“Yes,” Tabitha said with a heavy sigh. “I already do. But I need a little time to process it all.”
“Meaning?”
“Space.”
“Tabitha—”
“Please, Angus. I need to process this for once instead of packing it all away.”
Her brother sighed. “Yeah, of course. Take as long as you need. I’ll be here.”
“Thanks.”
“Hey, sis?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“Love you too.”
Chapter fifty
Leavenworth: Todd
Betweenpickingatthelast bit of blue painter’s tape and refolding the baby blankets in the nursery for the fifth time, Todd glared at his watch. Zac was cutting it damned close. He texted the guy last night to remind him when Lucy and Jon would be home, and he swore he’d be there for the big reveal. But it was five to ten and no sign of the sprinter van. He paced then stopped, worried he’d wear down the new plush runners he’d picked out for the main hallway.
Todd wasn’t concerned that his friend and her hubby wouldn’t love the reno—he knew Lucy’s tastes better than she did, and Jonathan loved anything that brought joy to that cankle-having-little-bundle-of-pregnant he followed around with googly eyes. No, his nerves had little to do with the rehaul and everything to do with the future.
His best friend was about to become a mom.
The same friend who used to come out and support him when he hosted as Dirty O’Feelya at The Tackle Boxx.
The same friend who regularly sent him links for some pretty raunchy porn clips.
The same friend who got wasted at karaoke and barfed on herself while singing “Killing Me Softly with His Song.” Honestly, he was more embarrassed for her because of the song choice and how badly she was killing the crowd not-so-softly, than because of the vomit.
They’d been ride or die since her college years. Then she fell in love with her adventure guide and moved one hundred and fourteen miles (yes, he was counting) east, leaving Todd to his own devices.
Devices? More like vices.
Fine. So, he’d gone off the rails a time or two, but he’d been in mourning. That’s what you do when your best friend up and moves to BFE on a whim. Wallowing is a key part of the grief process.
It wasn’t like Todd didn’t like Jonathan. He loved the guy. Really, they had become solid friends over the last couple years. It’s just . . .
Ok, when Lucy left he was sad, but the book wasn’t closed. She still came over a few times a year to watch Dirty O’Feelya bring the house down or for a random movie night/brunch the next morning. Even once she and Jonathan had tied the knot, she’d still made the trek west.
But all of that was about to change.
She was about to become a freaking mother.
Not with just one baby, but with two fully formed screaming and puking and shitting twins. Her ally pasties wouldn’t be the things dangling from her nips at the next Pride celebration. Nope, those knockers were now property of a couple of toothless strangers that Todd hadn’t been able to vet.
It was the end of an era and honestly, Todd was nervous about what would come next.
“I know, I know,” the raspy voice of a certain almost-tardy fuck boy volleyed through the house. “But I made it.”
Todd breathed a sigh of relief and marched out to the entryway. “Cutting it a little close are we, Zachariah.” Zac flinched and Todd instantly felt bad for using the guy’s given name. “Sorry. I’m edgy this morning.”
