Page 154 of Our Chaotic Love Affair

“I’m just saying, you’ve been together for three months. You’re practically living together. You look at her like she hung the moon. What are you waiting for?”

“The right moment.”

“There’s no perfect moment. You just do it.”

I looked at my brother. “Did you just give me relationship advice? You, the consummate bachelor.”

“I watch movies.”

Back at the house, the party was in full swing. Melody was sitting on what could only be described as a throne. She was wearing a pretty pink dress and was now covered with bows. She looked exhausted.

Six months pregnant, and it was showing. Her face was puffy, her ankles were swollen, and she kept shifting in her chair like she couldn’t get comfortable. But she was smiling, greeting guests, pretending everything was fine.

Cleo told me there were some concerns with the pregnancy, but everything was fine. Austin was taking good care of her. She wasn’t allowed to lift a finger.

Cleo was right there beside her. Keeping Melody’s water glass full. Making sure she had a pillow for her back. Running interference when someone wanted to touch her belly without asking. Being the best friend and support system all rolled into one.

I watched her work the room, charming Melody’s friends, entertaining the kids, making sure the food kept coming. She was in her element. This was what she did. She took care of people, made them feel seen and valued.

And she was doing it while building her own business on the side. She was working on a website. Had plans to launch a podcast.

She was incredible.

And she was mine.

“Gifts!” someone announced.

Everyone gathered in the living room. Cleo sat on the floor beside Melody with a notebook, ready to write down who gave what so that thank you notes could be sent later.

The gifts were overwhelming. Clothes, blankets, toys, books, a state-of-the-art stroller that looked more complicated than my car. Melody opened each one with genuine excitement, even though I could see her energy flagging.

Then Cleo handed her a small box wrapped in yellow paper.

“This one’s from me,” Cleo said quietly.

Melody opened it and pulled out a tiny yellow onesie. Her eyes immediately filled with tears.

“I bought this months ago,” Cleo explained. “Back when we went to the spa in the Hamptons. Before you even knew you were having a boy. I saw you looking at it and I knew—I just knew—I had to get it for you.”

“Cleo, it’s perfect,” Melody’s voice broke.

Melody pulled Cleo into a hug. They both cried. Half the room cried. Even Austin looked suspiciously misty-eyed.

After all the gifts were given and people started filtering out to the backyard where we’d set up more seating, Cleo started the monumental task of organizing everything.

“I’m going to take this stuff upstairs,” she announced. “Get it into the nursery so you guys can sort through it later.”

“I’ll help,” I said.

We made trip after trip up the stairs, arms loaded with gifts. The nursery was coming together. Pale blue walls, white furniture, a rocking chair in the corner that Melody had obsessed over for weeks.

On our fifth trip, Cleo paused in the middle of the room, holding a tiny pair of sneakers.

“Look at these,” she said. “They’re so small. How are feet this small?”

“Baby feet.”

“I know, but it’s insane. In three months, there’s going to be an actual human wearing these.”