30
Emily
I ran into the diner, and I saw Sara sitting at a booth in the corner. She was alone. “Where’s the baby?” I asked her.
“Katharine offered to watch him so you and I could have some girl time. Damn, you look great, sis. It must have something to do with the hunky California boy. OK, fess up, what’s going on with him?”
I didn’t know where to start. “He’s amazing, Sara. I’ve never felt like this before. He stayed with me at dad’s place last night.” I had to admit that to her. It was too exciting not to share with someone.
Sara looked shocked. “Wow, I didn’t see that coming. You just broke up with Martin. That was fast, huh?”
I felt like I needed to explain. “Nothing happened. Well, that isn’t exactly true. We did make out. And Sara, it was the kind of make out that has never happened to me before. It was so…hot!” Now I was embarrassed.
“Ooh, the California boy knows how to push your buttons?” she wondered with a huge smile on her face.
“Uh, yeah. I’m not used to that. I was a little embarrassed by how intensely my body responded to him, but he was incredibly loving and affectionate. He made me feel beautiful and adored. It’s all so new and so unbelievably wonderful.”
“But you didn’t do it? Where did he sleep?” she asked.
“We slept together, but that’s all we did was sleep. It’s actually the second time we’ve slept together without…you know. I’ve never spooned with someone before. You know who needed his space, so I didn’t interrupt his sleep, as he liked to say. Chad and I made a pact never to speak his name again. We were wrapped around each other like we had been sleeping together for years. It felt amazing, and I have to admit I’ve never slept that soundly in my entire life. He admitted he had never slept that well before. I can’t believe how my life has changed in less than a week.”
Sara reached over and grabbed my hand. “I’m so happy for you. It’s about time you left Mr. Stuffy Pants. What happened when he showed up last night? I was too far away to hear what you said to him.”
“I told him it was over. I was grateful to have Chad by my side. Martin and I exchanged a few volatile words, and he left. I think he gets it now. I know he’s not happy about it, and I imagine I’ll hear from him again, but I don’t care. I have zero regrets.”
Sara kept smiling at me. “I’m so psyched for you, but I don’t understand something. Why didn’t you and Chad have sex last night?”
I had to think about that. “I don’t know. I’m not really ready and Chad understands that. I did just move out of his place, you know. We were both tired, and we did fool around right before we went into the bedroom. Chad knows I need a little more time and has shown me the utmost respect in that department. We definitely have a connection, though, and I know the sex will be infinitely better than it was with—what did you call him? Mr. Stuffy Pants?”
We both started laughing hysterically. The waitress came over and took our orders. She came back and poured me a cup of coffee and brought Sara an orange juice. Once she left the area, I had to ask Sara a question. “So, I need some advice.”
“Of course. What’s up?”
“Well…I was wondering what you do about your hair…down there?” I pointed to her lap. This was embarrassing.
Sara laughed as she said, “I get Brazilians, Em. My girl is great. She takes about ten minutes. I can text you her number if you want.”
I knew that was what men probably expected. I wasn’t sure. “Mr. Stuffy Pants forbade me to wax. He said he didn’t want his woman to look like an infant. Sometimes I’d shave part of it, but it always got irritated and then itched when it came back in. Waxing is better?” I needed more info.
“Waxing is the bomb. You’ll be doing it for you, not him. You’ll feel cleaner and sexier. It’s pretty crazy. There is this weird sense of empowerment and confidence that happens when you get it all waxed off. I did it through most of the pregnancy. Have you ever waxed anything but your brows before?”
“No. I’m scared it will hurt.”
“It’s no big deal. The first time is the worst. After that your hair will come in finer and thinner, and it hardly hurts at all. You’ll be addicted. Trust me.”
“I do. Thanks, Sara. I wasn’t sure what guys expect.”
“It’ll be more about you, but he will appreciate it, trust me. Jackson loves that I wax every month. Chad will also be a fan. Want me to call her and see if you can get in today?”
The thought of waxing it all off terrified me, but I wanted to see what it was all about. “Uh…sure.”
I waited while Sara called the salon. The only opening was at ten thirty. Sara offered to go with me after we finished breakfast. There was no turning back now. I was getting my first Brazilian bikini wax.
After the appointment was made, we talked about the baby as we ate our breakfast. As wild as Sara could be, it sounded like she had really adapted to being a mom. She enjoyed nursing and didn’t mind getting up in the middle of the night to feed the baby.
Jackson was finishing his last semester at Yale that December and planned to live with the two of them and our parents once he graduated. He interned at a local adverting agency, and they told him he was guaranteed a job when he finished. I was happy for him. He was a great guy who adored my sister.
Sara spent the summer being a mom and was now back at college. I was happy for her as well. Katharine had been a huge help from the get-go, and she’d hired a nanny so Sara could finish her degree. Sara would finish in May. It was funny because most girls would expect their mothers to help out when they had babies, but our mother was no longer a part of our lives. Thank God our father married such a wonderful lady. Katharine was as loving and attentive as any mother could be. We both loved her so much.
After breakfast we went to the salon. The wax took only about ten minutes and didn’t hurt quite as badly as I’d thought it would. The technician was really fast and funny, and I knew I would like having this done on a regular basis. It felt very naughty being completely bald. I had never shaved it all off, so I didn’t know what it would feel like. It was like I had this dirty little secret no one would ever know about unless I told them.
When we left the salon, we took a cab to Bloomingdale’s to buy a baptism outfit for Brian. The baby section had the cutest clothes. I loved the fact that my sister had a baby. Brian was adorable and made everyone so happy. Sara and Jackson seemed genuinely happy, and it was obvious the baby strengthened their bond.
Before the baby was born, I’d felt jealous that my kid sister was having a child. It wasn’t like I wanted one, but I resented her for having one first. It was a silly feeling, but it was honest. Now I felt nothing but joy for everyone. Brian Collins Jensen was everyone’s beautiful child. I didn’t feel jealous at all anymore. I loved him as much as everyone else did.
It didn’t take long to find the perfect outfit. It was a little white-satin tuxedo. We giggled like schoolgirls picking it out. It was going to be adorable on him. We also bought several hundred dollars’ worth of new outfits for him. He probably had plenty of clothes to wear, but we couldn’t help ourselves. Baby clothes were too cute.
As we were leaving Bloomingdale’s, Sara turned to me and grabbed my arms. “Thank you so much for coming with me today. I want you to be a part of Brian’s life, and I was worried you weren’t supportive of us having this baby.”
“I know I was apprehensive at first, but I’m really happy for you. I love Brian, and I love you. You know that, don’t you?”
Sara hugged me as tightly as was humanly possible. “I do know that. And I’m so grateful for you. I know we have Katharine in our lives now, but I still feel like it’s just me and you, you know?”
I understood, and I could tell that Sara was feeling emotional. I needed to be the voice of reason. “But it’s not just us anymore. That’s what’s so wonderful. We have Dad, Katharine, Jackson, and of course the baby. We are blessed.”
“I know. You’re right. And maybe we can add Chad in the mix?” she teased.
“Um…maybe. I sure do like him. It’s like my whole world has been turned upside down in just a week. I haven’t even had time to process everything. I was paintballing on Tuesday and dancing at a gala on Friday. I’m excited about the next time I get to see him. I feel like a giddy schoolgirl.”
“Well, you never dated in high school, so you are kind of like a schoolgirl. Chad is just way hotter than any guy we knew in high school, so I think it was definitely worth the wait. He is so damn sexy. If I weren’t with Jackson…” she continued to tease me.
“Paws off, sister. I’m going to keep this one for myself. For now, at least.”
We both started laughing. Sara hugged me again, and I said good-bye to her. I had to get to the library and get some work done.