Page 85
27
Melody
I stepped out of the car and moved closer to the Pilates studio’s entrance. The wind pushed dry leaves along the sidewalk as I checked the time on my phone again.
Aria’s class should’ve been over by now.
Through the windows, I could see women putting on jackets and gathering their things. They looked comfortable in their matching sets, chatting like they had nowhere else to be. I used to be one of them.
Before prison, I had been a whole Pilates princess. I had the expensive socks and more workout clothes than I could justify. There had been a time when I could leave a class feeling good about something my body had accomplished.
Now I was standing outside of a studio waiting to confront my sister. I held a Starbucks cup in my hand tightly. It was a chai tea since I’d decided to give up coffee while I was pregnant.
In about seven months Justice and I would have a baby and I couldn’t believe it. Was this the best choice? Was I making a mistake?
I wanted this baby and I wanted Justice. But was he capable of doing what needed to be done about Storie? I didn’t trust her. If she knew I was pregnant she would try to kill me.
As my thoughts swirled, the door opened. I slid my phone back in my pocket.
Two bubbly women came out first. One held the door for Aria, who stepped onto the sidewalk with her bag over her shoulder.
My sister was glowing.
Her cheeks were flushed from the Pilates class, and her hair was pulled into a neat bun. She wore a loose sweatshirt over her leggings, but there was no hiding her stomach anymore.
I already knew she was pregnant. Seeing her standing there carrying Roman’s baby still made me stop.
She smiled at something the woman beside her said. Then she rested a hand against her belly.
When we were younger she talked about wanting to be a mom. And I would’ve been a good aunt too. I would’ve bought so much shit and argued with her about baby names. Now I couldn’t even look at her stomach without thinking about whose child she was carrying.
“Aria.”
She turned as I hurried toward her.
Her smile disappeared.
“Melody?”
“We need to talk.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you.”
She glanced at the woman beside her before stepping away.
“I’ll see you next time,” she told her.
The woman looked between us, then continued down the sidewalk.
Aria adjusted her bag and started walking.
“Aria,” I called out.
“I’m not doing this with you,” she hissed.
“Doing what? Having a conversation?”
