make you anything to eat?” Mom asked.
“No, we stopped before we got here. I just need some sleep.”
I went up to my room, loving the comfortable feeling being home already gave me. As soon as I opened my door, I dropped my bags, went to lie on my bed and fell into a peaceful sleep.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The next morning after I got up and took a much-needed shower, I made my way downstairs. My mom was in the kitchen making breakfast. My entire family, including Hunter, Hailey, Jaylinn, and Mrs. McCormick sat at the table.
“Well, look who decided to finally grace us with her presence,” my dad said as he got up from the table to wrap his arms around me.
“Morning, guess I was more tired than I thought I was. “I blushed. “So Chloe, are you ready for this weekend? How’s my nephew been treating you?”
“Girl, he never stops moving. I’m so uncomfortable. I cannot wait for this to be over. I have to wake Jackson up all the time because I keep getting bad back cramps and I can’t get up out of bed.”
“Aww, he’s getting tough before he comes into this family. He’s gonna need his muscles with all his uncles around,” I said.
“I just can’t wait until I get to finally hold him in my arms.”
“I bet. So what’s the plans today, Mom?” The only open seat was next to Hunter. He murmured a good morning as I sat. I replied by reaching for his hand under the table and giving it a squeeze. I ignored Mason’s glare.
“Well,” Mom had a list already prepared. “You and I need to get all the decorations for the shower and stop by the hall and check it out real quick. Then we’re going to come back and pick up all the girls and go get pedicures.”
That sounded relaxing and just what I needed. “Ok, sounds good.”
As the others talked, Hunter and I found small ways to touch each other. I was developing much stronger feelings for Hunter, but I knew for sure that every time I was with him, I felt safe and at ease. I guess my heart had finally started to heal.
After cleaning up from breakfast, Mom and I headed out to get the chores done. When we pulled back into the driveway, Jackson was outside, pacing back and forth.
“What’s going on?” I asked, grabbing some of the bags from the trunk.
“Chloe is having back cramps again and she keeps crying because they are causing her so much pain. She just kicked me out and told me to go take a walk.”
Mom called him over to help. “Calm down. You’re making this worse for her. Help me and your sister get these bags in the house and then I’ll go see if she wants to go to the hospital.”
“Mom, I’m not ready for this yet.”
Jackson was a nervous wreck. It was kind of cute seeing him like that because normally he was the big tough guy. “We don’t have anything set up at the apartment; we haven’t even had the shower yet.”
“Jackson, just relax. We are all here, and we will help you and Chloe with everything.” Mom reassured him.
We got all the bags into the house. Jaylinn, Mrs. McCormick, and I put all the food away while mom and Jackson went upstairs to check on Chloe. Thirty minutes later, mom and Chloe came downstairs and asked if I was ready to go get our pedicures.
“Chloe, are you sure you are up to going?”
She still didn’t look as if she felt very well. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes narrowed each time she winced.
“Yeah, I need a distraction. The doctor said if I still have these pains by tomorrow morning to head over to the hospital. They’re probably only Braxton Hicks contractions.”
“I have no idea what the hell that means, but if you still want to go, let’s go.” I laughed.
By the time we finished our pedicures and stopped for ice cream, Chloe said that she was feeling much better. We got home and convinced Jackson that Chloe really was fine, so they headed home for the night.
Heading up the stairs to my room, I thought I heard Hailey’s giggle. I stopped and waited for it again. I needed to make sure it was Hailey before I walked in on Mason or Cooper with some girl. I heard it again and knew that it was definitely Hailey’s giggle. I knocked on Mason and Cooper’s door. Cooper opened