“I hardly think the baby’s aware that it’s enjoying a time of not having expectations put on it,” Mom murmurs.
“Butweknow, and that matters.”
“I’m also getting worried we won’t find a permanent place for Ziggy and the baby before Baby’s born,” Mom says. “Honey, I know your landlord is being flexible now, but we really need to get you settled. Maybe we should consider some apartments if you won’t move in with us. Something temporary until the house of your dreams comes on the market.”
This?
This is called progress.
And it’s time for me to make some of my own. “Goldie offered to show me the building she used to live in,” I say. “Fletcher likes it too.”
As expected, Dad’s focus narrows in on me like a lightning bolt. “Fletcher? Huxley? My player? You were talking to him?”
“Dad, he’s engaged to Goldie,” Miranda says. “You want Ziggy to have friends but not acknowledge the existence of their significant others?”
“He was fired from his last team for being inappropriate with the coach’s daughter.”
“He was fired from his last team because the coach’s daughter had a crush on him and he didn’t know it,” Miranda retorts. “He didn’t do anything wrong, and there’s ample evidence to support the fact that he was completely blindsided. Andhe’s engaged to Goldie. Ziggy’s high school friend. He’s not gonna be trying to hit this ass on the side.”
“Miranda,” Mom murmurs. “Language.”
“Well, he’s not,” she says, quieter, and I realize the people at the next table are watching us.
Awesome.
Just love being that single pregnant failure who had to run home to Mom and Dad, got fired for assaulting Eli Harrison with body fluids, and now wants to get involved in a threesome with one of Dad’s players.
Not that they know it would be a threesome, but I’m sure they’re enjoying thinking their version of the worst of me.
I sip my ginger soda. “Did I ever tell you about the time on the ship that a guy’s best friend—who was a woman—was traveling with him and his girlfriend and they almost broke up because the girlfriend was jealous of the platonic friend, who was helping plan the most epic proposal I’ve ever seen? It involved a hot air balloon and a flash mob that had half of a symphony orchestra participating.”
“Aww, how sweet,” Miranda says. “Did they get married?”
“The wedding happened at an Italian castle. I saw it on their socials about a year later.”
She sighs dreamily. “I want to get married at an Italian castle. But then I’d have to date someone. Andew. Half the guys I’ve met in the last year are either unhinged in the bad way somehow or they want to move way too fast to theI love youstuff.”
I’m moving fast.
I’m probably moving too fast.
But it’s so easy to be with Holt right now. Natural. Like he’s the real reason I came home.
So that I could meet him.
His lonely, grieving soul complements my lonely, grieving soul.
And we’re both on a mission to find the joy in life again.
To find the trust in life again. To be willing to take risks again.
On new friends. New family.
Believing inhopeagain.
“You have all the time in the world, sweetheart,” Dad says to her. “Unlike Ziggy. Who needs to find a place to settle, and soon.”
It’s so hard not to squirm, especially knowing the people around us are listening in. “I’m getting there.”
