Page 42 of Never Really Mine
Ah. What did he have to say?
My favorite band is going to be at Blue Ox tonight. Can we go?
You don’t have to ask permission to go, Marley.
I know that. I wasn’t asking permission, weirdo. I was inviting you.
Can’t say I’m mad about that. Does this mean we’re making progress toward her letting me back in?
Me
Oh. Yeah, I’ll come. No showings after this last one, so I can swing by and pick you up from the studio if you want.
Marley
Nah, I can drive.
Would make more sense to have just one car, though.
Fine. But I am capable of driving myself.
Never said you weren’t. What can I say? I want to spend time with you.
Oh okay. Text me when you’re on your way.
I pocket my phone, checking the time as I do.
The couple is still looking intently around the kitchen, the toddler giving me side-eyed glares.
“How are we feeling?” I ask. This house is literally everything they’ve been looking for, so I’m curious to see if they’ll make an offer.
“I love it,” the woman replies, her eyes full of light and ideas.
“Do you have any questions for me?” I ask, starting my process of finishing up the showing.
The woman asks a few more questions, clearly invested in this process. I answer them and then, thankfully, a few minutes later we are saying goodbye at our vehicles. They leave before me, but I sit in my car and stare at the house.
It’s cute, a two-story house with four bedrooms and two baths. Tucked away in the woods, it has more privacy than what can be found in town. It has plenty of room for kids to play and grow up. An idea starts to form in my head, though I know Marley will never go for it.
I type out a few needs and wants in a note on my phone, and then I’m heading off to pick Marley up.
30
MARLEY
The brewery is crowded, but I wouldn’t expect anything less. One of the local bands is playing tonight and they always bring out a crowd. I spot Josie at a corner table with Andrew. He’s leaning down, whispering something in her ear, and she blushes hot red, shoving his chest to push him away.
They’re so freaking cute, it makes me sick. But in a good way. Not like the nausea that I’ve been dealing with the last month.
Josie spots me, immediately standing and pulling me into a hug. “Oh my god, you totally popped this week,” she sings.
“I know, it’s crazy. I had the tiniest bump last week, and now it’s likebam, there’s babies,” I reply with a laugh. I noticed this afternoon after I finished a session that my once soft stomach was no longer just my normal curvy bumps, but an actual baby bump. I pretty much made every excuse to look in the mirror the rest of the day, even making sure to take a few pictures to document it.
“Can I?” she asks, gesturing down to my belly.
“Of course.” I step back, giving her better access to rest a hand on my bump. “Oh my god,” I say, my eyes suddenly filling with tears.
“What?” Josie almost shrieks, her hands fluttering up my body as if to find something physically wrong.
