Shit.
Now came the question of what I should do. Do I turn into a teenager and text the crap out of him, begging for forgiveness, or do I have confidence in our relationship and give him space?
Screw that. I didn’t have enough confidence to tell him about Zach in the first place, now was the time to fight.
HEY, I KNOW LAST NIGHT WAS CRAZY AND YOU’RE CONFUSED AND MAD AT ME. I’M MAD AT ME TOO. FIRST OF ALL, I’M SO SORRY ABOUT YOUR PARENTS. I CAN’T IMAGINE HOW THAT MUST HAVE FELT TO SHOW UP AT MY HOUSE LOOKING FOR COMFORT TO INSTEAD SEE ZACH HERE. LAST NIGHT WAS THE WORST NIGHT OF MY LIFE. IT WAS WAY WORSE THAN WHEN ZACH LEFT BECAUSE WHEN HE LEFT, I WAS ALREADY DEAD INSIDE. THE DAY I MET YOU, I CAME BACK TO LIFE. I’M MADLY IN LOVE WITH YOU AND WILL FOREVER REGRET THE COLOSSAL MISTAKE I MADE OF NOT TELLING YOU SOONER. PLEASE GIVE ME A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN.
I hit send on the longest—and most important—text of my life.
Staring at that phone all morning, praying for a response, wasn’t going to do me any good. I jumped up and took a quick shower before walking Lucy and Piper down to the bus.
The smell of burning leaves permeated the air and the crisp morning chilled me just a little bit. The girls and I held hands as we walked down to the edge of the driveway, leaves crunching under our feet. The bus came quickly and they hopped on, blowing kisses at me out the window. I waved until I couldn’t see the bus anymore, desperate to put on a happy face for them when in reality, all I was thinking about was the cell phone in my back pocket.
I was halfway up the driveway when it vibrated.
It was a text! From… Lauren.
L: HEY, CHICKY. I’M LEAVING TOMORROW. CAN I STOP BY THIS MORNING AND VISIT FOR A LITTLE BIT OR ARE YOU WORKING?
Thank God I called in. I can’t let her go back to Italy like that.
NO, I CALLED IN SICK. PLEASE COME OVER. I OWE YOU THE BIGGEST APOLOGY EVER.
L: YOU OWE ME NOTHING. I’LL BE THERE SOON.
I had two mason jars, filled with ice and raspberry tea, ready to go just a bit later when I heard a loud knock. As excited as I was to see Lauren, part of me really hoped it would be Brody on the other side of the door instead. No such luck.
I barely had the door open and Lauren was pushing through it, throwing her arms around me. “I’m so sorry for the way dinner went last night. That’s not at all what I had in mind.”
Exhaling, I hugged her back and rested my head on her shoulder. “Me too. I shouldn’t have run out like that, but I couldn’t take the guilt from Alexa anymore.”
“I’m sorry too,” Alexa said quietly, stepping up behind Lauren with her hands shoved in her hoodie as she stared at the ground.
Seeing Alexa look so sad, combined with my already fragile mindset… I couldn’t stay mad at her. Not letting go of Lauren, I sighed and held my arm up for Alexa to join in on the hug.
“I’m so sorry for being such a bitch, Kacie,” Alexa said into Lauren’s hair. “You’re right. I have no idea how hard this has been for you. I’m such an asshole.”
I didn’t respond, but I squeezed her hand.
“Come in. Let’s sit.” I finally pulled away, grabbing Lauren’s hand too, and led them to the back of the house. They followed me into the kitchen as I grabbed another mason jar from the cabinet. I poured another glass of tea and sat down across from them.
“So, when are you due?” I asked Lauren.
Her full red lips spread into a wide smile. “March. We got pregnant the minute we got to Italy.”
“Aw, a spring baby. I’m so excited for you. How has Tommy been?”
Lauren laughed and rolled her eyes. “Well, I was never very blessed in the boob department, but they were the first things to gain weight. Now as much as he wants to play with them, they hurt too much for him to touch.”
“I remember those days.” I groaned. “They hurt so bad, I couldn’t even sleep on my stomach. How are you feeling otherwise?” I asked.
“Okay. For awhile I was nauseated all the time. I threw up every time Tommy cooked bacon, which is a problem because he tries to incorporate it into every meal.”
I leaned forward, not wanting any wandering guests to hear me. “Have you been constipated at all?”
Alexa’s face twisted in disgust as her eyes darted back and forth between Lauren and me. “This is gross. You two are making my decision of never having kids easier and easier to swallow.”
“Oh, stop it.” I tilted my head at her skeptically. “You’ll have kids.”
“No way.” She took a sip of tea. “Derek and I already decided it’s not our thing. We’re totally fine just being the cool aunt and uncle our whole lives. We’re too selfish for kids.”