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“Okay,” I said on a sigh, bringing my arms down to wrap around her waist. “I’ll leave it alone this weekend, but I won’t forget about your promise.”
Gwen nodded against my chest, then burrowed in for a good hug.
“I’ve missed you,” she said, causing my heart to squeeze and my eyes fill.
I brushed at my eyes and looked toward the door to make sure no one was watching.
“I’ve missed you too, Gwennie,” I replied, leaning down to kiss the top of her head.
I hoped that she was telling the truth, and would be able to come clean. Speaking her feelings had never come easily for Gwen, and I understood why. I totally got it. She was still in denial over what happened. She didn’t think she was raped, date raped, or even taken advantage of… not in her mind. She kept a lock on her emotions, and when something hurt, she shut down, and blocked out the source of her pain. Now that she was letting me back in her life, I was making it my mission to help her heal. I loved her, and as someone who loved her, it was my duty to push her to work through her problems. Even if she fought me every step of the way.
Chapter Thirteen ~ Gwen
Present Day (20 years old)
“I’ve missed you,” I said with a smile as I pulled back from kissing Victoria on the cheek. I took in her large belly, and felt envious that she still managed to look like she just stepped off a runway. Clad in a beautiful violet maternity gown, by some famous designer no doubt, her dark hair pulled back in a long straight tail that ran down her back. Victoria was the picture of a glowing pregnant woman. She looked so happy that she practically radiated sunshine and rainbows.
If I didn’t love her so much, I’d feel nauseous.
“I’ve missed you, too,” Victoria said with a smile. “You look beautiful.”
I blushed at her compliment. I had put forth a little extra effort with my appearance today. I’d told myself it was silly, but knowing Craig would be here, and that we’d agreed to bury the hatchet… or rather, I had, I felt a little flutter of anticipation of getting to see him today and really talk to him. Spend time with him. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed him until he’d held me last night. I guess I’d tried to block those feelings out. But now that the block had been lifted, it was like everything I’d felt for him over the past ten years was magnified.
“Thanks,” I responded simply.
“Come on in.” Victoria took my hand and led me through the Spanish-style home that she and Brock lived in. It was the same home that Brock had been raised in, and that he’d taken over when his parents had been killed in an accident. He’d been eighteen and in his last year of high school when it happened, but had quit school and started working to support himself and his two brothers, Brady and Brendan, who were then young teens themselves. Brock had gone on to open his own painting business, which was now extremely successful. Victoria was an interior designer, who worked not only with Brock, but with Brandt Industries, the company that Scott worked with. Which was funny, because she and Scott used to be engaged.
It was pretty crazy when I thought about it, how intertwined this group really was.
We walked into the living room, which was a hodge podge of Victoria’s sophisticated taste, and Brock’s casual, comfortable taste. Somehow, just like them, it worked.
I smiled as I took in the people who had already arrived.
Sasha was gorgeous, yet refined, in her usual uniform of a form-fitting pencil skirt, beautiful jade-green peasant blouse, and killer heels. She tossed her long flaming red hair over one shoulder and she talked happily with Shelly, who had already managed to lose most of the weight from baby number two. She and Cal, Craig’s brother, had experienced a rough patch in their marriage over two years ago, but had managed to make things work and develop an even stronger relationship. Since then they’d had two children, Sophie, who was about a year and a half, and little Timmy, who was only a couple months old. Shelly and Cal were wonderful parents. Craig and I had made it back for both births, as well as Sophie’s first birthday party. Craig was over the moon at being an uncle, and spoiled the kids whenever he could. He’d gotten Sophie the sweetest little pink baseball glove for her birthday.
My sister was there already too, chatting with Ms. Rose and Victoria’s sister Abby, who was cute, but edgy, in a punk-rock kind of way. She managed to make her spiked hair, short skirt and layered tank tops look stylish, rather than crass, and I think it had to do with how comfortable she was in her own skin. I envied her that. I never felt that sure of myself.
“Where are Brock, and the guys? I thought Craig said he was coming,” I asked Victoria when I looked around and noticed that it looked like a normal baby shower, with the decorations, snacks, and party games… no guys.
Victoria rolled her eyes and chuckled, “Brock said that there was no way he was having a ‘joint baby shower’, so he and the guys are out back barbecuing and talking about manly things.” She leaned in and whispered laughingly in to my ear, “But he’s kidding himself if he thinks I won’t drag him in here when it’s time to open the presents. I had to let him think he was having a separate, guys party outside, but we both know that’s not the case.”
I laughed as she pulled away with a wink, and said, “I’m going to go say hi.”
“Okay, but hurry back. We’re going to start the games in a few minutes.”
“I will,” I promised.
Brock’s house was one of my favorite places. Not just because of how homey it always felt, but because when you walked outside, it was like crossing over into a different world. A fantasy.
With a grotto-style pool, swim-up bar, built-in slide, hot tub, and custom grill, Brock and Victoria had a setup that most people only dreamt about. Brock had told me it was his first big purchase after his business had taken off. At the time, he, Brady, and Brendan had all lived here together, and they’d loved updating their bachelor pad. But I knew, now, it was going to be a great place for their kids to grow up.
I grinned happily when I saw Brock manning the grill, a beer in his hand and a smile on his bearded face. I ran over to him and gave him a big hug, careful not to spill his beer, or hit the grill.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Brock said when I untangled myself enough to show my face. “How’s school?”
“Great,” I responded, still smiling happily. Brock was one of my favorite people in the world. When he’d dated Gaby, he’d shown a real interest in me, which meant a lot when you were a teenaged girl. I’m sure, because he raised his brothers, he had a natural ability with kids, but he was also just a genuine person. Full of love and affection, and even though he was a big, mountain of a man, he wasn’t afraid to show it at all. “How are you, Papa?”
At the term Brocks grin grew, and I could see how excited he was to become a daddy. I couldn’t help but think that baby was going to be one lucky kid.
