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Before long, Lexi and Linkin take the twins home to get them ready for their bedtime routine. Everyone else takes a few more swings in the batting cages and the rest of the pizza is polished off. Well, everyone but Meghan. She seems…off tonight. More than once, I’ve found her gazing off at nothing with tears in her eyes. It makes my heart hurt for her, at the pain she’s still clearly carrying around.
And then it hits me.
October.
Three years ago, they moved in together. This was when they started mapping out their lives together. If only we’d known that the road would take them so far off course.
When I glance over again, she seems almost angry. Like she’s trapped inside her own head, lost in memories she can’t seem to forget, and unable to come up for air. I head her way and see the change as soon as she notices my approach.
“Hi,” she says, her voice slightly pitchy.
“Hey, you all right?” I ask.
“Yes, of course. Having fun. You?” Her smile is in place, but this isn’t Meghan. This is the face of a woman tortured, who’s putting on her brave, strong face to keep people from asking questions.
“Meg,” I start, grabbing her arm and pulling her a little further away from the crowd. “What’s wrong?”
She glances around and her eyes fill with tears. This time, they fall down her soft porcelain skin, unchecked. “He should be here, AJ. Josh should be over there, laughing and talking with the guys. He should be in the batting cages and tossing the ball around with Sawyer. He should be holding my nephews,” she chokes out, burying her face in her hands.
I wrap my arms around her shoulders and let her cry. Lord knows that in the last year and a half, we’ve barely seen her cry. It’s like she’s had to keep up some sort of Wonder Woman persona for appearances. Well, maybe now she’ll let it go. Cry. Yell. Kick. Scream. Let it all out so she can finally take a step forward, instead of being chained to her past.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers in my shoulder.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” I tell her honestly.
“I’m messing up sisters’ night,” she sniffles, pulling back and wiping her eyes and nose on a Kleenex that Jaime has brought over.
“Pfff, are you kidding? Look at all of those guys over there,” I say, pointing over my shoulder. “I think they messed up sisters’ night long before you did with a few tears. Besides, Lexi cried three times in the two hours they were here,” I remind her.
“True,” she sniffs. “But she’s hormonal. I’m just having a pity party,” she adds.
“It’s not a pity party when you’re still dealing with a lot of emotions for an event that changed the entire course of your life, Meggy.”
She nods, but doesn’t say anything for a few moments. “I think I’m going to head home.”
“Why don’t I drive you?” I offer.
“No, I couldn’t ask you to leave everyone.”
“We’re done here anyway. Sawyer told the guy we’d lock up at ten,” I say, checking my watch. “In fact, I have an idea. Why don’t we have a sleepover tonight? You and me, some ice cream and a total chick flick movie? What do you say?”
“I couldn’t possibly pull you away from Sawyer. He did so much to set up tonight for all of us.”
This time it’s my turn to shrug. “I think he’ll be all right without me for one night. And besides, he’s coming to brunch tomorrow at the café with everyone. I’ll pick him up on my way in the morning.”
She doesn’t quite seem convinced yet, but I can tell by the way she hasn’t completely shot me down that she kinda likes the idea of a sleepover. So I don’t let her argue. The decision is already made. “I’ll just have to steal some clothes from you in the morning,” I tell her with a hip bump.
“Fine, but you better not drool on my pillow,” she sasses, hip bumping me back.
“I don’t drool! I’m too ladylike for that,” I quip, earning a snort from my sister.
With my arm around her shoulders, I pull her back to the crowd. Jaime gives me a knowing smile and Payton squeezes my arm as I walk by. I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t have a few more visitors for tonight’s sleepover.
Leaving Meghan with our sisters, I head over to talk to Sawyer. “She okay?” he whispers, placing one hand on my hip and giving it a gentle squeeze.
“She will be. She has her ups and downs, and unfortunately, tonight is a down. Listen, I think I’m going to stay with her tonight. She’s really–”
“Don’t say anymore,” he interrupts. “You’re needed with her tonight.”
