Page 72 of Trigger's Forever

“I really think that all you need now is time to come to terms with commitment.”

I nod slowly, picking at my thumbnail nervously.

“Do you love Jamie, Heather?”

My cheeks flush hot. I nibble on the inside of my lip, thinking about every single second I’ve ever spent in Trigger’s presence. I nod my head without a word and can’t help the tears that roll uncontrollably down my cheeks at the revelation.

“I thought so,” she says softly. “Love can be an unbearable surge of emotion. It can also be the best thing in your life. You said yourself you didn’t want your kids to be raised in a home like you did just because two people got pregnant, right?”

I nod, sniffling while wiping my nose.

“What if you get to raise them in a house full of love? It sounds to me like Jamie loves you. It’s all up to you now. If you decide you don’t want that for yourself and your future, you need to make that known, because it seems like this man won’t give up until he has an answer.”

“I have a feeling he would wait until we were in our eighties.”

“Then there doesn’t seem to be any room for doubt that he loves you.”

We laugh together as I wipe my face with a tissue she hands me.

Before leaving Sohpia’s office, I stop in the bathroom and try to make myself look at least halfway presentable, for my lunch with the girls. Winnie just finished up an appointment with Dr. Murphy, so she’s downstairs waiting for me. I smile what I’m sure is still a teary smile at her when she sees me coming towards her.

Her protruding belly hits mine and I laugh as she hugs me tightly around my neck.

“What was that for?” I smile pulling away from her.

“You looked like you needed a hug,” she says. She smiles appreciatively at my outfit, her way of showing she approves of me finally wearing something other than a baggy shirt for once. I grin, knowing I got dressed with the knowledge that I was seeing her today. Since August in Arizona has the ability to kill a person from heatstroke, I settled on a pair of loose bike shorts that fit comfortably around my growing stomach and a tight tank top that just barely fits around my belly. I’m thankful the shorts come above my belly button, so I don’t have to worry about being one of those pregnant women that walk around with their bellies popping out.

Winnie, as always, looks like she stepped out of a modern boho magazine with her abstract skirt and silk scarf headband. She interlaces her fingers with mine, holding me closely next to her as we make our way down the street to the cafe we’ve come to love.

As soon as we step through the glass doors of the cafe, we both giggle at our sighs of relief from the cold A/C blowing on us. Lyric, being her usual outgoing self, stands and waves obnoxiously from the table her and Brenna occupy in the back corner.

Winnie pulls me in that direction and throws her arms around Brenna before plopping down in the seat next to her.

Brenna gushes over Winnie’s growing belly. It’s insane to me how similar our bellies are in size when we’re over a month apart. Then again, I’m growing twins, and she just has one little babe in there.

“Are you still not finding out what it is!” Brenna badgers playfully.

“Actually, I may have found out today,” Winnie blushes, excitedly.

“What!” I yell, causing other diners in the cafe to snap their heads in our direction. “Sorry,” I cringe and then smile.

“Ugh! I wasn’t going to, but Logan talked me into it.”

“Bull?” I ask. I didn’t even know they were that close. I knew he had come into her shop a few times, but I thought that’s all it was.

“He has to go back to Japan on Wednesday,” Winnie says, soberly.

I share a look with Brenna before looking back to Winnie. “And?” I coax.

Winnie waves off whatever emotion just came over her and she bounces in her seat. “Anyways, he talked me into finding out before he leaves and I just decided to go for it. I’m having a girl!”

“Ah!” we all squeal and share hugs with Winnie, congratulating her.

“I would not know what the hell to do with a kid,” Lyric remarks as she shakes her head, causing her sleek hair to flare out around her.

“I can’t wait to have kids,” Breanna says, shocking us all.

“Really?” I ask her, looking straight into her eyes. She blushes, she looks as if she didn’t mean to say it out loud.

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