Page 82 of Beyond Oblivion

“I think I’m going to tell her. Are you okay if I do?”

He couldn’t contain his excitement, his grin spreading nearly from one side of his face to the other. “Really? We’re gonna tell ’em?”

My heart began to pound. It was a steady rhythm, matching the nervous anticipation bubbling up inside me. “Yeah? I’m guessing that’s okay?”

Trenton grabbed me and held me tight, covering my cheek and temple with kisses.

“I knew something was up with you guys!” Raegan said, stepping out onto the sidewalk as Wesley held the door. “Spill it.” She paused. “Oh my God. The wine. The surgery was postponed. The baby prep questions…”

I took a breath, looking at Raegan’s face—even with her mouth hanging open in shock, she was still stunningly beautiful.

“Say it,” Raegan said, practically leaning toward me.

Something shifted inside me, a quiet but undeniable feeling that I couldn’t ignore any longer. Before I even realized I was speaking, the words tumbled out. “Ray,” I said, my voice soft. “It’s super early, but…”

Raegan covered her mouth, her eyes already filling with tears. “Say it,” she said, her voice muffled.

“I’m pregnant.”

Raegan’s eyes widened, her entire face frozen in an expression of shock and absolute joy, like time itself had hit pause while she tried to process every layer of what I’d just said. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out at first. Her gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that made me feel like we were the only two people on the block.

Then, as if someone had pressed fast forward, her reaction burst forth. She let out a sound—a wild blend of a shriek and a sob—that could only be described as pure elation. Her arms wrapped around me in an instant, pulling me close, her laughter spilling out between breaths as tears streamed down her cheeks. “Cami! Oh my God! Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Her words tumbled over each other, her grip so tight it felt like she was anchoring herself to the moment.

“Probably because she knew you’d scream in the restaurant, my love,” Wesley teased, shaking his head as he pulled Trenton in for a quick embrace. “Congratulations, Dad!” He clapped Trenton on the back with a grin that radiated pride, both of them exchanging one of those unspoken looks—filled with excitement, relief, and that subtle understanding that only men seem to have in those moments.

“Oh my God, oh my God! My best friend’s going to be a mama! And we’re doing it together!” Raegan’s voice was choked with happy tears, her words barely making sense as she hugged me again, her hands moving to grip my shoulders tightly. “We’re going to go through all of it, Cami, all the milestones, side by side!”

I laughed through the tears that were now running down my face, nodding, a bit overwhelmed by her enthusiasm. “I wanted to tell you so badly, Ray. I just… I am so afraid something might go wrong.”

Her gaze softened, and she pulled me even closer. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore, okay? We’re in this together, every step. Our babies are going to grow up as close as we did, and we’re going to be there for every laugh, every scraped knee, every silly story. Can you believe it?”

The images unfolded in my mind—our two little ones, as close as we had always been, inseparable and woven into each other’s lives. I could almost see them, running around barefoot, sharing whispered secrets, holding hands like best friends who had their own little world. They’d laugh at jokes only they understood, swap toys, and eventually, stories of dreams and heartbreaks.

I leaned into Raegan, finally feeling the full spectrum of gratitude and hope settle over me. That’s what I needed to make it real. I needed to share the news and celebrate with everyone who had prayed for this baby almost as much as I had.

I laughed, trying to hold back tears that were already stinging my eyes. “I… I wasn’t sure. It’s so early, and I was scared. I didn’t want to jinx it.”

“Oh, my sweet friend,” she murmured, pulling back to look at me, her hands gripping my shoulders. Her eyes shimmered, mascara streaking her cheeks as she took me in, her expression one of fierce love and understanding. “You deserve this, more than anyone. It’s going to be fine. I’m so, so happy for you. This is amazing.”

Wesley hugged me then. “I can’t believe you waited that long. I had no clue.”

Trenton’s face softened, a grin spreading across his face as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Surprise.”

Wesley let out a whoop, pulling me into another embrace, this time a bear hug, his laughter filling the night air. “This is incredible news! You’re going to be a fantastic father, Trenton. I have no doubt.”

A fresh wave of emotions hit me then. More tears streamed down my face as Raegan squeezed my hand, her own eyes glistening. “It’s finally happening. We made it. We’re here.”

Her words wrapped around my heart, filling every crack of doubt and fear that had settled there. We hugged again, tighter this time, our laughter mingling with happy weeping, and for the first time, I let myself fully lean into the joy of it all.

We eventually said our goodbyes, but the drive home was a quiet one, Trenton’s hand warm in mine as the city lights blurred past us. My mind was a swirl of fresh memories, of Raegan’s glossed over eyes and the warmth in her hug, of the laughter and disbelief in Wesley’s voice. I could still feel their happiness, how it filled all the spaces my worries had occupied for so long.

Trenton broke the silence, his voice gentle. “What made you decide to tell her tonight?”

I looked over at him, our fingers still laced together. “I realized that if something did happen…” I swallowed, letting the words sit with me for a moment. “I didn’t want to miss the joy of celebrating. I didn’t want to hold back, to live in fear of something that might never happen. Telling her felt like choosing hope over fear.”

Trenton nodded, his expression thoughtful, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “It makes perfect sense,” he said softly. “She looked so happy, Cami. I’ve never seen her look at you like that.”

I smiled, remembering the pure, unfiltered joy on Raegan’s face, how she’d held me as though we were back to being two young girls with dreams and shared secrets. “No matter what happens, I’ll never forget that moment,” I whispered, mostly to myself.

---