Cole starts to chuckle, but then he sighs. “I’m so fucking sorry I’m not there, baby.” He trails off, and I know he’s beating himself up for working away.
“Stop it, don’t do that to yourself. It isn’t your fault, and you’ll be back tomorrow. If it makes you feel better, I’ll see if I can stay over here with Cas and Emmy for tonight. How’s that?”
“I may have already told Cas that’s what was going to happen…just to save my sanity.”
Rolling my eyes, I bask in the feeling of love. “I love you so much, Cole.”
“I love you too, baby. Tell Peanut I love her too, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay, see you tomorrow.” We end the call just as Emmy comes back in, smiling from ear to ear.
“Sleepover?” She clasps her hands together and starts dancing when I nod in confirmation.
I genuinely have the best people around me.
**********
I convince Cas and Emmy that I am fine to go to yoga, but Cas doesn’t trust that we would be safe. So now, here we are again, at our mats, with Ethan and Daisy giving each other the side eye as she walks us through the motions of each pose.
Rafe, in child’s pose, his head facing downwards, mumbles, “I’d wish they’d just bang already.”
Ethan gets his revenge on him when he stands in tree pose and kicks the back of his knee, causing Rafe to fall forward, arms circling like a cartoon character.
I burst out laughing, and even Daisy’s lips twitched before she threw daggers with her eyes at Ethan.
The session does exactly what I wanted it to do, and by the time we finish, my bones no longer feel too tight inside my body, and my muscles are relaxed. As the guys start helping clear away everything, because they can’t help being gentlemen, Daisy floats over towards me.
“How are you feeling now?” Her concern for me makes me want to cry – stupidhormones.
“I’m okay now, that was just what I needed.” I smile at her, and she hands me a box.
“I got you one of these.” She smiles back.
I turn it over and see that it’s an inflatable ball. “Uhm…thank you?”
When she sees the look on my face, she bursts out laughing. “It’s a birthing ball. It’s to help you keep active. You can sit on it to ease back pain, which you’re going to get even more of the further along you are. Towards the end of your pregnancy, it can help position the baby.”
I throw my arms around her. “Thank you, Daisy.” When I stand back, I notice her staring almost longingly at my bump. “Hey, are you okay?” She stands up tall, puts on that beautiful smile, and nods. Her smile, however, doesn’t hide the haunted look in her eyes, and I decide not to pry; instead, I ask, “Could you help show me how to use it?”
“Of course! When is best?” I look over at Emmy and wave at her and Hayleigh.
“Ladies, do you think Cas will mind if we have an impromptu girls' night?”
Archie scares the life out of me by popping his head over my shoulder. “Did you say girls' night? Can I join?”
I smack the side of his head. “Do you want to send me into premature labour, Archibald? Yes, you can join if you wish.” He gives me a one-armed hug.
Emmy looks at Archie and says, “Sure, Archie, we loved our last girls’ night. Remember when you–” She trails off when he reaches over and covers her mouth with his hand.
He says, “We said we shall never speak of that moment!” He gives her a pointed look, and she laughs before nodding in agreement.
Hayleigh shouts over to Cas, “Cas, girls’ night at yours tonight with Archie. Anyone else fancy it?”
Cas stands with his hands on his hips and looks up to the ceiling as if silently begging someone, anyone, to save him.
Rafe, Nate and Ethan each nod and Cas shrugs, clearly beaten. They start discussing what food we’re going to have and what film we're going to watch when something, or should I say someone, catches my eye outside the yoga studio.
“I’ll be back in a minute…” I say to no one in particular as I make my way outside.
