I love women, they’re so quick.
“Oh my fucking god,” Charlee says, her mouth dropping open. “Congratulations!!”
She rushes over and mauls Atlas with another hug, before she lets her go and smiles at me. “More for us.”
I throw my head back and laugh. Harley, Chase, Theo, and Rawley all come in.
“Theo!” Atlas hollers. “How are you? I haven’t seen you in awhile.”
Theo smiles at Atlas. “Hey girl! We’re doing all right. How’re you holding up since Asher left?” he asks her lightly.
If I hadn’t been watching her, I would have missed the grimace she makes quickly before recovering.
“We’re doing good! Just focused on having the best time with Peanut,” she says sweetly.
Charlee stays quiet, pouring the wine into four glasses. “Can we tell him?” She looks at Atlas, like she’s about to burst at the seams.
Atlas laughs. “Go for it.”
“Atlas is pregnant!” Charlee claps her hands, and passes a glass to me, Harley, Theo, and Chase.
Chase takes the glass and looks at Atlas. “Does Asher know?” he asks, taking us all by surprise. “I mean, did he know before he left?”
Atlas’s face goes pale, and she nods her head. “Yeah he knows, he can’t wait,” she says quickly, before excusing herself from the room.
I take a long drink from my glass and set it down, Harley’s eyes catching my attention as he watches Chase over the rim of his glass. The other guys come in, grabbing beer and water.
“That’s the last of it, man. All the boxes that were labeled are in their places, but the putting shit away is not in my job description.” He laughs and pats Harley on the back.
“Man, I owe you guys a big one,” Harley tells him, and I walk over to stand beside him.
“Thank you so much! Once we get everything settled in, we’ll have you guys over for dinner,” I tell them all.
“As long as Black isn’t the one cooking.” One of the guys laughs and punches Harley in the arm.
“Hey, if we’re being honest, I think he’s better than me,” I tell them with a serious tone. They all laugh as if they don’t believe me. I roll my eyes. They’ll have to figure it out themselves one day.
“Well we’re gonna head out, man. Holler at me when the Man Cave is done!” They turn and walk out, just as Atlas comes back into the room, Aria in her arms.
“My baby!” I hold my arms out with grabby hands to take her from Atlas. She passes her over, and Aria rests her head on my shoulder, not ready to be awake and lively yet. I give her a squeeze and turn to the fridge. “You want a snack baby?” I ask her, and she perks her little head up.
Atlas lets out a laugh and reaches to grab the box labeled “Coffee.” Harley hustles around the island before she can grab it. “Where do you want the coffee station, babe?”
I look around, trying to decide the best place for it. “Let’s put it here for now, and we can move it later if we want to,” I tell him, setting Aria on the island and peeling a string cheese apart for her. He puts the box on the counter, carefully removing all of his accessories to his coffeemaker, which is still in my trunk on a flat surface because he insisted it was of the utmost importance and should be separated from the rest of the house stuff. It came from his house, and he was totally right, the one at my house was a wee one compared to his.
We spend the next few hours drinking, laughing, and enjoying our first night in our new home surrounded by some of our favorite people. New and old. Rawley talked Harley into starting to set up the man cave. They carry the TV through the entry way to the right, and I hold the door for them to enter the garage. Across the way, I run over once they’re through the house door and flip on the light to the Man Cave room. They bring the TV and set it down right where Harley has the bracket set up to hang.
I watch the two of them go back and forth, joking and teasing, and my heart swells. “I’ll bring some drinks to put in the little fridge for you guys,” I tell them and turn to walk out.
“Hey, Ember,” I hear Rawley say behind me, stopping me in my tracks. I turn and look at him, nervous suddenly. I always find myself feeling nervous, because I never want to say the wrong thing.
”Hey, what’s going on?” I ask, shoving my hands in my pockets and rocking back on my heels.
“I just wanted to say thanks,” Rawley says, looking just as nervous, not meeting my eye. “My mom has been different since you guys met, and I overheard her telling my dad that she’s so thankful for all you’ve done for them and she’s glad you feel like a friend.” He twists his hands together, looking down at his feet. “I don’t really know what you’ve done for them, but thank you for whatever it was, and for being friends with my mom.”
I don’t know what to say, so I shake my head, words not coming out, and tears filling my eyes. Finally, I force the words out. “She’s done more than you know for me too. She’s an amazing woman, you’re dadtoo. An amazing man I mean.” I let out a laugh. He comes closer and I freeze, and he gives me a quick hug before retreating back to the Man Cave. Harley’s eyes catch mine, and the tears flow down my face.
He mouths to me quietly, “Are you okay?”
