Page 93 of The Seven Month Itch
“Why only my dad?”
“Because he’s the only one I trust to keep Lucy and Ethel away from the birthing center until we say it’s time to come.”
She tries to laugh but scrunches her face.
I stop to see if she’s okay.
“This is uncomfortable.” She groans.
Chapter 43
Terrence
The days blend into each other. A month has passed since we welcomed our daughters on December 23. Christmas was a little different this year, but it came early in the best way. We settled into our home and couldn’t be happier. Much of that joy came in the form of two eager grandmothers who stayed with us for three weeks. They were godsends. Our guardian angels of much-needed sleep.
With two extra sets of hands, Justice and I stocked up on shut-eye while my mom and Angela tag teamed Gracie and Edie without a drop of sweat. They changed, burped, and bottle-fed the twins with pumped breast milk. Justice still nursed them but had more time to recover, which was all that mattered to me.
Lee flew back to Alexandria a couple of weeks ago for work. He had full confidence “the Gigis” could handle it. He has yet to pick out a nickname for himself, soGrandpawill have to do for now.
Emma and Miles have come out to see their godchildren. It’s still weird to see them together. They swear they aren’t into commitments, but the spark between them is bright.
“What have you two been up to?” Justice closes her eyes and moans. She’s on the opposite end of the couch, giving me full access to rub her feet.
Miles and Emma share a look as they pace around the living room with our month-old babies. “We got back from a trip,” Em says. Her eyes hold Miles’s.
I squint at them both. “Did you two elope?”
Her reply is instant. “Of course not.” I glance over at Miles, who stares at her with an emotion I can’t register. Disappointment, maybe?
Interesting.
He sighs. “We spent last week in Vail.”
Colorado?
My eyes dart to Justice. She opens her mouth and pauses. “You two went to the singles’ retreat…again?”
“Yes,” they say in unison.
“Why?”
“Is everything okay?” I thought things were good between them. Maybe I’m wrong.
Emma waves a hand in the air, careful not to disturb Gracie, who’s nestled in her other arm. “It’s fine. We thought it would be fun to go back to where it all started.”
Silence falls on the room like a heavy weight. Something happened, and whatever it is, it’s big.
My brow furrows, and I shoot Miles a look that says,What the hell did you do?
He mouths something back to me that takes a second to register:Won’t marry me.
“What?” Crap, I said that out loud.
Justice sits up. “What’s wrong, baby?”
Emma stares at me, and I know she knows that I know. She frowns but gathers herself when Justice turns to her.
I look between Em and Miles and roll my eyes. “Nothing,” I say through gritted teeth. “Just…tired.”
