Pulling out my phone, I check my screen for the one hundredth time, noticing that Nina still hasn’t replied to my message. I know she is with the girls, so I don’t worry, but I hope she isn’t ignoring me because she’s pissed I’m not home yet. She doesn’t seem like that kind of girl, but I did say I wouldn’t be late.
“Hey, my man,” I greet Charlie as he approaches me.
“You good?” he asks, not waiting for an answer before he says. “Greg’s a piece of shit.”
I take a swig of my drink, smiling at him over my glass. “I have some things I need clearing up with Dad’s properties. Can you carve out some time?” I turn and rest my arm on the bar.
“Course. Send me the dates, and Kelsey will sort it.”
“Thanks mate. You all good now?” I ask, referring to everything that unfolded before the holiday.
“Yeah,” he answers quickly, dropping his head. “I think it needed to come to a head. I’ve been…”
“Fucking hard work.” I knock his shoulder with my own.
“Prick.” He laughs.
Charlie hasn’t been hard work at all, but his inability to sleep with a woman unless he is in an established relationship? That’s new. He changed his ways after Phoebe died, and I think it has a lot to do with the reasons behind that. Specifically, consent. It made him softer, more aware, and sensitive. It’s a tough pill for him to swallow, being the notorious hard-faced lawyer he is.
“Honestly, though, thank you. I can never repay you for what you did for me, for Phoebe.”
“You don’t need to. Prick got what he deserved.”
He nods his head, smiling. “You think El will ever change?” I follow his line of sight to Elliot, who has a curvy brunette writhing on his lap.
It’s been a while for him, and I know he will go hard tonight.
“Nope.” I laugh, turning back to the bar.
“You have, though. You and Nina seem pretty serious.”
A wide smile breaks out across my face, and I do nothing to hide it. “It happened fast. And fucking hard.” I smirk. “But we’ve been through so much already. I suppose we just always snap back to one another when shit hits the fan. I’m fucking obsessed, Charles.”
He chuckles, clapping me on the back. “So romantic, mate.”
“You know it.” I wink, lifting my hand and ordering another round of drinks.
* * *
Nina
Is therea protocol for how I should be feeling?
A wife would be excited, right? She would be elated that she even needs to do a test. But the girlfriend? How is she supposed to feel as she pees on the little white stick?
They don’t put that on the box.
I feel stupid for feeling the way I do. A small ball of energy in my gut rears its head and tells me everything will be okay, and we have got this.
The wife in me, the woman I want to be in ten years, once I have achieved my dreams, she is excited. But the girlfriend who will be seen as a money-hungry whore to anyone who doesn’t know me, she is shitting it. She wants to run and not do a test at all.
Taking all four tests, I put them into the packet and wash my shaking hands. I go to the landing and take a deep breath before taking the stairs one step at a time.
“We have to wait for Meg. Our takeout is here.” Lucy bounces on her toes, her excitement evident.
“Calm down, you’re stressing me out.”
I wipe my forehead, feeling hot.
