Page 34 of The Rebound
My mouth goes instantly dry. Of course I want to touch Kinley. But feeling her baby kick is just a reminder that she’s got a whole life ahead of her that I don’t have much of a place in.
Still, I slowly reach over and let her press my palm against the firm sphere of her belly.
Kinley’s eyes sparkle with delight as she asks, “Do you feel that?”
Just that second, something flutters against my hand. A smile stretches across my face, mirroring hers.
“Yeah. I feel him. That’s wild. He just does this all day?”
“Pretty much. He’s gonna be a runner, I can already tell. I don’t know how I’m going to keep up with him.” She lowers her head to speak to her belly. “Mommy’s gotta work in order to keep you happy and healthy, you know. She can’t be chasing you all around New England.”
I chuckle at the image of Kinley booking it after an itty-bitty toddler running at breakneck speed.
When do babies start crawling? Walking? I know so little about what it’s going to be like for her once he’s born. What kind of schedule will she have to follow? How much time will she have for herself? I wonder if she even knows yet.
“Kin, answer me this.”
“Shoot.”
“When you think about the future, what’s the best-case scenario?”
“What do you mean?”
I scratch the side of my jaw with my free hand, fully aware of the fact that my other hand is still resting on Kinley’s belly, even though the baby settled at least a minute ago. “Are you still working? Are you a full-time mom? Do you want more kids?”
“Oh my God, is this twenty questions?”
“Yes, and I’ve got sixteen left, so you’d better start answering.”
“Okay, okay.” She laughs, then considers my question. “Hmm. In a perfect world, I’d still be able to work, probably part time. I mean, I care a lot about my career, and I don’t think I’d want to give that up. Maybe I’ll change my mind when I finally get to meet the little guy. I can’t really know yet.”
“Makes sense.”
“As for other kids ... I know it’s crazy considering my situation, but yes, I want to have more. One more. A baby girl, hopefully. That way this guy can have a little sister to annoy him, and she can have a big brother to protect her.”
“Kind of like you and Reeves?”
“Exactly. We don’t have a perfect relationship, but in a lot of ways, Walker raised me when my mom was totally checked out, which was more often than not. I’m planning on doing a much better job than my mom ever did, but aren’t we all trying to do better than our parents?”
“Eh, I don’t think I could do much better than Cindy and Burt. I was their favorite.”
“Um, aren’t you an only child?”
I shrug, giving her a grin. “Yeah, so?”
Kinley rolls her eyes. “Classic only-child syndrome. So spoiled.”
“Guilty. You aren’t planning to spoil your kids?”
“Oh, absolutely not. I’m going to put this guy to work as soon as he figures out how to turn his own head.”
We both laugh at that, her hand covering mine and giving it a squeeze. Friends definitely touch each other like this. At least, that’s what I’m choosing to believe.
Eventually, she says, “I think he’s done training for the marathon now.”
It’s a gentle reminder that my hand has overstayed its welcome, even as she traces small circles over the veins snaking over my knuckles.
“Right. Sorry.” I pull back reluctantly.
