Ten minutes later we’re all sitting around the table enjoying our dinner. Shiloh inhales three slices of pizza before he heads off with Monty to go take a bath. I do my nighttime routine with Hayes, breastfeeding him while I read him a story. When he’s officially asleep in his crib, I sneak out of his room and head for my own. I’m not tired yet, but I want to get into some comfortable clothes before heading back into the living room to clean up supper.
Thankfully with take out for supper it means that I only have a few dishes to toss into the dishwasher before turning it on. However, when I get into the kitchen I see that Monty has already got all of that done and is relaxing on the couch with a beer in his hands.
His head lulls in my direction, a soft smile on his face. His beard has been growing in nicely over the last couple months and he’s been making a point to keep it trimmed. Making my way over, I lay down on the couch next to him and rest my feet on his lap.
“Well, should we watch a movie?” I ask, melting into the couch ready to wind down for the night.
“Sounds good to me, I just want to veg out until it’s time to go to bed.” He responds, passing me the remote and I quickly pull up the current crime show that we’ve been watching together.
We sit in perfect silence, enjoying the quiet of the night. Monty begins to rub my feet as we’re watching and my eyes grow heavy, until the sound of Monty’s phone goes off.
“Hey Big Guy! Wha-”
ChapterTwenty Eight
Evie
Seven Months Postpartum
Therestaurantisbusywith muffled chatter as servers swerve between the tables checking on the guests enjoying their meals. Harper and I got here about thirty minutes before our reservation, so I suggested we just sit and have drinks at the bar while we wait. It takes about half hour to get to Westroth, and we weren’t sure how traffic was so we left earlier than we needed to.
Which doesn’t bother me, I’m okay with a few drinks before we eat.
Two shots of liquid gold are placed in front of us. Harper passes me one and clinks hers with mine before saying, loudly I may add. “Happy Birthday bitch!” I throw the shot back and shutter as the taste of tequila swims down my throat. I know that there will be a few more coming before we’ll even get to sit down.
My gaze veers to the front as the noted thump of the front door closing alerts me. I watch an elderly couple make their way to the front and wait to be seated. The man takes the jacket off his wife, before he leans forward and places a soft kiss upon her cheek.
A sigh leaves my body, I’m all the way on the other side of the restaurant and I can feel their affection. “Look at that cute couple across the restaurant.” I rest my chin in my hand and watch them settle in at their table.
Harper giggles, the alcohol already making her feel good. She’s such a lightweight. “I hope Xavier still acts that way when I’m all old and wrinkly.” Grabbing her vodka cranberry and seven, she takes a sip.
“Girl please,” I huff, a smirk forming on my face. “That man isobsessedwith you. That kind of shit will never go away.”
She looks at me for a minute before shrugging her shoulders, “you make a good point.”
I grab my rum and coke and take a large sip. I know things with Monty and Josie are going well, but can I see us all older still being together? In a perfect world, yes absolutely.
We don’t live in a perfect world though, and now we’ve crossed a line that I’m not sure what’s going to happen when it inevitably ends. It’s not a matter of how it will end, but more of a question of when. I know that at some point, I’ll do something that’s going to mess this all up. They’ll slowly pull away, and then eventually they’ll toss me out with my things and tell me to go on my way.
I’ll be crushed, but I’ll pick up the pieces of my heart and do what I do best. Put on a fake smile that bleeds with confidence and pretend that I’m fine. Bringing the glass to my lips I realize that I finished it already. Too fixated in my head with the “what ifs” to realize I was sipping that drink back a little too fast. Sighing I place the glass on the bar top and pull out my phone.
There’s a message waiting for me from our group chat. Once we decided to see where this triad goes, Monty created a group chat for us.
Monty: Have a good night out with Harps, little minx.
Josie: If you need a ride home, let us know.
Monty: I think Xavy is the DD tonight Jojo. If she needs another ride, I’m sure she’ll let us know
Josie: *sighs* Monty, you’re brutal lol… but, still let us know when you’re home safe, Sweets.
A snort leaves me as I quickly type back my response.
Evie: A drunk Evie is not a quiet Evie, so I don’t think that would go very well.
Monty: That’s okay, we have a gag here somewhere in our box of goodies. *shoulder shrugs*
Josie: Oh for the love of…
