Chapter 28
How It Feels To Be Loved
Gabe
“So let me get this straight.”
On-screen, Indi finishes three gulps from the straw of her giant water bottle, exhales audibly, and shakes her head. “Neither you nor Wade have said ‘I love you’ yet?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do. Don’t you trust him?”
More than anyone.
“With my whole heart.”
“Then what’s the issue?”
A whiny groan vibrates in my throat. “Words are hard.”
She responds with her signature eye roll, then winces, adjusting her focus to the squirming baby below the view of my phone camera before glaring at me. “You know what? I actually don’t blame you. You’ve been through enough. He should say it first. Like, what’s his deal?”
My shoulders shrug.
“Chicken.”
A grayed-out rectangle labeled BI comes to life with Behraz’s face. “Who’s making chicken? What’d I miss?”
“No one,” Indi replies. “Nothing to note here, other than figuring out why two people clearly nuts about one another are unable to admit they’re in love.”
“Pot, meet kettle,” Bea says. “You were the same with Landon.”
My fingers snap and wag at the little hypocrite. “Hey, that’s true. The rest of us knew pretty early on while you hung back in a deep state of denial.”
“Shhh,you.” Indi’s lips purse. “You’re disturbing the baby.”
“Anyone wanna ask me how I’m doing?” Bea’s lower lip juts in a frowning pout.
“Sorry. How are you? It’s been a while.” I wave. “I was so sad that we left before you made it to the birthing center.”
“Oh, God. What a disaster of a day.” She lowers her head as the heels of her hands find her temples before she whips up suddenly. “Not because of the baby. We love baby Akhila.” She makes tickle fingers toward the camera. “I wanna squeeze our precious girl. That’s the day I found out I didn’t pass the bar.”
“What!” Indi straightens.
Mouth pulling into a cringe, she groans. “Did I not tell you? Oops.”
“That sucks. Can you retake it?” I ask.
“Yeah, but not until the fall.”
“Bummer.”
Behraz slaps the air and sputters. “Nah, it’s not a big deal. I’m not the best test-taker, but still. It’s open book and multiple choice. How hard could it be? I’ll study harder, better, faster, stronger…”