Page 41 of Loud Hot Roomie
I peek out the front window to check on Riko and the kids. They’re both standing close to him, heads tilted up, and listening intently to whatever he’s saying. It’s adorable. Seeing him interact with them, doing something he loves, warms my heart. Sensing my presence, Riko looks over his shoulder toward the window and blows me a kiss. I grin and then head back inside to finish cooking one of the few things I’m good at. Frozen chicken nuggets. The timer dings and I pull them out of the oven.
Movement through the window out back near the pond catches my attention and I notice Casey and Clara out with the baby. Casey is squatting while holding onto the stroller and Clara bends over to touch her head.
Something’s wrong.
I turn off the oven and then slip out the back door. It’s weird actually coming out here to see her after all this time. But, it’s long overdue. If we’re going to be neighbors, we need to at least be civil.
“Casey,” I say as I approach them. “Everything okay? Where’s Brayden?”
Her head snaps up and she gapes at me in shock. “Oh, hey. Uh, he’s at the rental property.”
“Are you sick?”
“That’s puke,” Clara snips, pointing a finger at the grass behind them. “But thank you, Captain Obvious.”
And to think I defended this girl a couple of weeks ago. She’s a good friend to Casey, but a total bitch to me now.
“It’s fine,” Casey mutters as she stands upright. “I’m fine. Nauseous all day every day. My mom thinks this one will be a girl.”
I drop my eyes to her stomach in shock. “You’re pregnant again?”
A flash of sadness flickers in her eyes. I know we’re both thinking about her first loss.Ourloss. But she’s gone on to finally get the family she wants and deserves. I’m surprised, I guess, to learn of another pregnancy so soon after she had her son.
“Just found out a couple of weeks ago,” she says, nodding. “I can hardly work. My clients probably hate me.”
“Nah,” I say quickly. “You’re good at what you do.”
She gives me a warm smile. “You want to see him?”
The baby?
My gut churns. I bet the chicken nuggets are getting cold. “Uh, sure.”
Her face is still pale from being sick, but there’s a pep in her step as she pulls her baby from the stroller. I watch in awe as she hugs him to her chest, kissing the top of his fuzzy blond head.
“I’m happy for you,” I say softly. “He’s beautiful.”
She beams at me, pride making her more lovely than ever. “Thank you.”
Our words are cut short when a soccer ball sails over the top of Linda’s townhouse and bounces over to us. Clara stops it with her foot.
And then I see Riko trot between Linda’s unit and ours toward us. A flicker of apprehension dances down my spine. I wanted to make the introduction on my terms, not by surprise. But, I suppose this is happening.
“Sorry,” Riko calls out as he approaches. “I had to show Topher I can kick harder than him—Casey?”
She step closer and gasps. “Riko!”
I’m shocked as hell that the two of them know each other.
He ambles over to her and hugs her. “I didn’t know you lived here.”
“I do,” she says and pulls away to put the baby back in the stroller. “Why are you here, though?”
I start to speak, but he beats me to the punch.
“I live here, too.” He laughs. “With Derek.”
It’s then both their smiles fall.
