Page 68 of Family Like This

“Why are you sorry?” I ask with a laugh.

“Because I know you’ve fallen hard for Amelia.”

I smile over the rim of my beer bottle. “Yeah. I have.”

She elbows me in the side. “So why haven’t you told her?”

Great question.

I look down the hallway, seeing her bedroom door still closed. I lean in closer to Mackie, whispering, “Because I am a massive chicken shit. Initially, I didn’t think she was ready to hear it. The longer I go without telling her, the more anxious I get about it. We’ve done everything in a weird order, and it makes saying these words feel more dramatic than it should. Then I think about the fact that she hasn’t said it to me and I get scared all over again that she’s not ready to hear it.” I run my hand through my hair. “I watched everyone else have these love stories, and I thought mine would go the same way. It would follow a specific trajectory at least. I wouldn’t be scared to tell her I love her.”

Mackie laughs out loud. “I’m sorry, are you confused about how the love stories in our friend group have gone? Rae and Aaron waited literal years to admit they loved each other and even then, they talked around it and got in a huge fight before saying it out loud. Sarah and Joel pretended they weren’t dating or in love for an entire year before saying it and making things official. Hyla and me—” She stops short and looks down. “Anyway, I think you’re par for the course, honestly. If not a little ahead of the curve. Maybe some of it has gone a little out of order, but you’re happy and with the person you love. That’s what matters.”

I take a slow drink of my beer. “Are you with the person you love? Are you happy, Macks?”

She opens her mouth, then closes it again. “I’m still finding my overall happiness, but I’m content in my relationship with Mari.”

“And love?”

“Like I said, I think I’m… getting there.”

I slide closer and squeeze her thigh. “I know you don’t need me to lecture you, so I’m only going to say this once. It’s okay if you want to take things slow with Mari and build the relationship you want. But don’t use that relationship to hide from what you want because you’re afraid to take a risk.” Leaning over, I kiss the side of her head and whisper, “If you still love Hyla, that’s okay too.”

She looks up at me but doesn’t say anything for a moment. “Noted.”

“Hey, sorry about that. It wasnotan emergency. I was trying to convince the law intern of that, but he didn’t believe me. Eventually I hung up on him.” She shrugs. “I’ll let the lawyer he’s working with explain why he shouldn’t be calling me at home because he was too inefficient to get his work done before I left.” She grins at me, and goddamn my girl is hot. I love when she goes all badass like that. “Anyway, what did I miss?”

Mackie and I look at each other, neither of us wanting to own up to the details of our conversation.

Amelia looks between us, then nods knowingly. “Ah. Super secret cult stuff?” she asks with a troublemaking smile.

“Exactly,” Mackie and I agree at the same time.

I pull Amelia closer as she laughs.God, I love this girl.

Now I really need to find the balls to tell her.

Aaron

Morning light streams through the window near our bed. I still can’t believe we’re living in the farmhouse together. It’s gorgeous, and growing into our future here feels incredible. Like I do every morning, I snuggle closer to my gorgeous wife. We drift apart as we sleep, though we’re usually still touching in some way. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I rest my hand over her low stomach. She says the heat of my touch and a little pressure there helps her feel better when she has these horrible cramps. This is day three and they haven’t let up.

I slide one leg over, moving to rest it between hers, but when I do, I jolt upright feeling a wet sticky spot hit my skin. I yank the covers off and all I see is blood. So much fucking blood. Way more blood than even a hard period. It’s covering her legs, the mattress, and the sheets.

My gaze moves upward, and I notice her face is pale.

Oh, shit.

My heart pounds as I shake her.

“Rae. Babe, I need you to wake up. Beautiful, please. Wake up!”

She takes a sharp breath in as her eyes fly open. She looks at me in confusion, then winces. Her eyes dart down her body, then widen in horror. “Oh my god.” She looks back at me. “What—what—”

I kiss her forehead, then climb over her. “I don’t know. We’re going to go to the hospital. I’m going to get you a pad and some clean pants.” I hold her arm and adjust her pillows so she’s propped up. Then I grab her water and push it into her hands. “Drink. I’ll be right back.”

I turn to go, but she reaches for me. “Ace…”

I lean down and press a firm kiss to her lips. “You’re going to be okay. Be back in second.”

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