I am officially losing my shit.
This day has to be perfect. Dee took Izzy early this morning to spend the day at the salon next to the office. I avoid that place. I don’t care how many times Izzy tells me that weird little man is harmless—I’m not buying it. The other day, he pinched my ass, which Izzy thought was hilarious. I couldn’t even be mad about it when she was standing there laughing. Her large belly was bouncing with each breath. It was almost worth asking him to do it again if it got that kind of reaction from my girl.
The last few months have flown by. We have spent every second getting the nursery ready and finally filling my house with more furniture than one person should ever own in one lifetime. It keeps a smile on her face and it makes her happy. I would bend over backwards if it means that smile stays on her face.
These last few days have been harder on her. Not only has she been dealing with an overdue baby, but the Georgia heat is making her miserable. We all do what we can to make things easier, but I can tell it is getting harder on her.
Yesterday was a bad day. She spent the day in bed crying and wouldn’t let me leave her side. She would say things about our angel baby missing out on his little brother. It killed me to hear her talk like that, but I would be lying if I said the thought hadn’t crossed my mind too. We have worked hard to overcome our loss, even going to therapy a few times to talk about things that were still painful. We are closer than ever, but that doesn’t mean that things don’t still sit heavy on our hearts.
“Yo! Reid, got the cake. That bitch at the bakery tried to tell me that you didn’t tell her you needed it this afternoon. Got it, but damn that shit wasn’t pretty.” Coop comes through the door with the stupid fucking cake I have been screaming at the bakery over for the last two days. Idiots.
“Dee just called. She said Sway was finally done rubbing all over Izzy’s belly and has just started her hair. Should be another two hours now. Good news is, we can figure out where those fucking caterers are,” Greg says, coming into the kitchen from the deck.
I’m about to pull my fucking hair out.
It isn’t even a big party. All the guys are coming, and last time I checked, even Maddox is bringing a date. Emmy has been here since Izzy left, helping me set up the streamers and balloons. Dee’s current boy toy, and newest ‘piss off Beck’ ploy—is here helping also. I don’t know him very well, but Izzy says that he is nice enough. I wish those two would stop their fucking games and just admit that they want to be together. I’ve talked to Beck a few times about it, but he would just change the subject and say that it wasn’t his idea. I think I understand where Dee is coming from, but I am sick of playing monkey in the middle.
“Where’s Locke?” I ask. Doesn’t matter who answers me at this point.
“He went to pick up Daisy,” Emmy says softly next to my side. “Or maybe it was Candy.” She smirks and walks away.
I shake my head, thinking, once again, it would be nice if someone stopped making me feel like I am stuck in the middle.
Walking back into our living room, I push aside the balloons that seem to be floating in every direction and stand in front of the fireplace. Hanging dead center is the picture I gave Izzy for Christmas. Immediately, a sense of calm rushes through my body. I take a deep breath and remember what the point of this massive headache is.
My girl.
My girl and returning her birthday to a day of happiness and not one of heartbreak.
With a new determination, I turn and walk back to out to the porch, where we are finishing up with the decorations.
There are pink and white balloons flying from every available banister. The path down to our dock is lined with torches, and there are lights streaming from the branches of the trees that line our yard. It looks like it is raining white lights.
Emmy spent hours littering the yard with pink and red rose pedals. Coop and Beck had a good laugh over the roses. Laugh all they want, but when they find their women, they will be pulling out all the stops to make sure that life is perfect, too.
We set up tables across the yard and to the side for all the food. My backyard has been transformed into a princess’s dream. I can’t wait to see her face when she takes it all in.
“Greg!” I snap, yelling into the house for him. “Any word on those motherfuckers with the food?” This is what I get for hiring out a big company to cook some fancy shit. Should have stuck with Heavy’s. It is all she craves these days anyway.
Fuck, Heavy’s!
I cut him off before he can even open his mouth. “Call those assholes and tell them since they couldn’t show up on time to forget about it. Coop, get your ass in the truck and drive to Heavy’s. Buy the place out. Everything you can think of and get it here.” I throw my wallet at him and turn back to Greg’s smiling face. “What the fuck are you smiling at?”