“I know exactly what you mean,” she whispers. “You really love her, I can tell.”
I nod instantly. “She’s the love of my life. There’s no one else for me but her.”
Chapter twenty-two
Aubrey
Note to Aubrey: Never listen to Emma and Ronnie.
~ Two Weeks Later / May ~
“I don’t get it, doesn’t she have a car?” Emma asks from the passenger side, where she’s reclined the seat completely and lies there with her huge sunglasses on. If she weren’t talking, I’d think she was sleeping.
“Don’t you?” I call back.
“Damn, baby Brey. Pregnancy is making you sassy.” She laughs.
“Sorry, I’m just… Ugh! I don’t even know anymore. I’m exhausted, I’m always hungry, I’m achy all over. And I’m constantly horny, even though Shane and I have sex every time he’s home,” I admit, my skin flushing a deep red. I rarely bring up my sex life, but this was needed.
“Welcome to pregnancy, babe. And you still got weeks to go.” She snickers. “And for your information, yes, I do have a car. But I, as well, am exhausted, and I finally have a day to myself with no kids, so I’m taking advantage of it.”
She pushes her sunglasses over her head. “It’s not every day that someone offers to take care of your two-month-old twins, and your two-year-old, for the day so you can relax and have some mommy time. That is why you are driving, and I’m simply enjoying the ride.”
“Well, see, Ronnie might not have the child excuse. But she, just like you, likes to enjoy the ride rather than drive herself. I’m guessing having two boyfriends comes in handy during that time. Always a ride available,” I point out.
Emma breaks out in a fit of giggles. “Literally.” I join along despite my heating cheeks once I realize what I’ve just said.
“You think your dad will be okay with the kids for the day? It’s the first time you’re leaving them, right?” I ask once our laughter subsides.
“Ugh, don’t remind me because then I’ll start crying. It’s horrible. You can’t wait to have some time off, but the minute you leave their side, all you want to do is run back to them. I still don’t understand how my parents were able to go weeks without seeing me. I could never do that to my kids.” She smiles sadly. “But yes, my dad will be fine. He loves those little ones so much, plus he has Amanda there to help.”
“That’s good. You deserve some time off and to have peace of mind.”
“Thanks, baby Brey.” She brings her seat back up and claps her hands together. “So, have we thought of any names yet? Because I have a few that could be really cute.” She then gasps. “Wait, does this mean once your daughter is born, I won’t be able to call you baby Brey anymore?”
I laugh. “We aren’t calling her Aubrey, so yes, I think you still can.” I wasn’t a huge fan of the little name she gave me when we first met, but now I love it and would feel weird if she stopped calling me like that. “And for baby names, I actually have one in mind, but I haven’t talked to Shane about it yet, so I can’t tell you.”
“What!? That isnotfair! Why would you tease me like that? I’m your sister, don’t I get sister privileges or something?”
“Maybe, but he’s her father, which means he should be the first to hear it. Sorry.” I smile sympathetically as she narrows her eyes at me.
“You’re no fun.”
I laugh as I park the Porsche in front of a tattoo parlor in Brooklyn. Ronnie asked me to pick her up at this address once she had finished getting her hair done. We climb out of the car and head inside the shop, where we’re greeted by a massive mammoth of a man.
“Well, well, well. It must be my lucky day. Three beautiful women in my shop at once.” He grins, a hint of playfulness in his voice. “What can I do for you ladies?”
I’m about to answer and tell him we’re looking for our friend when a woman with a flashy pink pixie cut comes out from behind a curtain at the back of the store, followed by Ronnie.
“First of all, this ismyshop. And second, they’re all taken, Bear. As are you.” She points a finger at him.
He lifts his hands up in the air. “Hey, no harm in some playful flirting when it comes to potential clients.”
She rolls her eyes at him as Ronnie comes over to us. Her freshly done hair is now a vibrant deep blue at the top with flashy lime-green ends. She’s always trying new color combinations every month, and every single one of them looks fantastic on her.
“Wow, Ronnie. Your hair looks amazing!” I tell her, reaching out to touch a few soft strands.
I think she may have cut a few inches off as well. It’s not as short as she used to keep it, where the ends touched her shoulders. But now rather than it reaching her midback, it stops at the end of her shoulder blades.
