17. Shane #3
I let out a breath. “I don’t know, I’ve been trying not to think about it too much, but I’m still hurt. Certainly, after yesterday…” Just thinking about it, I feel my eyes watering.
“Oh, I was so furious when I didn’t see you come in. But Emma… Jesus, I have never seen her so angry. I honestly thought she was going to kill him.” She chuckles. “If she could have gotten off that bed, she would have beaten him up with whatever was lying around.”
From what Ronnie told me, Emma had a C-section to deliver her boys, so she’s having a bit of a hard time walking right now. But my mother is staying with her at the hospital to help with the babies.
I haven’t replied to Emma’s messages and pictures she sent me last night. I was still too emotional about the whole situation to talk about it. But I know I’ll need to soon. She doesn’t deserve the silent treatment because she hasn’t done anything wrong. My brother did.
“But enough about that depressing subject. Talk to me, how are you feeling? Regarding the baby.” She interlocks our fingers and turns slightly in her seat with an excited smile.
“God, I still can’t believe you’re having a baby.
You went from being a virgin, to being a mom.
” She laughs and I can’t help but join in with her.
“I know, I did not picture my life taking this turn. But I love it, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
” I place my free hand on my stomach. “Things are good, I’m excited about the idea of having this little creature growing inside of me and becoming a mom.
Shane actually talked about making changes to the house for the nursery this afternoon.
He’s so invested and always thinking ahead, it takes a lot of weight off my shoulders. He’s going to be a wonderful father.”
She gives me a genuine smile. “I’m really happy for you, Brey. And Shane, how are things going with him?”
I sigh contently, looking over to the man in question.
“Shane is… He’s just perfect. Things are amazing between us.
I’ve never been this happy in my life, Ronnie.
Sometimes that joy is so strong I feel like I could burst. He makes me so happy.
” Then my gaze trails back to my brother who’s skating from one end of the rink to the other with force.
“I just wish my brother could see that.”
“He’s an idiot, forget about him,” she says simply, shaking her head with a distasteful grimace.
“I wish it was that easy.” I sigh, this time with a bit of heartache. “And you, how are things in your love life? Still over the moon with your two men?” I giggle.
The relationship between Ronnie, Noah, and Gabriel happened so quickly, it kind of took me by surprise, yet not at the same time. I’ve always known the boys were obsessed with her. I just didn’t realize it was more than just sexual.
What surprised me even more was that Ronnie fell head-over-heels in love with them after she swore that she hated them. I guess that’s just how love works, it takes you by surprise and shows up when you least expect it.
She smiles dreamily. “Things are beyond great in the Ellis-Adler residence.”
“Still no wedding date fixed?”
Gabe proposed to her in November, but there hasn’t been more talk about the wedding since. She’s technically only marrying one, but spiritually, she’s clearly married to both. The ring tattoo that her and Noah share is a clear indication of that.
“Ugh, no, not yet. I don’t understand why it’s so hard, the whole thing is stressing me out like crazy. If it were just me, I’d elope, but I know that’s not what Gabe wants.” She shrugs, looking down at our hands.
I bring my free hand over our joined ones. “Is it possible that you may feel… guilty marrying Gabe, but not Noah? And that’s why you find it hard to set a date? Because doing so would make it real,” I ask softly.
She chews on her lip then gives a tiny nod as the emotions surface in her eyes. “I can’t help it. I want to marry Gabriel so, so badly. But I can’t help but feel like doing so would make it seem like I’m choosing him over Noah.”
She sniffs a little but keeps her eyes on the ice.
“And I know Noah said it was fine, that he’s okay with this.
But what if he changes his mind once it’s done?
I can’t just divorce Gabe to marry him instead.
Then that would mean I’d be choosing Noah over Gabe.
I’m not choosing one or the other, I choose both, I love them both equally. ”
“Maybe you should talk to them about this concern you have. I’m sure they’ll reassure you or come up with a solution.”
She nods again. “You’re right, I should.” She then turns her gaze to mine. “Thank you for asking, I feel like a weight was just lifted off my chest from talking about it.”
“You’re my best friend, Ronnie. You can always come to me when you need to talk.” I lean into her and rest my head on her shoulder. “How’s Noah doing with his rehab?” I ask when I lift my head back up.
“Good. The therapist that’s helping him with his rehab said he should be allowed back on the ice in two to three weeks.”
“That’s really good news.” I beam.
“Yeah, he’s excited. He’s been skating, but he says it’s not the same as playing.”
“I can imagine.”
The buzzer sounds as a second goal is scored by the Griffins. Ronnie and I stand, clapping along with everyone else. To be honest, I have no idea who scored. We haven’t really been paying attention to the game, which most likely makes us terrible girlfriends right now.