you until…”
Right. Until…when? The baby came, and we went our separate ways?
My nerves tangled into knots as he headed for my bedroom door. “Call me when you’ve decided. Or if you need anything in the meantime. Okay?”
I nodded.
“Liberty?” he asked, his hand on the knob.
“Yeah?”
“Hold your breath.” A crooked smile shaped his lips.
I laughed but covered my nose and mouth.
He cracked the door open just enough for him to slid his massive frame through before quickly shutting it. I dropped my hand, shaking my head as I smiled like a schoolgirl at my shut door.
That man.
He had my head spinning, that was for sure.
It took less than five minutes for Heather to rush through the door, flinging herself on her bed across the room with an expectant look on her face.
“What?” I laughed.
“Spill.”
I sighed and fell backward onto my bed before telling her about Nixon’s request.
“Omigod, you have to!”
“What? No, I have to think this through.”
“Please, what is there to think about?” Heather scoffed. “You have to go live in the quarterback’s mansion and let him cook for you and give you back massages and shit while you grow a human inside of you.”
I snorted I laughed so hard. “It is way more complicated than that, Heather.”
“What isn’t complicated about relationships?”
“This isn’t a relationship.”
She arched a brow at me. “You’re carrying his child, and you both are trying to get to know each other and where you fit in each other’s lives. What else would you call it?”
“An attempt at friendship?”
“Friendships are still relationships. Not everything is about sex, you know,” she teased. “Or is it? Cause I’d really love to hear more about that.”
“Ha! If I could remember anything, I’d let you know.”
“That is such a bummer.”
I nodded, unable to argue that one.
“You need to do this,” she urged. “If for the sole reason of getting away from the god-awful fish tank of Julie’s.” We laughed, and she tucked a pillow under her side. “I’m serious! I wish someone would offer me a place to stay. Hell, I’d move in with a drug dealer to get away from that smell,” she joked.
I sighed, the laughter lightening the tension in my chest. “I love you.”
“Love you, too,” she said, then eyed my phone as it buzzed on the desk near our beds. “Tell him you say yes yes yes,” she said as she hurried out of the room.
I grabbed it, my shoulders only slightly sinking at the realization it was not, in fact, Nixon calling to persuade me on all the reasons I should go live in his palace with him. Okay, not a palace but damn me if he wasn’t acting like prince charming.
“Hi, Mom,” I answered. “How is Brazil?”
“It’s a lot of work,” she said, the line slightly staticky. “But beautiful, baby. I sure wish you were here!”
For the first time in forever, I couldn’t echo that sentiment. Not with a huge workload for my final semester in college and a baby on the way and Nixon Noble to contend with.
“How are you feeling?” she asked, and I filled her in on the past few days since we’d spoken.
“It will pass,” she said. “I thought I was going to die when I was pregnant with you. I was nearly hospitalized you made me so weak.”
“Jeez, Mom. I suck, I get it.”
She laughed. “No, you’re perfect, darling! One day I woke up and wanted nothing more than a cheeseburger. And I ate three of them in one sitting because you actually let me.”
My stomach rolled at the thought of food. “Gah, Mom! No food talk!”
“Right, sorry, sweetie.” She sighed. “Have you heard from Breaking Boundaries yet?”
“Nothing yet,” I said, and honestly couldn’t be that disappointed. While I was in love with the program, the last thing I needed right now was another major decision. “But the process takes a while, and I only applied a few weeks ago.” Before I knew about the baby. Not that having a child would change my goals or aspirations, I’d just have to plan better. Take different precautions, that’s all.
“I’m sure you will,” she said. “I’m so damn proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I have to dash,” she said. “The clinic is drowning in locals right now. So many people need to be seen.” There was a sadness to her voice. “Too many,” she continued. “I can’t wait until you’re with me. You’ll do so much good here.”
“I love you, Mom,” I said, my chest tightening again.
“You too. Talk soon!”
The line went dead, and I