Yes, she got caterers. She went above and beyond to make sure tonight was memorable. It cost her a pretty penny, too, but she said she owed Aveena for being the best friend imaginable. I pick up on her distress as we’re walking over to the car and pull her into my arms.
“Hey, it’s going to be great, okay?” I press my lips to her forehead, holding her against me until her shoulders unwind.
“Okay.” She exhales a self-soothing breath before climbing inside my car.
* * *
It’s no secret that babies cry a lot, but at the risk of sounding like an ignorant dumbass, I didn’t know the women making them cried half as much.
Aveena’s been drowning in her tears since she stepped foot inside her surprise baby shower five hours ago. Xavier was in on it and told her we were having a party, although he was careful not to mention the party was for their unborn child.
Aveena couldn’t believe her eyes when she came in to see pink and blue balloons hung everywhere—we don’t know the gender yet—hers and Xavier’s families and piles of gifts scattered all over Lacey’s living room.
Thankfully, we got here just in time to catch her reaction, but we did have to skip the trip to the grocery store after the caterer bailed. I managed to convince Dia that takeout was the way to go, and we wound up ordering pizza for everyone.
Xavier’s and Aveena’s family members left twenty minutes ago, leaving Dia, Theo, Xavier, Lacey, Aveena, and I to throw away the wrapping paper dumped on the living room floor. Aveena cried the entire time she and Xavier were opening gifts, and when asked about it, she picked up the baby clothes she’d been given and said, “It’s just so tiny.”
“Shoot, we forgot a present,” Lacey exclaims as I’m shoving the last of the wrapping paper into a trash bag. My lips curl into a smile when Lacey and I make eye contact.
It’s time.
Xavier and I exchange knowing glances as Lacey shows us the tiny box in her hands. We all settle on Lacey’s leather couches, and I extend my arm around Dia’s neck, drawing her to my chest.
“It says for Dia,” Lacey declares.
Confused, Dia sits up straight. “For me?”
“Yes. From Finn,” Lacey adds, and my baby casts a suspicious glance toward me.
“What did you do?” She squints as if to figure me out, and I laugh.
“Just open it.”
Hesitant, she stretches her arm out, and Lacey hands her my present. The box is white, wrapped in black ribbon, and fits into the palm of her hand. Dia turns it over, assessing the box, and then shoots me another glance. I nod, gesturing to go ahead with my chin, and she undoes the black bow before opening the box. Her mouth drops open when she sees what’s inside.
Inside the box is a key.
Ourkey…
“What is this?” She takes the key into her hand, holding it at eye level.
“That’s the key to our home,” I say casually.
She needs a moment to register what I just said.
“What do you mean ‘our home’?”
“We won’t be living at the apartment anymore,” I explain.
“What the hell are you talking about?” She rises off the couch.
“Lacey offered to let us move into her guest house for free until the end of the summer. The place is ours starting tonight.”
She blinks at me once, twice, three times before composing herself.
“Wait, what?” She looks at Lacey as though she expects her to start laughing.
Lacey shrugs, a smile on her lips. “My mom and stepdad never use it anyway. They’re always out of town. It’s just sitting there, collecting dust.”