Page 52 of Never Really Mine
No, wait. That gives me heartburn.
Chicken Alfredo.
Fuck, I don’t know. It all sounds good. I want it all.
lol.
Sausage, pepperoni, black olives, onion and pineapple. I’ll take an antacid. Please don’t question my choices.
Never. I’ll pick it up and be home soon.
I’ll be home in twenty.
I slide my phone into the pocket of my purse as we pull into Nikki and Richard’s driveway. The lights are on next door at my parents’ house, and for a moment, I consider having Josie drop me off too. I miss my parents, even though I saw them just about a week ago. I need to make sure I spend more time with them.
We say our goodbyes to Fallon, then run across town to drop Megan off before heading to my place.
When we pull into my driveway nearly thirty minutes later, the kitchen light is on, and I can see Beau walking around inside. He must have just gotten home. My stomach rumbles with the promise of pizza.
Josie puts the car in park, and I groan when I remember all the bags. I didn’t buy nearly anything today except a handful of maternity items I insisted on purchasing myself, but the other girls did. They didn’t hold back from buying me clothes, a pregnancy pillow, and all sorts of other goodies. They even bought clothes, stuffed animals, and things for the babies, too. “You have to help me bring all this in,” I say with a huff.
“Duh,” she replies. “I totally went overboard, didn’t I?”
“Just a bit,” I chuckle, holding my fingers up and pinching them together.
“Worth it, those two are going to be spoiled rotten. I already spoil Lennie, so get used to it.”
I laugh, pulling my best friend in for a hug. “I love you,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “I”m sorry I’m a mess right now, but I appreciate you more than you know. I needed this day.”
She squeezes me tightly. “I did too. We haven’t spent much time together lately, and that isn’t going to happen anymore. You’re going to get sick of me.”
“Deal,” I reply.
Together, we grab the abundance of bags and head inside. Beau’s standing in the kitchen in a pair of sweats and a short-sleeved shirt, plating the pizza. The wonderful aroma makes my mouth water and I have to stop myself from running across the room and swiping the plate from Beau’s unknowing hands.
“Jeez,” he says in lieu of greeting.
“It wasn’t me,” I defend myself.
“I can attest to that,” Josie says. “It was all me and some of Megan.”
“What is it?” Beau asks. As he turns, I see a layer of thin bandage on his upper arm just under the hem of his t-shirt.Did he get a tattoo today?
“Clothes for Marley, toys, the works,” Josie responds, walking down the hall to my room. “Marley, should I put this bag in the guest room? Is that where the nursery will be?”
I’m so distracted by the potential of Beau’s new tattoo that I don’t interrupt her to tell her to put it in my room. “Oh.” I hear her pause. “Nevermind!”
I groan, walking through the kitchen toward her. “Just throw it in my room for now,” I say as I get closer. “It’s a mess from this morning, but I’ll find a place for it all.”
I swing open my bedroom door, shocked to find it spotless. All the clothes that were strewn across the floor from earlier are now hanging in my closet or folded and placed neatly on top of my dresser. Beau must have cleaned it while I was gone.
“If this is your version of messy, we need to have a conversation,” Josie teases.
I shake my head. “No, uh. Beau must’ve cleaned up the clothes after I left.”
“Ahh,” Josie murmurs, as if that explains everything. “Should I put these in the closet for now?”
“Yes, please,” I answer. She puts the bags in a corner of my already stuffed full closet and pulls me in for a quick hug.
