“I thought you all were at the park?”
“Now we’re back. Who’s Tom?” Knox asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
“My sugar daddy,” Corie teases.
“Corie girl,” Knox warns, and she doubles over laughing.
“He’s a vendor we use. He’s doing me a favor for Cam’s birthday party,” she explains.
“Is that what this is?” Baker asks.
“It’s a planning party.” Bellamy smiles at him. “Your place, next Saturday at two in the afternoon. In case there’s anyone you want to invite,” she tells him.
“Everyone I want there is in this room,” he tells her. He looks down at Camden and smiles. “Thanks, ladies, truly. I couldn’t do this without you.”
“We’re your village,” Bellamy tells him. “And you’re a part of ours.” Her eyes find Reid’s, and something passes between them.
Damn, the way these big, hulking football players love my friends warms my soul. One day, I hope to be lucky enough to find a lasting love like theirs.
“What do you need from me?” Baker asks us.
“Nothing,” Corie assures him. “We’re taking care of all of it. We’ll be at your place early Saturday to set up. So, maybe plan on taking the birthday boy out of the house for an hour or so before,” she suggests.
“Sounds like another trip to the park is in our future, right, Coral?” Reid asks his three-month-old daughter.
“Now, leave us.” Rowan waves her hand in the air. “We have to finish planning.”
“I’m starving,” Landry whines.
“Perfect, you can handle getting food for us, and by the time whatever you decide arrives, we’ll be done here.” Corie gives her brother a cheesy grin.
“I’m on it.” Landry moves to stand behind the couch and leans over to kiss Rowan. Reid and Knox, unwilling to be left out, do the same to their wives, and they leave us to our own party planning.
“How long has it been since Natasha’s seen Cam?” Amanda asks.
“This was her week, and she missed her last week, so a month,” Corie says, ticking the weeks off by lifting a finger for each week.
“Damn,” Amanda mutters. “I could never not see my kid for that long.”
“I have nothing nice to say,” Bellamy says, her tone not hiding her anger.
“I understand that maybe motherhood isn’t for everyone,” Rowan says, “but why keep coming in and out of his life. Just sign away your rights. Let Baker and Camden adjust to her being out of the picture, instead of this constant yo-yo she does to them. She calls the day she’s supposed to get him, not giving Baker any kind of notice. Of course, he doesn’t mind, but if she doesn’t want him, she needs just to stop altogether.” Rowan sighs, as if saying the words hurt her soul.
“He’s the sweetest little boy,” I say, my heart hurting for Camden, and Baker, too. I agree with Rowan. They need a resolution. Natasha needs to step up or step away. This limbo they’re living in isn’t healthy.
“Okay, we have to change the subject, or my anger is going to keep rising,” Corie says. “I hate the way she’s treating both of them.” She scowls, resting her hand over her still-flat belly. I’m certain my best friend is thinking about her unborn baby and the thought of never seeing them.
I agree that not all women are meant for motherhood, but what Natasha is doing isn’t fair to Baker and Camden. I wish more than anything that she would pull her head out of her ass and be the mother that Camden needs. But if she can’t or doesn’t want to, that’s okay, too, but let them go so they can move on with their life and get off this back-and-forth juggle train they seem to be on.
“Jerseys,” I say, trying to get the conversation back on track.
“I’ve got that handled. I think I have everyone’s sizes, and I’ll have Tom send a sample.” Corie stands and rushes down the hall to grab her laptop.
“Food?” Rowan asks.
“I say we keep it simple. We’ll order some pizza and breadsticks; Cam loves it, and this is his day, after all.” I suggest.
“We all love it,” Amanda says, laughing.
