"Overstep? Girl, this is your home now too."
"I mean, yes, but not technically."
"You are married to Che," she reminded me. "Besides," she went on. "I really don't think they would even notice if you got curtains. Or some area rugs. You'd probably hear them wonder aloud one day why the floor is so squishy, or why they can see the TV in the daytime."
I felt mean laughing at that, but she was probably right about it.
From there, Ayanna and I got to work setting up the baby shower. And I had to admit, Ayanna was some kind of magician or something because, by the time she was done, you couldn't even tell the living room was part of a biker clubhouse. There were lush fabrics and massive floral arrangements, and a linen-draped table loaded down with all sorts of prettily-wrapped presents.
"Bitch," Gus said when she stepped inside, pressing a hand to her chest. "You did good," she declared, wrapping her arms around Ayanna.
"I had help," Ayanna said, waving a hand toward me.
"Oh, please. I was the one who held the tape. That's about it," I said, shaking my head. "How was your flight?"
"I was stuck next to a mouth-breather," Gus grumbled. "But on the plus side, I'm raking up a ton of frequent-flyer miles coming down here all the time. And I'll be back for the baby in a few weeks too. I am barely giving you guys a chance to miss me. Anyway," she said, looking around. "What can I do?"
"We were about to work on the food. And listen to Saskia's bullshit excuse about why she is trying to pass off baker cupcakes as her own," Ayanna said, making me look over at Che who was still standing in the doorway. "I saw the icing in the garbage," Ayanna went on.
"In my defense," I said, following them into the kitchen, "Che and I got, uhm, distracted."
"By what now? Can't you all stay out of trouble for one week?"
"Ah, I think she means they got... carnally distracted," Gus supplied, sending me a saucy look.
"Oh, right. Carnally. I'm starting to forget what that is like," Ayanna admitted, shaking her head.
"It hasn't been that long," Gus assured her, reaching out to squeeze her hand. "Besides, you don't need a man. You need a Rabbit. And lots of batteries. Oh. Oh! Or one of those clit stimulator things I've seen reviews of all over social media about women blacking out they come so hard."
"Yeah, I don't have time to black out from orgasms, Gus," Ayanna said, laughing. "I have a life and a business to run."
"Fine. Then just the Rabbit. Or a Magic Wand. Keep the cobwebs out of the lady cave while you decide what you want to do about men. Speaking of guys, does anyone know if Harm is having a boy or a girl? I know Huck doesn't know, but I figured there would be some sort of reveal."
"Harmon doesn't want to know. She thinks it's weird that everyone makes such a big deal out of the sex."
"I went with a lot of neutrals," Gus said, shrugging. "What'd you get them?" she asked, looking at me.
"I think I blacked out in the baby department, and bought everything," I admitted, shaking my head at myself.
"You know what that means," Gus said, giving Ayanna a nod.
"I better not bury all the baby shower decorations too deep," Ayanna agreed.
"What? No. I mean, yeah, we both want kids. But you know... this is all really new still."
"Mmhmm," Gus said.
"Heard that before. Say, what? Eight months ago, approximately," Ayanna agreed, giving me a raised brow.
"And I mean, little Huck or little Harmon is going to need a play buddy," Gus added.
"Can you imagine a little Che, dancing his baby self all around with better moves than I could ever hope to have?"
I could, actually.
I really could imagine it.
And, what's more, I was really starting to want it.
Eventually.
I still had a car to build and a race to win first.
Che - 5 months
"What is that hanging from your rearview?" Sass asked, squinting through the windshield of my car after we'd lined them up with all the other cars that were going to race.
"My wedding ring," I told her. "Figured it might be a good luck charm," I added.
"Good luck in beating your wife," she said, shaking her head. "That has to be bad karma."
"Hey, I need all the help I get after you stole my racing seats."
"I didn't steal them. I just so happened to get to the store before you did," she declared, chin lifting.
"Because you hid my keys," I reminded her.
"Hey, all is fair in love and war," she reminded me, shrugging away her dirty play.
That was the closest she'd come to mentioning love with me. I'd been careful about not letting it slip either, seeing as I knew she was easing herself into this whole new life.