Chapter 34
One Month Later
“W ould you slow down?”
Trevor griped at me as I finished placing the cake on the table. I turned and glared at him.
“Excuse me. It's not everyday that your best friend gets to bring her son home from the hospital.”
“I just want you to be careful.” he interjected, staring at me with those green eyes.
“I know,” I spoke softer, knowing he was still scared of how hurt I’d been and how much we’d been through this year. “But, I’m fine. All healed. If anything, doing this is helping me work through things. Our godson is coming home today!” fully aware that I was squealing.
Lacey walked into Becks and Lucas’ kitchen, crossing her arms and staring at us.
“Hey, sweetie.” Trevor wrapped a large, tattooed arm around her and pulled our daughter close. She was struggling with Jackson’s death and the trauma that came along with it. We all were. It was so hard to see someone who had just started out in their life get it cut so short and so quick. Combined with it being during her senior year and after losing Paul? We’d decided to put her into therapy. Both of us were shocked when she’d readily agreed. Becks had referred us to a therapist in the same clinic as the one she went to and it was going well although slow.
The doorbell rang and I heard Lexi and Nat running to answer it. Walking out to stand behind them I smiled at Nick and Caroline. My eyebrow quirked taking in their mannerisms, awkward and tense.
“Hey, guys. I’m so glad you two could come. Caroline, I told you that you didn’t have to bring anything!” I exclaimed.
“It's just a lasagna they can eat tonight, or freeze for later, some cupcakes, and cookies. We’ll just say it's my gift.”
“She wouldn’t let me help her up with them.” Nick practically growled, pushing past me and going into the house.
The poor man was taking Jackson’s death horribly, shouldering the blame like he’d been his son to take care of. I knew Lucas and Trevor had been trying to talk to him, keep him company as much as they could. But Nick, although being all of our friend, had always been a bit of a mystery to us.
I looked back at Caroline, watching her blue eyes follow Nick disappear into the kitchen. Lacey and Trevor’s voices greeting him.
“Girls, why don’t you take the stuff into the kitchen for Caroline?” I asked the two younger girls.
Once they’d gone on their way with the items I really gave the other woman a once-over. She looked like she was a mess. More tired than usual and her smile wasn’t making her blue eyes light up.
“Are you okay?” I asked, worriedly.
Caroline shook her head, her blonde ponytail bouncing with the movement.
“Oh, I’m fine. Just a little tired.” she spoke, stepping forward and hugging me. “When will Lucas and Becks be here?”
I glanced down at my smart watch.
“Any minute actually.” I grabbed her arm pulling her inside, forgetting to give her the third degree. That could come later. I’d have Becks as back up for it.
Caroline laughed as I pulled her into the living room, the men and girls coming in. I watched Trevor observe Nick glowering at Caroline and he looked at me questioningly. All I could do was shrug. Something was definitely going on there. Trevor glanced out the window when we heard a loud engine.
“They’re here,” he proclaimed. Nat took off out of the room, flying through the front door. When Lexi made to follow, I grabbed her wrist.
“Give them a minute.” I told her, pulling my tiny redhead to me.
I heard Lucas greeting Nat and Becks’ softer voice.
“Hey, Peanut!”
“Monica didn’t go overboard did she?”
Trevor stared pointedly at me upon hearing Becks’ statement and I made an effort to pretend like I didn’t see him. Then they were coming through the front door.
“Welcome home!” I proclaimed, alongside Caroline.
Becks’ laughed, her arm slung around Nat’s shoulders as Lucas followed with the baby carrier.
“Monica!” my friend squealed. “I didn’t expect a whole party.”
“You would’ve done the same for me.” I argued. “Give me my godson.”
Lucas set the baby carrier on the coffee table and turned it to face the room. The chubby little boy looked at all of us stoically before gurgling a coo. My heart melted.
“Oh, he’s beautiful!!” exclaimed Caroline, coming forward, clutching her hands under her chin. “You all make beautiful babies.” she added.
“I did well, didn’t I?” bragged Lucas as Becks swatted him, blushing.
“You caveman,” she joked.
Trevor walked over, undoing the seat belt in the carrier and picked Will up, holding him against his chest. Massive tattooed arms careful around the baby. My stomach did a flip seeing him like that. We were far past the baby stage, but I could admire him holding my friends’ baby. It did things to me. Trevor smirked at me like he knew exactly what I was thinking.
“I had called dibs,” I pouted, glaring at him playfully.
“I got there first.”
“We can take turns,” assured Becks, giggling at us.
Later after dinner, the girls were upstairs watching a movie while the men sat on the patio. Caroline, Becks, and I were in her library Lucas’ had built last Christmas. Our new friend sat in the cushy recliner holding Will on her chest, cooing at him while we talked.
“Becks, he is seriously perfect.” she said again softly.
“Thanks,” said Becks. “I think so too but I’m pretty biased. I never thought I’d be a mother again at forty.”
“Better you than me,” I said, crossing my legs in the seat I’d perched on.
“How’s Nick doing?” asked Becks softly.
I watched Caroline's eyes darken at the man’s name, staring down at Will.
“He’s still beating himself up over Jackson. He knows it wasn’t his fault, but he does this. He’s always been the most stoic and quiet out of all the men. Trevor is trying to not let him be alone with his thoughts too much.”
Becks nodded, “Has he said anything to you, Caroline?”
Carolines eyes jerked up to Becks.
“What? No! Why?” she asked.
“Lucas had just said Nick seemed to be going into the cafe more and thought you all may be getting to know one another.” said Becks, unsure now.
“Nope. Nope, nothings going on.”
Becks’ dark eyes met mine and she raised her eyebrows. There was something going on there and we’d have to get it out of one of them eventually.
A tapping on the door and its opening had us looking towards it to see the man in question frozen in the doorway, staring at Caroline holding a baby. After a long awkward pause, Becks spoke.
“Nick?”
Jerking his head, he glanced over at her.
“I’ve gotta go to the station. I just wanted to say bye and congratulations again.” spinning on his heel, he turned and left before anyone could respond.
Caroline stood walking the baby over to Becks and placing him in his mother’s arms.
“I’ve actually gotta go too. I told Mom I’d help her with some baking before tomorrow.” then she was gone in a blonde blur.
“What the fuck was that?” asked Becks, looking at me as the door shut behind our friends.
“Hell if I know?!” I answered.
“Do you think they’re sleeping together?”
“BECKS!”
“You were thinking it.”