For the first time in the many months that I'd known Nicholas, I was visiting his place. It was funny because this was the father of my baby and we were now pursuing a romantic relationship, and yet there were so many aspects of him I didn't know about. There were so many aspects of him, I hadn't seen. It felt like things were moving so fast. Although, I guess our relationship dynamic had a part to play. We went from strangers to co-parents and now romantic partners.

We walked up to the front porch of his duplex. There was a small keypad inbuilt into the wall, beside the front door. As Nicholas typed in the pin, I looked away - it was a force of habit. Whenever someone typed in any form of security access code around me, I felt the need to turn away out of respect for their privacy. I noticed a tiny camera tucked in a crevice in the wall.

"You have a camera on your front porch?" I asked as we walked into his house.

"Yeah, for security purposes" he took off his coat and hung it on a coat rack nearby.

I raised a brow as I mirrored his actions. "Wow, in this neighbourhood?" I knew the saying don't judge a book by its cover but I'd gotten a glimpse at the fancy houses lined up on his street as we pulled up, I didn't think there was anything to be worried about.

He took my coat from my hands and hung it on the coat rack. "You can never be too careful"

"True" I nodded

We advanced further into the house. Pale yellow walls and off-white floorings welcomed me. One side of the house was the living room with dark truffle brown couches, a large flat-screen TV and console, and a glass centre table. On the other side was an open kitchen set-up, an island counter in the centre with three high stools lined up beside it, an array of overhead cupboards and counters lined by the wall, and a large refrigerator in the corner. It felt like a bright, warm bachelor pad.

"I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this is a nice set-up," I said as I moved towards the living room.

"Thank you?" he sounded unsure as he stuffed his hands into his pocket. "You know, I actually designed this house"

"Really? You did a great job" I gave the space a once over. "I mean I haven't seen the rest of the place but it's already looking up. You could totally do this for other people"

"Thank you," One side of his lips inched up as he looked away and made a line towards his kitchen. Nicholas was shy. Well, that was a first. He pulled open his refrigerator and looked back at me. "Which would you prefer? Water, fruit drink or ice cream?"

"I was thinking you show me around first" I pulled at the hem of my cashmere sweater and pinched up my leggings.

"Uh, okay" he shut the refrigerator and walked over to me. "Right this way" he gestured towards the doorway from where we just came in.

Past two flights of stairs were his bedroom - spacious with its own bathroom and walk-in closet, his home office, an indoor swimming room, a makeshift gym, an extra guest bedroom and lastly, the baby's room.

"This used to be another guestroom," Nicholas remarked as we ventured into the room.

My heart instantly warmed at the sight of the sunlit room. It had light green walls and a grey fuzzy carpet covered the floors. A white wood oak baby bed stood by the centre of one wall, with a changing station right next to it. A rocking chair and a little cute dresser were placed by a large window.

"Wow," I drew open the dresser and peered into it. It had baby onesies, baby blankets, and swaddling muslins folded up neatly within. "Awn" I held up a blue onesie that said 'Mummy's little baby' and turned around to show Nicholas by the doorway.

He smiled and raised both brows with acknowledgement. I folded the onesie and returned it into the drawer then resumed my tour. A stroller and car seat was placed in a corner of the room. The room even had a little play area for when the baby was months older.

"This is so adorable," I crossed the room and gave Nicholas a hug. "And thoughtful, thank you," It was nice to see a space set out for the baby, unlike at my place where we'd have to share a room.

He didn't say anything, instead, he ran his hand along my back and placed a swift kiss on my forehead. He may not be jumping all over the place ecstatic but I knew he loved the baby and was just as excited for the baby's coming.

We stepped out of the baby's room and he shut the door behind us. "Well, that's everything. The only thing you haven't seen is the guest bathroom downstairs. It's right down the hall"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Yeah, I think I'm good on the house tour"

"Okay. Are you hungry?" he took my hand and we headed back down to the living room.

I placed a hand over my belly and looked up, through my lashes. "I guess . . . can we have pizza?"

He nodded. "Sure. What kind?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "As long as there's no mushroom on it, I'm good"

Whilst he focused on ordering the pizza, I moved over to his three-seater couch and lowered myself into it. I peered at the console area and noticed a gamepad. "You're a gamer?"

He glanced up from his phone and followed my line of sight. "I'd hardly call myself that, it's been a while since I touched that pad"

"Why?" I leaned back into the backrest of the couch.

He placed his phone into his pocket and came to sit beside me. "Uh, work, for one. I've not really had the time. Plus, I usually game with a close friend of mine but he's been away for months now"

"I could play with you," I said, patting the back of his shoulder

His eyes grew a tad bit wide. "Really?"

"No, I was just joking" I shook my head and let out a small laugh.

He shook his head at me, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips.

I pushed myself to the furthest part of the couch so my back rested against the armrest and I could put up my feet. I didn't put that much space between just to get comfortable but because I wanted to ask Nicholas a pressing question.

I cleared my throat as I picked at my fingers, on my thigh. "Nick? What's your stance on God?"

"Yeah, I don't believe in that stuff" he waved a hand in front of his face.

My heart plummeted into my stomach and as much as I hoped to keep a neutral expression, my eyes went wide. We had just started a relationship of some sort, this response could be a tie-breaker for us. I don't know whether to be glad that I asked now and not years down the line. I was hoping this wouldn't be the case. Or at least, he'd let it out as gently as I'd asked.

He gave me a sideways glance and lowered his head, his face blank of expression. Then all of a sudden, he burst out laughing. "Your expression is priceless," he turned to me, with a big smile.

"Oh my God, don't joke like that" I placed a hand over my heart as I released a sigh of relief.

"You did the same thing" he grinned, pointing towards the gamepad.

"That was different," I sent a light kick to his thigh

He patted my leg and reigned in his wide smile. "I know, I'm sorry"

"Okay, be serious," I said, locking my fingers over my belly.

He leaned against the ceiling and exhaled. "Uh, well, I believe there is a God . . . I don't really have much of a relationship with him, as an adult"

I nodded. "Okay,"

"You know, my mother's catholic and I lived with her family, growing up so I'd say I was more religious" he added, then looked at me. "Why? You can't be with an atheist?"

"I can't actually" I shrugged my shoulders. "I may not be a perfect Christian but I believe in God, and that would be conflicting for a relationship and even for a child"

He nodded.

I fiddled with my fingers and pushed through with another question. "Would you be open to going to church?"

He paused for a while. "I don't know . . . maybe"

"Are you just saying that to make me happy? Or do you honestly want to try it?" I said as tugged on the strands of hair in my puff.

"I'm not going to knock off something without experiencing it for myself" he looked at me.

"Okay," I nodded as I dusted off imaginary dirt from my thigh. "Let's move unto a lighter conversation"

"Like what?" he ran a finger over the exposed skin, between the hem of my leggings and my feet.

"Well," I thought back to the nursery upstairs. "Baby names. We've not settled on a name yet and he'll be here soon"

"I was actually thinking about some nam—" he began but got cut off by the bell. "Should be the pizza" he stood to his feet and headed for the door.

A minute later, he returned with a large pizza box. I offered to help out with plates but he refused. It took another minute to set down the pizza on the centre table, and grab two plates. Then a bottle of soda and a glass of apple juice.

"Thank you," I received a plate of pizza from him and watched as he settled down with his own plate. "You were saying?"

"Oh, yeah. I have some Italian and English names at the back of my head" he said and took a bite of his pizza.

"Okay," I rolled my wrist, urging him to go on.

"How about Roberto and Noah?" he suggested.

"Roberto?" My face contorted at the idea of the name. "I'm not sure I like Roberto, it sounds like an old man's name. But I do like Noah"

He chuckled and nodded. "Okay, Roberto is out. I have a few others like Raffaele, Dante, Nataniele, Harry and Jacob"

"I like this list better. They all sound nice, but he's going to have one Italian, one English and one Nigerian name each" I said.

"Okay. Let's hear the Nigerian names" he said and took another bite.

I licked the pizza crust off my lips and swallowed. "Uh, I was thinking Tobe, short for Tobechukwu"

"What does that mean?"

"Praise God," I held my plate in one hand, leaned over and picked up my glass of apple juice. "Just bear in mind that most Igbo Nigerian names mention God in one way or the other"

He nodded. "I know"

I paused for a second, my lips behind the glass then I put it down on the floor. "You know, what? How do you know?"

"Google, basically. I know you're from an Igbo tribe" he shrugged his shoulder like it was nothing.

My mouth dropped into a half smile, half shock state. "Okay, what else do you know?"

He chuckled.

The bell rang yet again and Nick rose to see who it was. He returned, full-on grinning with another man in tow. A dark brown-haired man, the same height as Nicholas, dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt, grey jeans and clean white sneakers.

Nicholas made the introductions. "This is my girlfriend, Amanda. Amanda, my best mate James. He's the one I was telling you about"

"Oh hi, nice to meet you" I held out my hand. I would normally rise for a proper greeting but it was too much of a hassle for me, right now.

"The pleasure is all mine" he took my hand and placed a light kiss on it.

I shot him a tightlipped smile as I retrieved my hand.

Nick excused himself to grab him a plate of pizza and a bottle of beer.

James took a seat on one of the one-seaters. He narrowed his eyes at me, scanning my face for a trace of recognition. "I don't believe I've met you before, have I?"

I shook my head. "I don't think so,"

Nick returned and they began a narration of how they met – high school, the naughty shenanigans they'd been up to at that time. Then they moved unto casual, random topics and I watched silently as they animatedly chattered.

After a while, Nick got a call and excused himself. I focused on my pizza and juice while scrolling through my phone. I looked up for a brief moment and James was watching me. He kept trying to place my face but I was sure I'd never met him for one day in my life.

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