“I feel really good about it already. I need to learn some tactics too so I’m not so damn trusting. I know it’s not the worst quality to have, but it’s come back to bite me in the ass twice now.” I shrug, trying to make light of the situation. “Oh, Mom and Dad told me to yell at both of you for not calling enough,” I add, changing the subject because I’m mentally drained from talking about me.
“They FaceTime me every day!” Lennon defends. “All they want to do is talk to Allie anyway.”
“I called them two weeks ago,” Maddie adds. “There’s literally nothing happening in my life besides having no job, no boyfriend, and going to class.”
“Oh, you poor thing,” I tease. “No drama. What that must be like…”
“Pfft. There’s plenty of drama with dancers. My roommate, Erin, and her frenemy Melanie have it out weekly. It’s like a mix of Keeping up with the Kardashians and Mob Wives.”
I snort at her analogy. “Sounds a little dangerous.”
Maddie walks to the kitchen and helps herself to a diet soda before she returns. “How come no one told me college is basically high school with older snotty bitches?” She has a bag of pretzels with her too, which makes me laugh. She got lucky in the genetics department, but she works out every day. Eating a handful of those would cause me to bloat for two days.
“Well, we just wanted you to go in blind and experience college wholeheartedly,” Lennon mocks, stealing a handful of pretzels.
“Yeah, thanks.” Maddie groans, then shoves three salty pretzel sticks in her mouth. “Seriously, it’s so stressful living in those apartments with them. First, they eat all my damn snacks…”
“Wouldn’t know what that’s like.” I deadpan, and she returns with a side-glare.
“And then they hog the bathroom. I constantly have to take five-minute showers so I’m not late for class. Apparently, none of them know how to clean either. They’re gross.”
“Grosser than living with two guys?” I arch a brow, challenging her.
“Actually, I think so. At least your man cooks, and the other, well…he’s just nice to look at,” she says with dreamy eyes.
“You have two years left, Mads,” Lennon reminds her. “It can’t be that bad.”
Maddie turns her head and narrows her eyes. Then she stuffs another handful of pretzels into her mouth.
An hour passes before Lennon gets a text that Allie is asleep and Hunter is in their bed waiting for her. “Please, spare us the details.” Maddie mimics a gagging noise. “We all know your pregnancy hormones make you horny.”
“Hornier…” I add.
“Oh, you just wait…” Lennon pokes her shoulder. “You’ll find a man, give your heart to him, and you won’t be able to get enough of each other.”
Maddie rolls her eyes hard, which causes me to laugh. They were just what I needed to lift my spirits for a bit.
“Okay, you better leave before Lennon starts teaching you about the birds and the bees,” I tell Maddie.
I walk them to the door where we exchange hugs, and I promise to keep them updated on my therapy sessions.
“Race you to the car,” Maddie taunts Lennon, then starts running in slow motion down the walkway. “Bet I can still win going this slow.”
I burst out laughing, knowing Lennon is going to kick her ass for teasing her. She’s not that far along, but she’s definitely more exhausted than she was with the last pregnancy. However, that’s probably from having a nine-month-old baby at home to care for at the same time.
“Good luck at work tomorrow,” I tell her. She goes back to teaching now that it’s the middle of August, and I know she’s been struggling with having to be away from Allie all day again.
“Thanks, I’m gonna need it.” She sticks out her bottom lip, weeping. “I don’t want to leave her, and my students are going to give me a run for my money, but it’ll be okay. The countdown to my maternity leave has already started.”
That makes me smile and laugh. “Baby will be here before we know it.” I wink.
“She’s rounding second base…” Maddie calls out. “Think she’ll make it to home base before the pregnant mama can waddle her way to first?”
We look at Maddie who’s running toward the car in slow motion. “I’m gonna make her ass walk home.” Lennon waves over her shoulder, and when she reaches the car, she doesn’t unlock Maddie’s side.
“Hey! I won fair and square! Let me in!” Maddie bangs on the window, and I see Lennon laughing from the driver’s side.
“You made your bed!” I call out to her, and she flips me the bird. “Night, little sis!” I wave, then shut and lock the door.
“You girls have fun?” I spin around and bump right into Mason.
“You scared the shit out of me!” I scold, pressing a hand to my chest as I catch my breath. “Don’t do that.”