“Right, sure they are.” She laughs and then cuts herself off with a painful groan. “I’m horizontal with a heating pad and a tub of ice cream. Baby girl is kicking my ribs like she’s trying to make varsity from inside the womb.”
I chuckle, sinking deeper into the couch. “Taking after Uncle Nate already.”
“Yeah, well, she needs to calm the hell down. My back is killing me.”
“How’s Calvin holding up?”
“Better than me. Snoring like a damn freight train.”
“Man’s gotta rest up, y’all are about to be losing a lot of sleep. He still serious about that fishing trip?”
“Uh-huh. He was talking my ear off about it last night. I think he even bought a new rod.”
“Course he did,” I mutter. “He keeps this up, I might actually let him catch something for once.”
“You boys better enjoy it now. Once the baby’s here, he’snot going anywhere but the diaper aisle.”
Liz is still talking about her plans for the nursery and how I might need to help build the crib when there’s a thump from the front porch.
“Hang on,” I say into the phone, getting up and going to the front door.
It’s Alex.
Finally.
I open the door as he’s fumbling with his keys.
“Hey,” he says too quickly, not looking at me. Hood up, earbuds dangling from one side, backpack slung over one shoulder.
The boy put me through the wringer worrying about him, and all he’s got to say is “hey”? I’m not letting that slide.
“It’s damn near 10 o’clock,” I say, letting a little bit of my worry bleed through.
He shrugs. “Got caught up. Sorry.”
“I’ll call you back,” I mutter into the phone. “Alex just walked in.”
“Everything okay?” Liz asks.
“Yeah, talk soon.” I hang up and turn to my brother. “You could’ve texted.”
“I know.”
“Location’s off.”
“Yeah, sorry. Battery died.”
“Your phone’s in your hand.”
“It came back on.”
I let out a slow breath, trying not to let my irritation take over my common sense. He’s a teenager doing what teenagers do. Everything’s fine.
He’s home safe.
“You hungry?”
“Nah. Ate with friends.” He still won’t look at me.
