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Maia
“Oh my god, this is so good. Will you make me more?” Leigh asks, mouth full of safe-to-eat brownie batter.
“There’s a ton more in the fridge,” I say with a smile.
She launches off the couch and goes straight to the fridge as Jenna and I laugh.
“Shut up! I’m always hungry. And chocolate is life.”
I hold up my hands. “No disagreement here. And our subs should be here soon. I love that almost everywhere in town delivers now.”
“Like you need more incentive to hide in your apartment,” Jenna teases.
“I’m nothiding. I just have a toddler to take care of.” I gesture to Harper, who is currently enamored with a talking puppy singing kids’ songs and occasionally lighting up or barking—it’s onlyslightlyobnoxious. Plus, she’s not screaming. So, I’ll take whatever win I can get.
“And the fact that you live with an extremely attractive man who thinks you’re the greatest thing in existence has nothing to do with it,” Leigh says, sitting down next to me on the couch with the container of brownie batter and spoons for each of us. When we both raise our eyebrows, she drags her spoon between us. “Don’t pretend we aren’t going to demolish this whole container tonight.”
Jenna and I glance at each other, then dig in. Because yeah, she’s probably right.
“Speaking of living with hot guys.” I look at Jenna. “How is living with Brett going?”
She smiles as she takes a bite off her spoon. “Still so damn good. I—I really think he’s the guy for me. Likethe one.” Leigh and I clap and squeal at that.
“That’s awesome!” I say, still doing a little happy dance. Noticing the clapping, Harper toddles over and claps her hands while laughing.
“Damn it, she’s so cute. That’s another thing! I never thought about having kids. Honestly, I wasn’t sold on the idea at all—” She stops and looks between Leigh and me. “No offense.”
We both laugh at that. “None taken, believe me,” Leigh says between bites.
“He makes me think about a future. No. Not justafuture.Ourfuture. But is that crazy? Could I actually have gotten this lucky on my first try?”
“Well, it’s not exactly your first try. You were choosy and didn’t jump into anything until it felt right. So, no, I don’t think it’s crazy. If it feels right in your gut, trust it.” I shrug and shovel more brownie batter deliciousness into my mouth.
“And is that how you feel about Vince?” Leigh teases.
My face scrunches up.Here we go.She already knows the answer to this. I should never have told the two of them that Braden and I kissed. I’m an idiot. It’s my own fault. All of it. I still feel guilty for kissing Braden, even though Vince was incredible about it. Minus the panic attack. Ugh. I hate that my stupidity caused that, too. Big hugs and cheek kissesonlyfrom here on out. But in case I need any reminding of how big an idiot I am, I have Jenna and Leigh.
“You already know how I feel about Vince,” I grump.
“Your lips don’t think so,” Jenna says, laughing.
“I seriously don’t know how you could be so stupid!” Leigh’s voice has a slight edge to it that surprises me.
“Hey. What’s wrong?”
She gulps down the bite in her mouth and stares at me. “Nothing.”
“Leigh Valentina Romero.”
“Don’t you middle name me, Maia Giana Barone.”
“Leigh…”
She gives me a little pout. “I’m fine.”
I lean around her with a furrowed brow. “Hmm. That’s funny. It doesn’t look like your pants are on fire.”
Jenna laughs at that, causing Leigh to glare at her.
