The tiny apartment smelled faintly of lavender from the candle you’d lit earlier, its soft glow filling the room as you folded freshly washed baby clothes. The pile on the coffee table grew steadily, a mix of pastel onesies and tiny socks. Your six-month baby bump made the process a little slower, but you found it comforting to focus on something that prepared for your baby’s arrival.

A knock at the door broke your rhythm, followed by the familiar sound of Jason’s voice through the wood. “It’s me. Open up before your neighbor starts staring again.”

You chuckled, shaking your head as you stood to let him in. Jason leaned against the doorframe, a duffel bag slung over one shoulder and his signature leather jacket unzipped to reveal a casual hoodie underneath. His dark hair was tousled, and his grin was as easy as ever, though his eyes softened when they fell on you.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he greeted, stepping inside without hesitation. He set the duffel down and immediately noticed the folded clothes on the table. “Doing more baby prep?”