro tucked into her lap, his cheeks flushed pink from too much sugar. He's holding Lia's hand and Camille wraps them both in her arms. Lia's slowly falling asleep, curled into Camille's chest as if she were still a baby and Aurora rests her head against Camille's side with a quiet kind of softness. It's beautiful to watch.

Luna and Mia are here too, sitting close on the loveseat, eyes full of that kind of quiet joy that only comes from watching the family you built grow around you. Mia's head rests on her wife's shoulder, and Luna has one arm wrapped around her waist, drawing soft, sleepy circles on her hip. Everything about it makes my heart feel full.

The room is chaos in the best way—wrapping paper everywhere, bows stuck to the walls, a growing pile of baby things stacked near the armchair. We definitely don't have space for all of it in the nursery, but no one's worried. Millie leans forward just slightly, careful not to jostle me, and grabs the little glass jar from the coffee table before placing it gently on my lap.

"Okay," I laugh, shifting up just enough to sit straighter without pulling away from her arms. "I'm a little scared to open this. Just saying."

"Oh, you should be," Willow grins, pressing a kiss to Summer's cheek.

Summer groans softly, already blushing. "Hey! I take naming seriously."

"Tell them what you picked for Ciro," Willow teases.

Summer hides her face in her wife's shoulder. "What? I said Elizabeth. It was our grandma's name."

"Why?" Willow prods, grinning.

"... I thought Elizabeth Bennett sounded like a strong cool name," Summer mumbles.

There's a beat—and then the whole room cracks into laughter. Millie laughs too, her body shaking gently against my back. "My name is literally Elizabeth Bennett," she says, grinning.

"It's not the same," Summer says quickly. "You're Amelia Elizabeth."

I laugh, shaking my head and jiggling the jar in front of me. "Okay, new rule. We're all allowed to veto."

Millie presses a kiss to my cheek, soft and sudden and enough to send my heart straight to my throat. "You go first, baby," she murmurs, voice warm against my skin.

I reach into the jar and pull out the first folded piece of paper, ignoring Millie's dramatic "drumroll please."

"'Jet.'" I blink. "Just... Jet?"

"It sounds like he's fast!" Nico claims with a playful grin, leaning against his mother. "It's so cool."

Millie laughs so hard her shoulders shake. "Jet Bennett sounds like he'd skateboard at four and break his arm by five."

"Next," I say, already reaching again.

"'Elio,'" I read aloud, and something about it makes the room go a little quiet. Millie hums behind me, thoughtful.