Page 34 of Come Back To Me

Maddy shrugged, her eyes dimming with sadness. She tried to hide it, but I always knew it was there. We never spoke about Jackson, I was still pissed with him and last I heard he was somewhere in the mountains ‘finding himself’. Or at least that’s what our Dad told me. Keeping that little tidbit from Maddy sucked, but I wanted to believe I was doing it for her own good. I wanted my best friend back. “I think it will be better if I was on my own for a while, you know? I’d much rather focus on your love life, than on my lack of one.”

“I don’t have one either,” I giggled, taking a bite of my breakfast.

“I have a feeling that’s about to change.” Maddy winked. “Besides, if you don’t snatch Alex up, I might have to. That man is hot.” She leaned over, and pushed a piece of paper in front of me. Written on it was a number.

“Call him,” encouraged Maddy. “Give him a chance. What’s the worst that could happen, huh?”

I could fall for him…I don’t know why that possibility made me uncomfortable, but I shoved it aside as soon as it had arisen. How was I supposed to try new things if I kept shooting them down? I was setting myself up for failure, simply because I was afraid of the things I couldn’t even remember. And how messed up was that?

“Okay.” I smiled, deciding to just give in and stop overanalyzing all of it. “I’ll call him when I get home from the hospital.”

“You seeing Nat?”

I stood up, and cleared our plates. “Yeah. I don’t have classes today, so I’m going to see if she needs help with the Kangaroo Care again.” I’d been helping Natalie at the hospital quite a bit, and it was starting to become part of my routine. My new routine. And it was something I looked forward to.

“I have some private dancing classes to teach a little later, but we can do something when I get back if you want?”

“Sounds good, I’m going to get ready.” I planted a kiss on Maddy’s cheek, and skipped — literally skipped — to my bedroom, her laughter trailing after me.

NATALIE MET ME outside the NICU, and I followed her inside.

“How’s Kyle doing?” I asked, smiling when I saw him lying in the incubator.

“Better, but we’ve been struggling to get his breathing under control. He’s had a rough couple of days so I’m glad you came in today.”

I went through the usual motions of taking off my jacket, and shirt, having dressed casually in the hopes that Natalie would need me. I sat down, and reached for Kyle, the same way I always did, and held him to my chest while Natalie covered my shoulders. I relaxed, and slowly started rocking in the recliner.

“You have the Midas touch,” said Natalie. She sat down beside me, and stared at Kyle, her eyes going glassy.

“Are you okay?” I asked, noting the bags under her eyes. “You’re not yourself today.”

Her lips lifted into a wistful smile, and sighed. “I’m fine. My morning sickness -” She snapped her lips, and her eyes widened. “Crap.”

I smiled, unable to hide my surprise and excitement. “You’re pregnant?”

Natalie sniffled, and nodded. “But you can’t tell anyone yet. I’m only eight weeks along, and your brother and I want to wait until I hit twelve weeks before we break the news to the family.”

“Oh my God,” my throat closed a little, and I felt my eyes dampen. “I’m going to be an Aunty?”

Natalie wiped away a stray tear, and when I bounced in my seat, Kyle stirred. “Shit. Sorry little boy.” I kissed his head, and then looked back at Natalie. “I’m so happy for you, Nat. I want to cry, and hug you at the same time.”

She giggled, and leaned back. “Your brother is having a hard time not telling anyone. He came home with a pair of blue booties the other day.”

“Of course he did,” I tittered. “He’s been wanting to knock you up since you were, what, seventeen?”

Natalie rolled her eyes. “If he had his way we’d have a football team by now. But I’m glad we waited. Not that we were trying now, it just kind of…happened.”

“So what about the wedding? Are you going to postpone?”

“No, your brother would have a coronary.” Natalie yawned. “Once we’ve shared the news, we’ll probably move it up so that I won’t be huge when I walk down the aisle.”

A moment passed, Natalie and I smiling at each other like idiots. I couldn’t wait to see Connor, and congratulate him. After the past few weeks, our family needed this kind of news. And I knew everyone was going to be thrilled.

We spent a few minutes catching up, and when Natalie yawned again I told her to get some sleep. Her shift was going to be over as soon as I was done.

She opened her mouth, and then grinned when she saw something — or someone — behind me.

“Kenzi?”