Diamond
“Don’t you think it’s too much?” Aveena exhales a shaky breath as we amble down the beach together.
“For you? Never.” I grin, intertwining our arms to ensure she won’t wuss out on me. Not long ago, she was worried about her big announcement being unmemorable, and now, she’s afraid that we’re overdoing it.
Personally, I think we’re doing the bare minimum. I would’ve gone much further if given the chance to prepare, but I find solace in knowing that I’ll get a second chance with her baby shower. Give me a week or two and I’ll make tonight’s announcement look like a joke.
“Walk me through the steps again.” She nibbles on her lower lip.
“I’ll take care of everything. All you have to do is get your man up there.” I point to the rocky cliff across the beach. It’s perfect, towering over the shore and overlooking the ocean.
She nods, seemingly unsure.
I leap into her way, grabbing her shoulders. “Vee, look at me. You. Can. Do. This.”
My encouragement seems to do the trick because she cracks a smile, realization dawning on her.
“We’re going to have a baby?” she croaks, tasting the words on her tongue, and for the first time since that pregnancy test came back positive, her voice isn’t dripping with disbelief. She and Xavier are going to bring a whole new person into this world, and it’s just starting to sink in.
“You’re going to have a baby,” I repeat it back to her, smiling so wide my face hurts. “Now, go get your man.”
Her gaze travels to Xavier playing beer pong with Chance.
“I can do this,” she whispers, more to herself than me, and takes off toward the beer pong table.
I feel like a proud mom as Aveena walks over, her footsteps full of determination. She parks herself at the end of the table just before Xavier can throw the ball. Xavier’s eyes immediately dart to his girlfriend. Chance, Xavier’s beer pong partner, nudges him with his elbow, but Xavier doesn’t budge, only snapping out of it when TJ, their adversary, urges him to take the damn shot.
Spoiler alert: he misses.
Pretty hard not to when you’re staring at your girlfriend the whole time. Poor guy is so in love with her, he just can’t help himself.
This.
This is the kind of love many of us would scour the planet to find. That once-in-a-lifetime connection you just can’t seem to shake. It’s also the reason why I’m not worried about what the future holds for these two. They’re going to be amazing parents.
Chance and I make eye contact for a moment, and he grins. Our plan is working perfectly. Now? his eyes question. I nod, giving him permission to abandon ship. He deserts the beer pong table the next second, heading straight for me in spite of TJ’s bitching.
Aveena curls one of her fingers in Xavier’s direction, beckoning him to come closer, and he doesn’t miss a beat, immediately bailing on the game to meet her.
Hook, line, and sinker.
Fuck, I want that.
That’s when my gaze lands on Finn, laughing with Theo by the fire, and I remember…
I had that.
The suffocating passion…
The agonizing love…
And it almost killed me.
On second thought, I’m okay with stable and predictable love.
“That’ll be three hundred dollars.” Chance shows me his palm when he stops in front of me.
I laugh and dig into the pockets of my shorts. “I can give you…” I show him my findings. “A hair tie and my last piece of gum.”