Page 18 of Wait for the Dream

“He’s with Luis. Sebastian figured Luca would get in the way.” Aiden says as we exit the bathroom.

“He’s probably right, but the little man could have kept me company,” I pout and head back to the couch.

Aiden goes into the kitchen and I watch as he grabs a blue popsicle from the freezer before he walks into the living room and hands it to me. I didn't even know we had any left. I swear I ate the last one after I threw up in the middle of the night. He plants a kiss on the top of my head before getting back to work. I sit and chat with Charly as I eat my popsicle and watch everyone else work around me. I can’t help but think about how grateful I am to be a part of this chosen family.

Aiden

“UNO!” Maggy guards the last card in her hand like her life depends on it, and it kind of does. We have been playing this game of Uno for the last hour and people have gotten close, but no one has actually won. This could actually be the last round.

After we finished getting the apartments set up a few hours ago, Pop ordered a bunch of pizzas and we all sat around and ate what felt like the most rewarding meal I’ve had in a long time. I might work out five days a week, but there is something different about lifting heavy furniture for hours on end. Momma and Pop headed to the twins apartment a few hours ago to get some sleep, but the rest of us have been having an impromptu game night ever since, getting a glimpse at what it will be like next year when Charly joins us.

“Fucking finally,” Maddox groans, “This game has gone on for-fucking-ever.”

“I swear to god, Dallas, if you have make her draw cards, you won’t like the consequences,” Chloe says. We are all ready for this game to be over apparently. I love a good game of Uno as much as the next guy, but spending over an hour on one game is a bit excessive.

“I would never make Magnolia draw cards,” Dallas winks at Maggy.

“Why do you insist on calling me by my full name?” Maggy asks him, watching the discard pile in the center of the table intently.

“It’s a pretty name?” Dallas shrugs, “Why not?”

“No one else calls her Magnolia, it’s just you.” Maddox states.

“Maybe I want to be special,” He says sarcastically, but if the blush on his cheeks is any indication, there is more to it than that. I just don’t have the energy to look too deep into that right now.

“Leave him alone guys,” Bailey says, trying to take the attention off our friend. “Hey Charly, if I send you the gender results when we get them in a couple weeks, will you make reveal cake for us?”

“Oh my god, yes!” The smile that overtakes my sister’s face is blinding, “What did you want to do for the theme of the party?”

“I was thinking Winnie the Pooh,” Blue smiles.

“Oh my god, so cute. I’ll create the best stuff. I’m going to create a Pinterest board and share it with you.” Charly pulls out her phone and starts scrolling, “Momma and I will make it perfect.”

“It’s going to be super small, so don’t go crazy. It’s literally the people in this room, Momma and Pop and the Mr. and Mrs. Miller,” Bailey says.

“You know my mom would kill you if she heard you calling her, ‘Mrs. Miller,’” Chloe says.

Bailey rolls just her eyes.

“Do you even know me, Bee? Going overboard is what I was born to do. I love a good party. It’s a reason to bake and make things pretty,” Charly looks genuinely offended.

“You’re trouble,” Sebastian points a finger at Charly.

“Of course I am, Grumpy. Trouble is literally my middle name.” Charly gives him the most innocent smile she can manage.

“Are you sure Alpine is going to be able to handle her when she comes next year?” Maddox whisper yells at me.

“I’m not sure there is a single person on earth that can handle Charly, and we wouldn’t have it any other way,” Bailey says.

“I win!” Maggy throws her last card down on the pile, and a collective sigh of relief flows around the table.

Sebastian pulls his phone out of his pocket and mutters a curse, “I’ve got to run. Luca is throwing up, and my dad doesn’t do puke well.”

“We should head out too,” Dallas says about him and Chloe. They both currently live in the dorms but are planning on trying to get an apartment in this building next year.

“Tell my little buddy, Bee Bee hope he feels better,” Bailey says before hugging Sebastian, followed by the Millers and walking them all out.

We turn on a movie and all sit around the living room. Maggy is sitting on one end of the section with Maddox’s head in her lap where she runs her fingers through his hair, Charly is curled up with a blanket on the other end of the sectional. I’m sitting in the large recliner with Bailey, her legs over my lap, one of my arms resting on her lap, the other around her shoulder.