“Go get that baby, sleep be damned! I’m still pissed that Emily got to meet her first.” Lane sends a middle finger across the room to Em.
I stand, thankful for the chance to get some space before my emotions run too high. Upstairs, Willow is nibbling on her fist, not sleeping anyway.Why can’t you wake up silently at night, child?I bring her downstairs to the sound of clapping from Lane.
“Will, meet Lane. This is the auntie you will call for a midnight ride home after sneaking out.” I hand her to Lane, who reaches out with eager, flapping hands.
“Hello, Willow!” She curls Willow into her lap, supporting her back and neck with her palms. “Wow, you have a total mini-me.” Lane looks up to me and back to Willow, comparing our faces. Willow drools some milk; Lane holds her out to me, but to her credit, brings her right back once wiped off. “Yes, I like you. Hello.”
Emily stands, crosses the room, and crouches down next to them.
“Don’t forget who you met first, kid. Auntie Em.” She gasps. “Like the Wizard of Oz!”
“The auntie you will call for every fashion decision and every school dance or prom shopping trip,” I add. Emily beams, nodding in agreement.
I take a few steps back and sink onto the couch as I watch them. I lean into the arm of the couch, consciously feeling the last ounce of loneliness drip out of my system as they brush her cheeks, hair, and hands, trying to pull smiles out of her. I feel so grateful I could burst.
From behind me, the front door opens as Warren and Luke return home. I speak and sign, facing the hallway so Luke can see.“Hey! These are my old roommates, Emily and Lane. This is Warren and Luke.”
As I finish speaking, Warren moves out of the hallway, kisses the top of my head as a greeting, and crosses the room to shake hands with them. Luke nods and signs from the hall.
“He says nice to meet you both,” I say on behalf of Luke.
They nod and wave in return before Luke turns into his room, dragging his backpack behind him. I watch him go with a furrowed brow.
For the past four days, Luke has been acting more and more like your average, moody teenager. He wants to eat in his room, and his face is buried in his phone—texting ferociously and keeping it glued to his person. I can’t help but think it’s an obvious reaction to Warren and me. Warren disagrees, but truthfully, I don’t see another explanation. I didn’t want to mess anything up for Luke. I had thought we had his blessing—but maybe not.
I exchange a worried look with Warren as he sits next to me on the couch and places a hand on my knee.
“Don’t worry about him right now,” Warren leans over and murmurs in my ear.
Right. That can wait. I give him a grateful smile and gesture towards my friends. “So Emily and Lane were just telling me that they’re moving back to the city. A few blocks away.”
Warren’s eyebrows raise as he looks towards them enthusiastically.
“You know the blue building—the really tall one on 4th Ave?” Lane says as she hands a fussy Willow to Emily for bouncing.
“Yeah, actually, I just turned down a place there,” Warren says matter-of-factly.
I watch Lane’s expression shift to awe. “Wow! We only got the place because a spot opened up at the last minute.”
“Worked out perfectly.” Warren looks towards me, smile subtle but real.
Could it be a coincidence? Sure. But I think somehow the universe was on my team this time around—placing my people exactly where I need them. I move my hand on top of Warren’s, and our eyes catch for the first time since he got home.
“Well… I won’t get in the way of your visit. Nice to meet you both.” Warren brings the top of my hand to his lips for a kiss, then lets it go as he stands.
We all protest.
“Oh, not so fast. We want to get to know the man who has got Chloe glowing like this,” Emily says, bouncing Willow from side to side.
“Yeah, without even giving her an O…” Lane mumbles, and I flash my eyes at her.
Warren chuckles. “All right then… you ladies staying for dinner? Pizza?” He turns to me, and I clap my approval. “Be right back then.” He kisses me, and it’s a little too long and sexy to be appropriate for the company of others.I don’t pretend to object or attempt to stop him. I think he took Lane’s comment to heart ever so slightly.
Lane waits until Warren has left the room to speak. “Damn, Chloe. That kiss gotmepregnant.” I laugh, covering my grin with a hand.
“No more babies, okay? We just got this one.” Em snuggles a calm Willow closer.
“Seriously, you better tell us when Aunt Flo heads out of town…”
