We’re standing in the living room thirty minutes after my dad first said it was time for them to head out so I could rest for tomorrow’s race.
But Mom just had to tell Alyssia the story about the time Chloe used our mom’s makeup on me while I was sleeping. With pictures as proof, of course.
“You’re so dramatic,” Mom says, then redirects her attention to Alyssia. “Speaking of dramatic, did I tell you about the time he?—”
“Dad?” I turn to the only other man in the room. But he’s just as enamored with my mom as Alyssia is.
“Precious, maybe it’s time to wrap this up,” he tells her, then leans down to say something in her ear.
Mom immediately swats his arm but the sideways grin she gives him makes me groan.
“Can you two take that to your own apartment?”
“You’re being rude,” Alyssia tells me.
“If I don't, these two will be here all night regaling you with stories no one wants to hear.”
“I want to hear them.” She grins. “It’s fun seeing you as a little boy. Gives me an idea of what our little one might be like.”
She covers her belly with her hands.
My mom’s swoon is heard around the room.
Wordlessly, Alyssia takes my mom’s hands and places them on her stomach.
“He or she becomes so active at night these days,” Alyssia says.
“The triplets were like that, too.” Tears fill my mom’s eyes.
“I cannot believe you gave birth to three babies at once.” Alyssia’s voice is full of reverie, her gaze trailing over my mom’s petite frame.
Mom laughs. “It wasn’t easy. Did I tell you how much heart burn those three gave me?”
I look over at my dad, our eyes meeting. He gives me a little nod.
“As beautiful as tonight has been, we really need to let Travis and Alyssia rest,” Dad tells Mom.
It’s another five minutes of promises to meet up tomorrow morning for breakfast between my parents and Alyssia beforethe race. I’ll have to head out super early, so I won’t be joining them.
“It’s been a long day for you.” Alyssia cups my face.
I kiss the inside of her palm and take her by the wrist. In the bedroom we change and climb into bed, facing one another.
Apart from our morning walks, which we still do, this has become my favorite time of the day. When Alyssia and I are alone, nothing between us but talks about our day, the baby, or anything else that comes to mind.
“Tomorrow’s race is important for the championship, right?”
“They’re all important.”
She drops her gaze, then looks back up at me.
“I looked up your rankings. You’re number two,” she says. “That’s really good, isn’t it?”
My chest tightens.
Not good enough.
“It’s still early in the season,” I say. “I can never get complacent or too confident. I made that mistake last year.”
