Cole: Will you dream of me?
My heart fluttered.
Me: You might make a cameo.
Cole: Dammit, I was hoping to have the starring role.
Jesus.This boy. He was everything I never knew I needed, and he was mine.
At least, he wanted to be.
* * *
Monday rolled around,and with it came the looming appointment for the egg retrieval procedure and finally starting my treatment. At least I felt a little more human today.
“You want a ride in?” Mom asked, grabbing her lunch from the refrigerator.
“Thanks, but Cole is getting me.”
“You know, you could carpool, do your bit for the environment,” Dad added.
Aaron breezed into the kitchen and grabbed Dad’s shoulder. “And miss out on a little one on one with my girl before classes started?” He smirked. “I don’t think so.”
“I swear to God, Son. If you get Poppy pregnant before you’re at least twenty-five—”
“Relax, old man. I always wrap it.”
“Aaron!” Mom gasped. “Can you please refrain from ever saying that again.”
“Sex Ed. 101, Mom. I thought you would appreciate knowing your son is being responsible.”
“Who’s being responsible?” Ezra said, slipping around Dad to make a beeline for the coffee maker.
“You don’t want to know,” I said.
“Ezra, surely you and Ashleigh can ride in with Cole and Sofia?”
“No can do. We have a thing.”
“A thing?” Dad’s brow quirked up.
“Oh yeah, the thing.” Aaron grinned. “I love the thing.”
“Sex. You’re talking about sex again, aren’t you?” Dad sighed. “We’re raising monsters, babe.”
“What did you really expect, Ash?” Mom gave him an amused smile. “They’reyoursons.”
“I wasn’t this bad.”
“You were pretty bad.”
They shared a secretive smile that had the three of us groaning.
“Okay, lovebirds. Nobody needs to watch their parents make moon eyes at each other before breakfast,” Aaron said. “Sofe, you good getting to school?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine.”
“See you losers later then.” He gave us a two finger salute and disappeared.