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“Don’t worry, man.” Liam turns to me. “As soon as she pops that baby out, she’ll forget all about your love life.”
“Ha! Love life? There won’t be one for a long ass time,trust me. You’ll be having your next baby before I have a relationship.”
“Don’t put that idea in his head!” Maddie scolds as Liam laughs. “He’ll keep me knocked up!”
“What’s the problem with that? You’re adorable.” I look over my shoulder and smirk.
“I wasadorablefour months ago. Now, I’m just a beached whale.”
Maddie talks my ear off for the next three hours, and soon, Liam’s pulling into the driveway. They bought a new house, but the picture I saw of it didn’t give it justice because it’s big and beautiful.
“Home sweet home!” Maddie says, wrapping her arms around me from the back seat. “I’m glad you’re here.”
I squeeze her and smile. “I am too. Thanks for having me.”
“If it were up to me, you’d move in permanently, so don’t thank me just yet. I plan to talk you into staying.”
Liam opens the door and helps her down. “Babe, you can’t harass him the whole time.”
“I’m not.”
Liam gives me an apologetic look, but I don’t mind. Listening to Maddie’s antics brings me back to being roommates and hanging out every day. That was before shit got complicated with the O’Learys.
Baby Tyler wakes up when Liam grabs him out of the car seat, and he nuzzles his face into Liam’s neck. I take the diaper bag from him, then shut the door.
“Gonna give me the grand tour?” I tease as we make our way to the front.
“Absolutely!” Maddie answers. “I have your room all set and ready. Can’t wait to show you.”
A couple of days after my arrival, we had a cookout and my other friends—Mason, Sophie, Hunter, Lennon, and all their kids—came over. It was the reunion I’d been anxious about for months. Though they all visited me from time to time, it wasn’t as frequent as Maddie and Liam, so it was good to see them.
We drank beer, talked about sports, and I played with the little ones. For the first time in years, I felt normal. Though at moments, I’d look around waiting for the guard to tell me time was up, then push me back in my cell.
I hadn’t realized the PTSD would kick in so quickly or that I’d actually have it. There’s no “therapy session” that walks us through going back to real life. Basically, I’m just winging it. It was often lonely. The only person I had actual conversations with was my cellmate, Archer. We met three years ago, and before him, I didn’t talk much to anyone. He has a few years left, and I told him to get in touch with me as soon as he’s released. I even left him my new address in case he wanted to reach out.
Tomorrow, I’ll fly to Alabama, and Everleigh will pick me up from the airport. I don’t have much packed, maybe a suitcase full. Liam was able to grab some things from my old apartment in Vegas, mostly clothes and some personal items. My sister’s letting me stay in her spare room, which is great for me, but I already feel like a burden. Though she’s told me several times I’m not, it’s hard not to feel like a failure at life right now.
“The baby has been kicking all day.” Maddie waddles into my room and plops down on the bed. “He’s protesting you leaving.”
“Is that so?” I ask with amusement, popping a brow.
She crosses her arms over her chest and frowns. “Yes. He wants to meet you as soon as he’s here.”
“You can FaceTime me on my new phone,” I remind her. “After the birth, though, please. Not during.”
Liam chuckles as he walks in holding baby Tyler, glancing at Maddie, then me. “Trust me, I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“It won’t be the same.” Maddie pouts. “But either way, you better answer when we call. No matter what.”
“I will, promise.”
She closes her eyes, and tears stream down her cheeks. It guts me to see her upset. I love Maddie and appreciate everything they’ve done for me, but I can’t stay. No matter how much she wants me to, I just can’t.
“Mads, don’t cry.” I lean over and wipe her cheek. “I’ll visit. We’ll text and talk on the phone. You’ll send me photos of your babies. I’ll FaceTime you and show you around my hometown.”
She sniffs and nods. “You better!”
“I will.”
