It’s been three days since I received the email from Justin and I am yet to email him back. I still have no idea what I am going to say to him, let alone how I am going to act like nothing in our relationship has changed since getting that email from him. I know he didn’t come right out and say anything but there is something more than friendship lurking underneath the surface of his offer, and I have no idea if I am ready for that.

Unfortunately, I can’t hide from my problem any longer. Today is Saturday, and I have to go meet the girls and Layla over at Katie's. To add insult to injury, Livie is up WAY too early because she is way too excited to meet her new TeTe. I have to force myself out of bed, to get us both ready and out the door in time. Olivia dresses in her usual attire of a red Robin cape, and green tutu, black Batman T-shirt with red Converse sneakers. I sigh thinking that it's time to get her new ones AGAIN. My little girl is growing up, I really need her to slow down.

The entire drive to Katie’s, Livie peppers me with questions about Layla that I am unable to answer because just like her, I have never met her. Finally, I just decide to call Emma so she can answer. I am entirely too tired for all of this, Emma can hear it in my voice and promises lots of coffee in my future when I get there. I can hear Avery and Amber in the background yelling about it being spiked. I have no idea why everything with the two of them has to involve alcohol, but at this point, I’ll take it.

I pull up to Katie’s house and hop out to unbuckle Livie. As soon as she is unbuckled, she hops out of the car and goes running for the front door, opening it like she owns the place. I would usually yell at her for being rude, but in all honesty, she spends just as much time here as she does at home.

“Hello?” I call out as I enter, taking off my shoes before heading into the living room. I find all the girls there. I have no idea where Livie went, probably off to play with Emerson and Ryan in their rooms. Those three are thick as thieves already, I am so glad she has finally found some friends she can connect with.

“Are you ready to meet Layla?” Katie says from the couch, holding a mimosa.

“No, I need either one of those or a cup of coffee. Actually, give me both, I’ve been sleeping like shit the past couple of days,” I say as I stifle a yawn. Emma taps me on the shoulder, holding a mimosa in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. “I knew I loved you for a reason,” I say with a smile.

“Does your lack of sleep have anything to do with a certain SEAL we all know?” Emma asks with a knowing look in her eyes. I both love and hate that Justin is Emma’s big brother. I am sure he told her about the emails we have exchanged and how awkward things have been between the two of us.

“Maybe, I didn’t mean to make things weird between us. I just need to make sure that I protect Olivia from getting hurt. She is the most important thing in my life. I can’t let him hurt her.” I take a big gulp of my mimosa before heading toward the couch and having a seat next to Amber.

“What the hell are you talking about? I just wanted to know how things were going, what did he do now? We have two trained killing machines ready and willing to kick his ass for you if you want. Just say the word,” Amber says as she wraps her arms around me.

A tear escapes. “He didn’t really do anything. I just realized how attached Olivia has gotten to him, and it scared me. I have to protect her from getting hurt when he leaves us.”

“There you go with the when. My brother is not an asshole, Becca. If he says he will be around, he will be. However, I get your apprehension. All I can say is give him a chance to prove he will be there for you and Olivia. Okay?”

All I can do is nod my head in response. They have all given me a lot to think about. Maybe in my desperate need to protect Olivia, I’m pushing one of the best things to happen to us away. Shaking my head, I bring my thoughts back to the reason for being here. “So, what can you tell me about Layla?”

Avery chuckles before responding, “The Ice Queen is a bigger bitch than I want to deal with. Plus, she kind of scares me.”

“Ice Queen?”

“Danny’s woman. She’s…intense. She’s a very powerful woman and takes some getting used to. Avery doesn’t like to be out bitched, so they typically fight,” Katie informs me.

Emma and Amber both giggle in response. “To say they fight is an understatement, do you remember the brawl they had when we all first met, Katie?” Amber says. “Emma, you missed it! If you think their last few encounters were bad, they were tame compared to the white trash fight they had on the front lawn.”

I can’t help but laugh at all of them, immediately feeling better about everything going on. I know that no matter what these four will always be there for me, even Emma. So fiercely protective of their friends and loyal to the core. Suddenly, there is a light knock on the door.

“Avery, you better behave or so help me. Pregnant or not, I will kick you out of the house so fast,” Katie grumbles as she passes all of us and heads toward the door.

“I don’t understand why I always have to be the one to leave. Why can’t she be told to go?” Avery crosses her arms over her belly.

“Because nine times out of ten, you’re the one who starts it,” Emma responds before heading to the back of the house, probably to hide with the children. I stare after her, trying to decide if I want to join her.

Katie comes back down the hall followed by a woman with flowing strawberry blond hair, pinned up on one side by a clip. Perfect makeup, a fitted jacket hugging all her curves, a crisp white blouse, and skinny jeans, with cherry red Manolo Blahniks. This woman has more money on her body than I saw in a year.

“Layla, meet Becca,” Katie says with a warm smile.

Before Layla has a chance to respond, Olivia comes barrelling down the hallway. “TeTe Waywa.” The panicked look that crosses over her face would be comical if she wasn’t looking at my daughter, she dodges out of her grasp, coming closer to Avery, Amber, and I on the couch.

“What is a TeTe?” she asks, obviously confused by Livie’s inability to form words properly. She must not spend much time around children.

“Livie calls everyone Auntie. She’s three and has a hard time forming some words,” I say, slightly offended by the disgusted look on her face.

“Apologies, I can do babies. However, toddlers and children just aren’t my thing.”

I can’t blame her. With all that money on her body, I wouldn’t want to take the chance of getting a kids greasy, germ-covered hands all over me. Just as I am about to respond, Avery begins to cackle with laughter. “What the hell is wrong with you?” I look at Avery and notice her pointing down at Layla’s feet. I can’t help but gasp in surprise. Layla’s nine-hundred-dollar designer shoes are covered in what I can only guess is amniotic fluid.

“You owe me a new pair of shoes,” Layla growls at Avery. Avery opens her mouth to argue but instead lets out a groan of pain. It seems the contractions have started. Katie rushes to the back of the house to grab Emma, as I get up to help Avery up off the couch. Shockingly, Layla has bent down to help Amber stand up as well. The two of us start making our way toward the door.

“Do you mind staying here with the twins? Emma is going to come with me, I know you have Olivia. They can all stay here and hang out; if it takes too long, I have a guest room you can stay in,” Katie says as she opens the front door so we can get out quicker.

“No problem. I’ll call my boss to let her know to notify Labor and Delivery that she is on the way.”

“Bitch, can’t I do anything by myself,” Avery shouts. Looking to my right, I see Amber bright red with tears in her eyes. It seems her water has broken as well, all over Layla’s other shoe—damn, today is just not her day.

“Avery, shut up! This has nothing to do with you. This is about both of your babies. You have one job, to bring these babies into the world safe and sound,” Layla commands, shutting everyone up in the process.

Layla jumps into action, ordering us all around. I am tasked with getting Avery into the car and calling their doctor to meet them at the hospital. Emma calls Jimmy to make sure he notifies the guys’ command, so Charlie is made aware the babies are being born today. Katie is to drive and get everyone there safe and sound. Once we get the twins settled into the back of the car, Layla settles into the passenger seat.

“You’re coming?” Katie asks.

“Who the hell else is going to be able to keep that one in her place during this whole ordeal?” she says, pointing over her shoulder at Avery.

“Good point.” Katie leans out the window. “Emma is going to follow us in her car. Thanks for taking care of the twins, I’ll call you as soon as the babies are born.” She pulls her head back into the car and heads off in the direction of the hospital with Emma close on her tail.

I can’t stop the pang of jealousy I feel as I head back into the house. I didn’t have a group of friends that rallied around me when I gave birth to Livie. It was just my mom and I in our small-town hospital, no fanfare, no big deal made. Just the widow having her dead husband’s baby. I head into the house and straight back to the twins’ room, no matter what happened in the past, I now have the best present in the world, my little girl.

It didn’t take long for Katie to call and let me know that Avery and Amber delivered two baby boys, not sure what their names are yet. They want to talk to Charlie first before they make the names official. Mommas and babies are all doing just fine.

Emma stayed at the hospital with them so Katie could come to relieve me of kid duty. I have to work tomorrow, I am going to try and go visit them all during my lunch break. To say that today was eventful is an understatement, but it reminded me that life is too short not to take at least some chances.

After getting Olivia into bed, I finally sit down and reply to Justin’s email. I’m not too sure how my response will be received, but he needs to know how I have been feeling and where this leaves all of us. I just hope he is okay with how I want to move forward from here.