Page 47 of Simply You & Me

"We're going to have so much fun together." Johnny's voice is warbled and far away.

My last thoughts before I let darkness claim me are for my babies. The one I'm growing and the one waiting for me to pick her up. How can I endure this to be a mother another day?

Chapter Thirty

Julian

"You want a treat, Dino?"

Wyatt snorts. "T, she's not a dog."

Narrowing his eyes, Tate says, "Obviously, that's not what I meant. Rory, do you want dessert or something?"

Zach eyes the little angel beside me. "Is she even allowed to have dessert so late?"

I watch on with humor as Rory becomes more and more frustrated with being talked over at every turn.

Zachary poses a good question, though. How do we not know what our girlfriend's kid can eat? Or when she goes to sleep?

Rory huffs and stands, making her way to the kitchen while the other three bicker. Making her way back into the living room, she plops back into her spot beside me with a bowl of chocolate-covered almonds.

Maybe we should hold off on chocolate since it's late? Fuck, I know nothing.

"These are my mom's favorite treat," Rory says with a small smile.

Silence follows her comment. Each of us wanting to hear more about Addie. Of course, we knew she was a chocolate-covered almond fiend, which is why we had some in the first place.

"How 'bout you, Angel? What's your favorite treat?" I nudge her with a grin of my own.

"Chocolate-covered raisins!" she replies.

What nine-year-old likes raisins?

"What? Why?" Wyatt scowls at the mere mention of a wrinkly grape.

Rory munches on her bite, all while glaring at the dark-haired man. "Because," she mumbles around a mouthful.

"Because why?" Wyatt pushes.

Zach groans, tipping his head to the ceiling. "Can we not do this again, please? Both of you are right. I swear you do bicker like best friends."

Rory giggles happily when Wyatt tosses a chip at her from across the room. "I like these too, though. Mom hasn't been eating them lately, so I get extra." Her statement contradicts her facial expression. A little girl happy to have more chocolate should be smiling, not frowning.

"What's wrong, Peanut?" Zach picks up on the same odd reaction she had, too. I don't like it when Rory doesn't smile. At her silence, Zach leans forward. "Rory."

Slowly, her eyes leave her bowl and rise to look at Zach. "Mom's just been different lately."

"Different, how?" I ask immediately.

Sighing, Rory fiddles with the blanket on her lap. "She's been sick. Like every morning, and she's always so sleepy. I think she's going to puke whenever her face gets all white. It's scary. And Mom's been crying a lot since you aren't seeing her anymore."

"Aren't seeing her anymore? Did she say that?" Tate asks, worry lacing his tone, making my heartbeat skyrocket.

Rory shrugs like she isn't freaking us all the fuck out. "No, she didn't say anything. I just hear her puking every morning. And her eyes have dark things under them. You just stopped coming over, so we haven't been seeing you." Hesitantly, she looks around at each of us. "Do you not like us anymore?"

"WHAT!?" Zach stands to pace.

Wyatt looks heartbroken. "You're my best friend."

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