AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I was ready.
I pulled into the driveway of Junie’s townhouse and stomped up to the door on a mission. Everybody was going to get their happily ever after and I was not going to be denied. I rapped my knuckles on her bright blue door.
Junie opened the door with a scowl on her pretty face, dressed in the rattiest pajamas I’d ever seen.
“What on earth are you wearing?” I asked, incredulous. Junie always put herself together attractively. I didn’t know she owned anything like what she had on.
“Where the hell have you been?” She snapped, ignoring my question.
"Me? What?” I pointed to my chest and took a half step back. Junie’s eyebrows scrunched together, and her face was pink.
“Your cell phone was off all night. You were supposed to call me about going to the mall and you never did. I called and called, and you never answered. Finally, I called Mara and she said you were dealing with some news, that you were fine but needed some, and I quote, space!”
“I’m sorry for worrying you, Junie, truly. Are you going to let me in?” I reached towards her, apologetic.
“Fine.” She flounced away. “But it better be some big fucking news.”
I smiled to myself and mumbled, “I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.”
Junie was pacing the length of her small living room. Junie’s home was a riot of color, with her brightly colored furniture, the art on the walls, her funky lamps, and the decorative throw pillows tossed in strategic corners.
She stopped pacing and faced me.
“I was worried,” she admitted, “after last week when we barreled into that situation, and the way you were afterwards, and then I couldn’t get in touch with you…”
Junie swiped under her eyes with her fingers. I walked to her quickly and put my arms around her. She was so damn tiny. We were opposites in the looks department, but our souls were twins. I lay my cheek against the side of her head.
“I’m pregnant, Junie,” I said softly.
She froze in my arms for a moment, then yanked herself back, her blue eyes massive as she scanned my face. I smiled, and Junie’s face crumpled.
Tears sprang from her eyes, and she sobbed, “You’re happy, Willa? You’re happy?”
I nodded and found myself swiping at my own eyes. Junie threw her arms back around me and held me tight.
“I’m so happy for you! I never thought...” She shook her head. “Never mind! I’m so happy for you! What did Barrett say?”
She tugged me over to her wide, comfortable couch and sat down close beside me.
“Are you feeling okay?”
She stood back up.
“Do you need a glass of water? Or milk! Milk would be good.” She eyed my bazookas. “We don’t want to overdo it.”
I laughed out loud. “Junie, sit. That’s not even the reason I came over. And milk? No, ew. Unless you have chocolate syrup?”
“I’ll get some. I’ll buy stock in it,” she exclaimed excitedly, her little hands folded under her chin. “What do you mean that’s not the reason you came over?”
I shook my head. “It’s not. I mean, I would have told you before I left but that’s not why I came.”
“Is that why you left?” she asked gently.
“It is.” I patted the couch beside me. “Come sit down and I’ll tell you what happened.”
She sat and held my hand while I told her all that had transpired in the past twenty-four hours. She cried when I cried, and I cried a surprising amount.
“I’ve hardly ever seen you cry,” Junie mused. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you so emotional.”
