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Okay, maybe Xavier’s not Aveena’s slave, but I’m pretty sure if Vee told him to jump, he’d say how high. The guy would bend over backward to see his girl smile. Xavier and Aveena are like one soul in two separate bodies, and I’ve yet to meet someone who doesn’t envy the magic of their relationship. I wouldn’t be surprised if they got married before we graduat—
Wait.
What if they’re already married?
I gasp. “Holy shit, Vee. I was so busy complaining that I completely forgot you had something to tell us.”
“Right, your mysterious announcement. Spill it,” Lacey squeals.
It’s mind-blowing how much Lacey has matured in the past year. I always thought her mom’s husband was her dad, but it turns out Lacey’s father and her mom separated when she was a baby. She saw her dad weekly growing up and often spent weekends with him and her two stepsiblings. Her dad passed suddenly after graduation, leaving his two kids alone and in desperate need of a home.
They had no one. Not one family member except for Lacey. Lacey became the legal guardian to a sixteen-year-old girl and an eleven-year-old boy overnight. She’s practically a mom now, and while I don’t wish what she went through on anyone, it sure helped her grow.
It took Aveena a while to warm up to the new Lacey, but she eventually started to see Lacey for who she was: a rich girl who lacked perspective due to the circumstances she was raised in. She’d never seen human misery up close or witnessedreal-lifeissues before then. It took her entire life getting turned upside down for her little privilege bubble to burst. The three of us are inseparable now, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Aveena joins her hands on the table. “Take a guess.”
Lacey and I stop to think for a moment.
“You’re engaged,” I brainstorm.
“Nope,” Aveena says.
“Married? If you had a secret wedding without us, I’m throwing hands,” Lacey teases.
“Nope, try again.”
“You’re pregnant.” I put the thought forward for the sake of it but don’t really believe it could be true until Aveena’s smile grows three sizes, and warmth explodes in my chest.
My eyes immediately become misty.
“No way.” My palm darts to my mouth. I’ve always suspected that Xavier and Aveena would be young parents. They’re so hopelessly in love it was practically a given. Especially now that they live together.
“You’re pregnant?” Lacey blurts out, earning herself a few glances from the café’s customers.
“I don’t know for sure yet, but I’m late,” she clarifies.
“Did you take a pregnancy test?” I ask.
“Does Xavier know?” Lacey adds.
We throw a thousand questions her way before Aveena manages to get a word in.
She holds her hands up with a laugh. “Slow down. No, I haven’t told Xavier. I’ve been too scared to take the test.”
“Why are you scared? You always said you wanted kids one day.” I notice Aveena tapping her fingers against the table and cover her hand with mine. She smiles at the calming gesture.
“Yeah, but I didn’t think one day would be now. I’m nineteen. We’re two broke college students struggling to make ends meet. How are we going to take care of a baby?”
“You’ll figure it out. Together,” Lacey reassures her. “And sure, you might be struggling right now, but your man’s on his way to getting drafted in the NBA, remember?”
“We don’t know that he will,” Aveena argues.
“Please. He’s one of the best players this school has ever seen. You won’t be broke for long,” Lacey asserts.
“And it’s not just him. One day, you’re going to graduate and become an amazing psychiatrist. You can do this, Vee.” I squeeze her hand for support, and a tear rolls down her cheek.
“It’s just… what if I let that kid down like my father did?”
