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3
Annie
My mood is soaring by the time I reach my new condo. Coddle loved my idea. I want to run and tap my heels together when I hop out of my taxi and see a moving truck pulling away from the building.
I practically run through the lobby and into the elevator. When I reach my floor, my condo door is open, my dad, Mae, and Jake inside unpacking boxes.
“Dad, thank you,” I say, dropping my purse and bag on the couch.
“What else did I have to do today?”
“And you guys were going to go out,” I say to Mae and Jake. I hurry to help my dad unload my cups into the cabinet.
“The quicker we get you moved in, the quicker Mae buys us drinks.” Jake winks. “Unless someone has to take your sister to the hospital.”
“What?” I screech, abandoning my dad, but I don’t have to go far.
Beth waddles down the hallway, holding her back. “Someone needs to call the toilet paper police. She had two boxes full of toilet paper.”
“Beth, sit down.” I move my coat and bag off the couch.
She waves me off. “I’m trying to induce the baby.” She looks at her swollen belly. “You have two more days before I ground you for the rest of your life.” She sits down and puts her feet up on my coffee table.
“What does Sam have to say about this?” I ask with a smile.
She waves me off again. “Ask him. Sam!”
“What?” A bunch of metal clanks down the hall. “Is it time?” He appears in the doorway, his forehead slick with sweat.
“No, because the baby is as stubborn as you.”
Sam rolls his eyes at me, and I smile. “You’re right, honey, I’m the stubborn one.”
“Spoken like a trained husband.” Mae joins Beth on the couch, her hand clutching a bag of chips, then places her ear on her belly. “Can I listen?”
“You guys are too much. I can get all this done on my own.” Although the stacks of boxes lining the walls are a tad overwhelming.
“Who’s going to put your bed together? Jake?” Beth grabs a chip from Mae’s bag.
“I’m going to ignore that dig. I could’ve done it.” Jake rips open a box with gusto.
Beth rolls her eyes. “Whoa, Hercules, don’t make more work for us than necessary.”
“Oh!” Mae’s head shoots up off Beth’s stomach. “Piss her off some more, Jake, he’s moving.” She places her head back down.
I leave those two on the couch, knowing Mae’s probably just doing her best to keep Beth seated. I unpack some pots and pans, tackling the kitchen first like my dad taught me.
“So?” Jake eyes me.
“What?” I hand a stack of pots to my dad and he puts them in a cabinet. I’ll move them after he leaves.
“When I left, you were sitting in a dark room with Lorenzo Mancini.”
“Who’s he?” Beth asks Mae.
Mae dramatically sighs. “Only the hottest asshole you’d ever want in your bed.”
“Asshole being the keyword.” Jake’s gaze falls on my dad’s back. “Sorry, Mr. Stewart.”
