Mae laughed. “Gia is already there. I’m in the group chat and taking my co-maid of honor duties very seriously. I can’t leave on a dime. What are Mom and Dad going to do? What is my ballet class going to do?”
She’d started teaching dance again. The second month she was back in Louisiana, Miss Evangeline had a catastrophic ankle accident on the sidewalk outside of the dance studio. She’d been rehabbing it since, but the news went out that a new teacher was needed… and Mae stepped up. She taught kiddos from two all the way to eighteen, and it was incredible. Hawk didn’t need to know that the Autumn Showcase had happened the week before. Let him sweat for thinking she didn’t have a life anymore.
“I already stopped by the house. They told me to take you, even if I had to throw you over my shoulder to do it. And I know the recital was last week.”
“Those traitors! I’ve been a better kid to them this past year than you have been your whole life.”
“And yet… I’m still the favorite.”
“You absolutely are not.” She stuck her tongue out at him.
“We don’t have time to fight about this. Let’s go.”
Mae folded her arms across her chest. “I’m not packed.”
“Good thing the pilot of our plane is sitting out in my truck, probably staring all gooey eyed at that pregnancy tacking app he has. Do you know how many times I had to hear about the progression of garden vegetables that kid has been the size of on the flight over here. You’re sitting up in the cockpit with him on the way back. I can’t handle it.”
Nash was there. Mae closed her fist and punched Hawk in the arm. “Do not make fun of Nash for supporting his wife. They’re so excited for that baby, you should be too,Uncle Hawk.”
“Yeah, well, I’d be more excited ifAuntie Maewould get her ass in gear so we could get back to Silver Springs in a timely manner. I know Lacy is still a few weeks out from her due date, but he’ll kill us both if he misses anything.”
“Shit. Fine. Let me run upstairs. I need twenty minutes.”
“Don’t hate me—” Hawk said as they walked up to their apartment door.
“I already do.”
“Funny. Look, you have fifteen minutes to change and then we have to go down to Gage and Sloane’s apartment.”
“What? Why? I’m tired and I’ve missed the soaking tub in my bathroom more than anything else!”
“I’ll be sure to tell our friends they rank below a cast iron monstrosity.”
“The girls would back me on that ranking.”
“Even so… they’re throwing a little impromptu party to celebrate Lily and Gunner…” The sheepish way he said it set Mae’s nerves on edge.
“An impromptu party to celebrate them the night I just happened to come back into town?”
“It was Sloane and Lily’s idea. I don’t know what to tell you. I just follow orders. But it might be nice to say hi to the girls. I mean, I’m sure you were planning on seeing them all anyway.”
“Yeah. I was.” She sighed, grabbing her bag from Hawk’s hand. “It’s fine. I’ll go. Now please, unlock this door and let me in so I can pee. I’ve been holding it since we left Louisiana!”
Twenty-Nine
“You’re here!” Lily jumped up from her chair and ran straight at Mae. “Oh my goodness, I’ve missed you!”
“Why didn’t you just tell me you want me to come this week? You know I would have.” Mae asked.
“No, you wouldn’t. You would have come up with some excuse to delay so that you were only here for the ceremony and the baby shower. That won’t do. I can’t celebrate all this…” Her hand waved around at their friends, laughing and busy moving around the room. “Without you. You’re the original glue, Mae. We aren’t the same without you.”
“Don’t make me cry. I just got back.”
“Right, right! Come on, no tears. Let’s get you over to everyone. Gia’s out helping grill, but I’m sure she’ll be back in a sec.”
Lily looped her arm through Mae’s and she already knew her friend wouldn’t be letting go anytime soon.
“Oh, Lacy! Look at you!” Mae’s eyes bounced from her friend's slightly rounded face down to her hugely rounded belly. Lacy smiled from the recliner and gave a little wave.
