what makes it better is that it’s pure, free of pain, of heartache, of regret.
“Morning, Aunt Gigi.” Heading past the long line of customers, I duck behind the display cases and pour myself a cup of coffee.
While she’s technically Molly and Drew’s aunt, not mine, I’m closer to her than some of my own aunts and uncles, whom I barely see. Gigi, short for Giorgina, has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. When Molly and I became fast friends our first week of school and her aunt learned I’d recently lost my mother, she took me under her wing, offering me all the love and affection a mother would…just like she did for Molly and Drew.
“Busy today, huh?” I ask, making small talk, smiling at a few of the other employees as they diligently fill the influx of orders. The coffee and espresso machines whir and steam while patrons wait off to the side for their lattes, cappuccinos, or whatever else they ordered.
“It’s Friday. It usually is.” She glances over her shoulder, giving me a smile as she seems to analyze me. It’s ridiculous, but I wonder if she knows Wes proposed. She’s always had an uncanny ability to see things most people can’t, see things I try to hide from everyone. Sometimes I feel like she’s the only one who knows the real Brooklyn. “How was your date with Weston last night?” She turns back to the customer, writing his order on a paper cup before handing it off to one of the baristas.
“Good.” Coffee in hand, I dip back under the counter and snag an empty table before anyone else can. I lower myself into the chair, dropping my heavy bag laden with files to the floor. The aroma of coffee gets even stronger as I raise my mug to my lips, my entire body relaxing as that first taste of the best coffee in the city hits my tongue.
“Just good?” Gigi asks. I look at her. When our eyes lock, she squints the way she always does when trying to peer into my soul, to read my mind.
“It was like every other date.” I shrug, playing it off. I don’t want to tell her yet. I want Molly to be the first person to know. I’m the first one she shared her news with when Noah, her fiancé, proposed to her. Molly’s always been the first person I’ve told everything to. Well, almost everything. Some things I can’t share, the words too painful to say.
“You don’t sound very excited about the prospect,” Gigi comments.
“I am. I just…” I take another sip of my coffee, trying to collect my thoughts so I don’t say anything she’ll read too much into. But it had been just like every other date. Pretentious restaurant. Expensive bottle of wine. Sex that can be described as blissfully adequate. A nip here. A suck there. A bit of effort to bring me to orgasm, but falling just short of reaching that finish line, at least for me. “I don’t need fancy caviar and champagne to be happy. Sometimes it’s the things that don’t cost a penny that have the most meaning.” The words leave my mouth before I can stop them. I brace myself for her next intrusive question. Thankfully, the whirlwind known as Molly Brinks bursts through the door, saving me from further interrogation.
“I need chocolate. Stat.” A woman on a mission, she hurries toward the display cases, her blonde waves streaking through my vision.
“Good morning, Molly Mae,” Gigi greets in playful irritation. “It’s wonderful to see you, too.”
With one of the café’s famous chocolate chip muffins in her hand, Molly takes a large bite, her entire body seeming to relax as the chocolate and sugar hit her taste buds. “God, that’s almost as good as sex,” she breathes, then smiles. “Morning, Aunt Gigi.” She heads toward her, placing a kiss on her cheek.
“How’s my favorite niece and great-nephew doing this morning?” Gigi places a hand on Molly’s protruding stomach. She’s only four months pregnant, but her short and slender stature make her appear much further along. It doesn’t help that, according to Noah, he was over nine pounds when he was born. Of course, when Molly found out, she joked she would have preferred to know that little piece of information before she allowed him to knock her up.
“We’re doing great. Hungry.” There’s a glow about her as she points to her stomach. “This little