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“Teams to root for. Well, actually there is, but there’s only one. You, Amelia, and baby. Your family. That’s the team, and we’re all rooting for you.”
“Thanks, Rae.”
“God knows you’ve done it for me. Now, want to help me make breakfast?”
“Hell yeah. Just like the old days.”
“Ew. Let’s not refer to college as ‘the old days’ yet.”
I can’t help but laugh. “But I’m about to be a dad and you’re trying for a baby.”
“And Nick had a kid in high school. Let’s just not.”
I smile as I pull eggs from the fridge. Breakfast sandwiches have always been our thing. It sucks being apart from Amelia, but at least I have the comfort of my friends while we figure our shit out.
I hope we figure it out.
Amelia
I am exhausted. It turns out spending a weekend in emotional turmoil, sleeping like crap, working all day, and generally being pregnant, makes you tired as hell.
I yawn as I walk into the apartment, torn between going straight to bed and eating dinner. I know I should eat, but the call of my cozy bed is strong. Setting my bags down and slipping off my shoes, I resign myself to changing into comfortable clothes and then making the decision.
After changing into sweats, I’ve accepted the fact that I need to eat before I do anything else. If I go right to sleep, I’ll wake up in the middle of the night nauseous and hungry.
Apparently, I’m bad at listening to my body because I’m already hungry. It’s been six hours since I ate lunch, and the snack I had between that time was not enough. I keep forgetting I don’t eat as lightly as I did before.
This is why Miles always tells me when to eat.
Well, he’s not here right now and that’s my own fault.
No. I am a capable woman who can take care of herself. I’ve just gotten too used to being spoiled. I may have been an only child, but my parents did not spoil me. Then again, when your father battles cancer multiple times throughout your life, it’s hard to be spoiled.
As I make my way back to the kitchen, there’s a knock at the door. When I open it, I see Katie standing there, two grocery bags at her sides.
My heart clenches. “Do you hate me?” The thought of losing another mother kills me.
Her eyes widen and she steps inside, throwing her arms around me.
“I’d hoped you’d know the answer to that by now. You’re my bonus daughter, and I’m so grateful for that. Whatever happens between you and Miles is not for me to get involved with. I love him and support him always, but I love and support you too.”
“Thank you,” I choke out.
She steps back and wipes a tear from my cheek. “Don’t thank me, honey. Just let yourself be loved.” She turns and grabs the bags from the hall, then shuts the door and slips off her shoes. “I come bearing food. And company if you want it.”
“I’d love both.”
“Good.” She marches into the kitchen and flings the refrigerator door open, cocking an eyebrow at its emptiness. “Good thing I came prepared.” Then she’s unloading container after container in all shapes and sizes filled with food. “Kara and I got together last night and decided to cook up a few things for you. Then Mackenzie’s mother, Linda, stopped by and added to our growing pile. We may have gone overboard, but there’s no such thing as too much food. There’s chicken parm, several casseroles including a spicy Mexican one, there’s banana bread and bagels, Kara’s sugar cookies, which are a recipe of her mother’s. They are to die for. There’s also some fresh fruits and vegetables, and of course…” She pulls out a round container and sets it on the counter. “Fried rice.”
Tears well in my eyes. Just the fried rice would’ve been more than enough.
“Did Miles ask you—”
“No. This is from our hearts to yours. There’s a note in there from Kara. We wanted to make sure you had everything you needed and didn’t have anything extra to worry about.”
“Thank you. This is… overwhelming. In a good way, if that makes sense.”
She laughs. “It does. Don’t worry. Anything you can’t eat in the next few days can go in the freezer. What would you like tonight?”
