Page 112 of Between Us

Mouthing the words, I tell my brother, “Fuck you.”

He laughs and plops down in the armchair. “I want to watch Blake get her butt kicked.”

Adrian laughs and takes his place on the other side of the coffee table. “It’ll be a quick game, don’t worry.”

Scowling, I gently sit on the edge of the couch and flip them both off. But Adrian wasn’t wrong, and he did in fact beat me within five more moves.

Chapter Fifty-Five

Blake

WhenAdrianandIget back to my parents’ house after work the next afternoon, Arielle seems to be feeling better after spending most of the night in the room.

“The cabbage really helped. I don’t feel like ripping my own tits off my body anymore,” Arielle jokes. It’s rare that she tries, but she’s actually kind of funny when she does.

According to my mom, the pain of a clogged milk duct is enough to make me reconsider ever having children.

That’s a short-lived thought as soon as Grady hands Stella off to Adrian for the first time.

He stayed the night here, choosing to be with me rather than spending a night alone or taking me away from my family. This is the first time he’s holding her though.

He doesn’t seem uncomfortable—not even a little—so I’m sure it’s more to do with the fact I was pretty stingy with my niece yesterday.

But now? Seeing this?

I wish I had plopped her down in his arms sooner.

It’s a sight I never gave much thought to until right now.

I know it’s one I won’t ever forget going forward. It makes me positive I do want children one day, and I hope with everything inside of me that it’sthatman holding our babies.

Arielle chuckles next to me and I glance her way with furrowed brows. Hers flick up in response, and she quietly advises, “Be careful. I don’t know how your parents would handle a second grandchild so soon.”

My face warms as I laugh and shake my head. Hoping to not get the attention of my boyfriend or brother, I sneakily snap a picture and send it in the group chat.

island of misfit toys

Sun, February 8 at 6:38 PM

*photo attachment of Adrian holding Stella and talking to Grady*

Meera

Oh. My. God.

Please tell me YOU are pregnant

Lol no

Margo

But you’re thinking about it arent you?

…maybe a little

Margo

Any straight woman would be too

---