I’m not really interested in watching the show Thea’s settled on—some reality show with lots of yelling—but I don’t have much choice. I can’t write my music with her here; it’s too personal and I know she’ll make jabs at it and even if she’s only joking her words will still get in my head.
I can hear the key slide in the door and then it swings open.
“Mmm, I smell pizza,” Nova hums, then she stops when she sees Thea. “Oh, hi, Thea.”
I know her sudden nervousness isn’t because she’s worried about Thea and me being alone together. Instead, she’s worried about the fact we have to tell our friends we’re having a baby and more than likely they won’t be happy about it. They’ve been on our case for months, ever since Rae and Cade finally got hitched, to get married. But no matter how much we explain our choice, they don’t get it.
Marriage isn’t for everyone and that’s okay.
“Hey, Nova,” Thea replies softly so she doesn’t wake the baby. “I was getting worried since we haven’t seen you guys at all since you’ve been back from Paris. I thought you got kidnapped or something.”
Nova eases the door closed softly.
“Sorry, we’ve been … busy.”
“Busy, huh?” Thea replies, raising a brow, like she doesn’t believe we’ve been busy for one second, which is kind of true. We have mostly been holed up in the apartment.
Nova drops her bag and keys on the kitchen table and makes her way over to us, sitting beside me and leaning over to grab a bite of pizza.
“I’m hungry,” she mutters. “No matter how much I eat I’m still hungry.”
She devours the pizza so fast that I’m sure it must be some kind of world record. I don’t know whether to be horrified or impressed, but I settle on impressed.
Thea tosses her pizza crust into the box and stands, cradling a snoozing Xael in her arms.
“Well, I better get going. Don’t forget Saturday.” She points a warning finger at me and then Nova.
Nova’s pizza slice pauses halfway to her mouth. “What about Saturday?”
“I’ll fill you in,” I promise, standing up to walk Thea to the door.
She leaves, and I watch as she bounces toward the elevator. Thea has more energy and zest than anyone I know.
I close the door and lock it.
“Now, what about Saturday?” Nova probes.
“Dinner with everyone.”
She frowns. “Do we tell them?”
I shrug. “It’s up to you.”
I don’t want to push her to share the news of the baby with our friends if she’s not ready. I don’t see the point in not telling them, they’re like family, but I do understand her reservations so I’m willing t
o do whatever makes her comfortable.
She puts the piece of pizza down she was eating and curls her legs under her. She bites her lip nervously, thinking it over.
I slowly creep toward and sit down beside her. I grab a piece of her long hair, wrapping the strand around my finger.
She brings her brown eyes to mine and nods. She smiles softly, almost shyly.
“We’ll tell them.”
I press my lips forcefully to hers and she laughs against me.
She wraps her arms around my neck and pulls back slightly. “Did that make you happy?”