“Wake up, gorgeous,” I whisper into Lena’s ear. She stirs, and her soft green eyes stare up at me.
“Morning,” she whispers with a smile on her lips.
After her dream and our talk last night, I didn’t sleep a damn wink. Lena cuddled into me, and though I know she didn’t drift off as fast as she normally does, she eventually did.
I just couldn’t let my mind rest enough to do the same.
“What time is it?”
“Almost nine,” I reply.
Her eyes widen, and she starts to move out of the bed. “Oh my gosh, I overslept. Lonnie was supposed to be at my parents’ at eight, and my class starts at ten."
I place my hand on her stomach, halting her movement. “Gorgeous, settle a second. I took care of it.”
“What?”
“Yeah, babe, I got up with Lonnie. Made her breakfast, got her ready to go, and met your mom at Dixie’s so they could just start their shopping right off.”
We’ve tried to keep London’s day-to-day life the same as it was before. When Darin and Joan have her, they know to stay vigilant. I won’t lie, it gives a bit of hesitation whenever Lonnie leaves the house without us. Lena’s parents wouldn’t let a damn thing happen to her, but the thought of what if always crosses my mind.
Lena lies back on the bed and lets out a deep breath, her worry blowing out. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
I give it to her honestly. “You had a rough night, thought you might need the extra sleep.”
She pushes the hair at her forehead back. “I’m fine, Lawson,” she tells me. I quirk a brow, questioning her response. She rolls her eyes at me. “I’m fine for right now. It was a dream. As long as you are by my side, we can beat this, right?”
I nod, but I’m hesitant to believe her. She’s told me she’s fine before and we’ve seen where that’s gotten us.
“And that’s what’s going to get me through.”
“Right,” I whisper.
“I need to get up.”
“We could just stay in bed the rest of the day.” She tries to push up, but I press my hand into her again as I shimmy closer to her on the bed.
“Did you not get enough last night?” she taunts.
My head moves into the crook of her neck, my tongue darting out and trailing up to her chin. She lets out a giggly laugh and pushes my face away playfully. “I’ll never get enough of you.”
“Easy, tiger. I have my class, and then Carolina will be here.”
Fuck.
Carolina’s visit completely slipped my mind.
Flopping to my back, I let out a heavy sigh. “I suppose staying in bed all day would negate those plans.”
She gives me a lopsided grin. “Yeah, baby, it would.”
“She could just join us.”
“I didn’t take you for a sharing kind of man.” She laughs.
“I’m not,” I say with a growl.
She rolls her eyes and shuffles out of bed. I prop my head up on the pillow and watch her go in nothing but one of my old t-shirts—something she’s done since the days we were gallivanting across the damn country years ago. It’s something I hope she never stops doing. It’s not a dominance thing, it’s a…fuck, it’s a dominance thing. Seeing her in my shirt gives me a thrill like none other. Her statement that she is mine fucking fills me with pride. And it’s also my statement all in the same. She is mine. I don’t give a fuck who tries. Nothing will change that.
“Lena,” I call after her just as she hits our bathroom.
She peeks her head around the corner. “Yeah?”
“You look beautiful.”
Her face softens, and she closes her eyes for a moment like my words physically impacted her. “Thank you.”
“You’re always beautiful.”
“What’s this all about?” she asks. Over the last few months, I couldn't even tell you how many times I told her she was beautiful or complimented her. It isn't because it was often, rather the opposite. I took that for granted, and she needs to hear that shit. Right now, looking at my wife, her face soft like it is, I’ll be doing it every damn day if it’ll give me that look.
“Just want you to know that,” I tell her.
She smiles and blows me a kiss. As goofy as she may be, I goddamn love that about her. Piece by piece, we are getting Lena back. The real Lena, not the fake one she thought nobody saw through.
“You excited, baby?” Lawson asks from his spot on the couch. I’ve been standing at the door for ten minutes waiting for Carolina to arrive. She texted exactly eleven minutes ago telling me she just rolled into town. We are exactly seven minutes from town out here on Copperfield Lane. She should have been here by now.
The high from my class earlier has held me over until her text came through. I was a bit nervous about attending the self-defense class. I’ve never done anything like that before. I only knew the basic moves my brother taught me. The class was extremely informative for the first day. We learned some of the more traditional self-defense moves as well as the right time to use them. One class and I’m already feeling empowered—like I could protect myself if another situation occurred.
In all of this, that has been my biggest fear. It gives me pause for a moment to think I traveled the world on my own for so long only carrying pepper spray and nothing ever happened. My parents would tell me how worried they were about me out there on my own, but the irony of having a man attack me in my hometown—in my home—is almost funny.
I clear my thoughts with a shake of my head. “Yes, I’m excited. But she should have been here by now. You think something happened?”
“What do you think happened?”
“I don’t know, Law, maybe car trouble…maybe an accident.”
“Honey, I’m sure everything’s fine. Maybe she stopped at the gas station.”
“Yeah, maybe,” I reply, staring out the door, willing her car to come up the drive.
Two minutes later, it does.
My eyes narrow on the second vehicle coming up the lane. It’s Benny’s truck. Apparently, it’s a day for company.
“Why is Benny here?” I ask, still staying out the door.
“Not sure,” Law answers, his voice closer to me now. My head tilts back to look at Law as he presses against my back. Concern is etched across his face, and for a moment, I think he might be lying.
I put that to the back of my mind as my best friend throws her door open and gets out of her car. I bolt out our door and down our front steps. We collide, embracing each other in a hug, our bodies swaying side to side.
“Jesus, I’ve freaking missed you,” she mumbles into my hair.
Tears instantly pool in my eyes as just how much I’ve missed her hits all at once. We pull back, but neither releases. “It’s only been a few months, but it feels like years.”
“We’ll talk about that later,” she replies. My brows scrunch together in confusion, but I let it go. Mainly because Benny is standing behind Carolina.
“Hey, Benny,” I say, releasing Caro.
“Lena.”
I feel Law at my back again and watch as Benny gives him that manly hi with a jerk of his chin.
“So, y’all do know each other?” Carolina asks.
“Uh, yeah,” I reply.
“Met this fine specimen of a man at the gas station where I stopped to get myself a drink.” She rolls her eyes. “Okay, my GPS was lost. I was getting directions. Enter Benny.” She turns to him and waves her hand up and down, indicating Benny. Then she spins back around, and says, “We are also going to talk about how you’ve been holding out on me about the men in this town.”
I burst out laughing. Law chuckles, but Benny just stands there, not even cracking a smirk.
And then my eyes catch on something. Carolina is wearing a baggy shirt. This girl never wears baggy clothes. She rocks the hell out of grunge, but never loose enough to where it looks like she’s hiding another person in there with her. I tilt my head to the side and eye her. She looks down at herself, then back at me. “Later,” she whispers.
I let that one go too.
Shit.
Looks like we both like to keep secrets.
“Come on, everyone, let’s go inside. I cooked and y’all are going to enjoy every last bit,” I declare. I did cook, just not the main course. They don’t need to know I also stopped by the KFC and got the fried chicken.
Carolina entwines her arm with mine and we take off up the porch. I look over my shoulder to see Lawson and Benny have stayed back. They’re huddled together like they are telling secrets.
It’s not unusual for them to chat like this, but with my suspicions he’s keeping something from me, I make a note to ask him about this later.
As we enter the house, Carolina drops her bag by the door. She’s been here only a handful of times over the years, but one thing I love most about Carolina is her spirit. She acts as if she’s been in our home millions of times. She’s not rude about it, she’s just comfortable in her surroundings. And that goes for anywhere she is.
Caro goes straight to the cabinets where I keep my plates and pulls down enough for everyone. While the guys are still outside, I decide to dig into her and find out what the hell is going on. Before I can even get my mouth open, she beats me to the punch.
She moves to the counter, setting the plates down, and then unloads. “I won’t hold it against you that you didn’t tell your best friend you were attacked by a lunatic and have an even bigger lunatic hunting your ass down as long as you don’t give me any grief about not telling you what I’m about to.”
I take a deep breath, preparing for what she’s going to say. I know I can forgive her, I just need her to tell me she’s okay.
I release the breath and nod my head for her to continue.
“I’m pregnant. Three months pregnant to be exact.”
I wait, expecting her to give me more, but she doesn’t.
“Uh,” I start. “Are you okay?”
She lets out a laugh. “Yes, I’m okay. I can’t say I was when I found out. It was a one-night stand. The guy doesn’t want anything to do with the baby.” I open my mouth to cut her off, but she doesn’t let me. “No, I’m good with that. I’ve had three months to come to terms with being a single mother. I’ll be fine.”
“Well, I’m happy for you,” I tell her.
She quirks her brow, a smirk playing on her lips. "Are you?"
“Yes!” I squeal. “I get to spoil another baby.”
“It’s just going to suck being alone. No family around me or anything.”
I move to grab the container of potato salad out of the refrigerator. "Are you going to stay in New York?" I hope she says no. She needs to be around family…or me.
She shrugs and starts sorting the silverware on the counter. “I don’t know yet. I’ve been there for a year now. My apartment is nice, enough to feel safe on my own with a baby, but I don’t have anything there.”
“You could always move down here,” I throw out.
“I’ve thought about that. Your restless heart seems to be rested here.”
“It’s home, Caro. I know if you settled here you’d feel the same way.”
She stalls with a response, and I know she has something weighing on her mind.
“What’s going on, Carolina? There’s something you’re not telling me.”
She turns away from me and starts fiddling with the napkins I set out earlier. “I really never thought I would settle down. You, most of all, understand where I’m coming from when I say that, but I’m excited, Selena. I’m excited to have this baby and live a life where I am rooted. Whether I’m doing that traditionally or not.” She shrugs her shoulders. “I just hate being alone through it all. I’ve spent most of my life alone, ya know? I just thought building a family would be something I would do with someone else.”
It always takes just one moment in life to knock you back a step. To make you realize that even in the worst situations, you might be doing better than someone else. Not in an egotistical way, but in that way where you need to slap yourself and look at all you have. I have taken so much for granted.
Gazing at my best friend, it kills me knowing my Carolina has to do this on her own, no matter how strong she is. At least I have Lawson. He hears my concerns, stands with me through my struggles, and lord knows I wouldn’t have been able to get through my pregnancy without him. He is the reason I am as strong as I am today.
“I want you to move here to Oak Town,” I declare, using my mom voice.
“Where would I live, what would I do for a job?”
“Finding a place to live is the least of your worries. That can happen with a simple telephone call. There’s always something you can do at Law’s shop. I could even use another receptionist once I’m back to work full time.”
She stops fiddling with the napkin and turns back to me. “I don’t know, Selena.”
“I don’t want you all the way out there where it would take me hours to get to you when you go into labor. You need someone there with you.”
Law and Benny come through the door, and Carolina cuts our conversation off by addressing them. “Who’s hungry?”
Law gives me a look while Benny keeps his narrowed eyes on Carolina. I pretend we didn’t just have a heavy conversation and throw on a smile while I start plating the food.
We spend the rest of the afternoon laughing and telling our kooky stories like we typically do when Carolina and I are around each other. Benny sits on the couch like he does every other time he is here, but he doesn’t take his eyes off Carolina.
Maybe good things could come from her moving here.