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Judd watched as Grace sank back against the couch, a small smile on her face as she pulled her plate toward her and lifted the slice of pizza toward her face.
He shook his head as she took a bite, a small moan leaving her mouth as she chewed the first bite.
“This has gotten a little out of hand.” His wife jumped, but only slightly, turning to offer him a glare as he rounded the corner. “It’s two in the morning, Gracie, and you’re eating pizza, again.”
“Cravings, Judd, cravings. We talked about this.” Yeah, they had talked about it all right.
They had talked about when she wanted cinnamon rolls for lunch a few days ago.
And again when she had decided that whatever tomato sauce he was using wasn’t good enough and that he had to remake the dish because the baby wanted something spicy.
And then she had gone a little too far two nights ago when she had him and Owen running all over town for just the right ingredients for a smoothie she had had once at summer camp and now all of a sudden wanted.
Luckily Owen was the master of smoothies, and had found the items they needed pretty quickly.
But it hadn’t been quick enough because by the time they had gotten to the house, she wasn’t craving a damn smoothie anymore.
Instead she wanted tacos.
Owen had excused himself and headed for the closest Mexican restaurant just so that he didn’t have to witness the carnage.
He was a very smart man for that move.
“I know Gracie, but…” She shot him a look and he swallowed.
He really shouldn’t say anything and he knew it.
“Baby girl wanted pizza Judd, so she’s getting pizza.” He would never deny his girls anything, but carry out pizza at two in the morning was a bit much.
“You know, I could have made you a pizza.” It would most definitely have been healthier than whatever she was eating now.
“I wanted Joe’s.” Of course she did.
“I didn’t think Joe’s was even open.” In fact, he was fairly certain that he closed at midnight on Fridays.
“He isn’t.” Oh lord, what had his wife gone and done now. “But he was willing to make me a pizza with extra sausage and pineapple.”
“Gracie…” She had bribed him hadn’t she?
That was the only thing that made sense.
“He said he was more than happy to help out his favorite dispatcher.” Oh sure, that was exactly it. “That and I may have tipped him extremely well.”
“I would hope so.” He couldn’t blame her though to be honest, Joe did have the best pizza in town. “Just… try not to do this again.”
“Judd, honey, we still have at least another three months before little miss here joins the world.” He wanted those three months to take their sweet time and rush all the same. “There’s going to be plenty more room for cravings.”
“At two in the morning?” Because he really just wanted to go to bed. “Because now you’re gonna be up all night with heartburn and I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“I am carrying your baby Judson Ryder, you will listen to me moan about this damn heartburn for however long it takes.” He held his hands up in surrender because she was right.
He had no right to complain, and he wasn’t, because he was incredibly grateful.
This baby, their little girl, she was a miracle.
And if she wanted pizza at two in the morning, then so be it.