Page 89 of Cross the Line
“It’s not what you’ve been programmed to think about, Fin.” Her arm links with mine. “I told you, Babe, the world out here is a different kindof dark. You have to be able to protect yourself, even if Eli and Jayden are there to do it, too.”
“It’s all so darn overwhelming, like I’m always running behind on everything and?—”
“Welcome to the real world, Amish,” she croons when we reach the table where Alice and Summer are already sitting with a selection of dishes waiting for us.
“I’m so sorry,” Summer says, getting up to hug me in greeting. “I tried to wait, but this little bean is already as bossy as his or her dad.”
“That’s okay, we lost track of time trying to find presents for men who have everything or who can buy themselves anything…” I blow out a breath, sitting in the chair beside hers while Alice and Christina cheers each other with some sake.
Summer chuckles, squeezing an edamame bean into her mouth while she gestures for me to tuck in, too. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay,” I tell her. “Thank you for letting me take this morning off.”
“Girl, you don’t need to thank me. I went home last night, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the whole ordeal.” Summer pauses with a visible shudder. “Anyway, we are not ruining our dinner with this conversation. It literally makes me feel sick.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Stop apologizing,” she says at the same time Christina groans, “If you apologize one more time…”
“Okay… okay…”
“Sum, do you have any advice on present shopping for rich-ass men?” Christina changes the conversation with a light tap of her foot to my ankle.
I really don’t know what I would do without her friendship. She’s the sister I never had. The sibling I always dreamed about having.
“Man, even now that Parker and I are married, I struggle with buying him gifts. So, this year, I’ve told him this is his present.” She points at her belly with a dreamy sigh.
The more time I spend with Summer, the more awed I am by her. She’s so warm and dedicated to her family—everything I’ve ever thought a mom and wife should be.
“What’s it like being pregnant?” The question tumbles from my mouth. It’s something I’ve wondered about a lot since becoming friends with her and listening to her talk to her belly. “Does it feel weird? I mean, you’re growing a human, that’s… wow…”
“I think I’m addicted to the feeling of having mine and Parker’s babygrowing inside me. It genuinely feels like the most important thing I’ve ever done.” Happiness glows on her face while she rubs her bump; it’s popping more and more with each passing week.
Watching her so in love with being pregnant stirs up a heart-wrenching tug in my chest. It’s a feeling I’ve never felt before, especially not about babies.
From the day my mother told me that my only purpose in life was to get married to the chosen man and have his babies, I was sure I never wanted to be a human incubator. But seeing Summer so thrilled all the time—it’s got me thinking…
Elijah and Jayden would make the cutest babies, and even though Elijah and I didn’t have perfect parents, I know he would make a wonderful dad. He has so much love to give, and Jayden is so soft, caring, and giving. I can just picture them with the sweetest little boys—possessing the same happy-go-lucky, boisterous streak as Jayden and Elijah’s tenacious determination.
The server comes to our table, taking mine and Christina’s order. Predictably, she orders a simple noodle dish while I order my favorite sushi from the selection Jayden ordered for us before.
“The spider rolls are my favorite, too,” Summer tells me with another soft rub of her belly. “I’m so grateful that crab is one of the few seafoods that my obstetrician said I can still eat.”
“Oh my God, ever since the morning sickness went away, all I can do is eat,” Summer says, mixing through the seaweed salad on her side dish. “When this baby gets here, I might not fit through any doors. I’ll be like the marshmallow man, but I don’t know, it’s incredible knowing that I have this forever piece of Parker and me, right in here.”
A forever piece of her and her husband. That sounds marvelous. An eternal memento of something so special. Like the bauble on our tree, only more permanent and lasting, and…
“I can’t wait to feel the baby kick and move.” Summer stuffs her mouth full of seaweed with a savoring hum, using her chopsticks to gesture for me to eat.
“I swear, you’re turning into a feeder,” Alice groans when the server returns with mine and Christina’s drinks and another tray with a variety of sharing dishes.
“If I didn’t order food, there would only be alcohol at this table,” Summer groans, leveling Alice with a faux glare while she fills her plate and then proceeds to fill mine. “Eat.”
“Maybe Finley doesn’t want to eat,” Alice tells her. “Maybe she wants some sake, too.”
I want to drink sake as much as I want to be a fire-breathing dragon.
Of course I don’t tell Alice that; I let her pour me a small cup while I dig into the food on my plate. When I see that Christina has finished her drink, I sneakily swap my cup with hers. I’ll stick with my lychee juice.
