Chapter 16
Sloane
Oh boy, Eden has turned as pale as Todd. We’re going to have two unconscious people on our hands soon.
“Eden, take a breath,” I say, reaching for her hand. “You’ve got this.”
“I really don’t,” she replies, looking panicked. “Pia never bloody told me she wanted me in there!”
Bella snorts. “Because she knew this would be your reaction. Just stay north of the wall and you’ll be fine.”
“North of the wall?” Eden asks. Her brain is not computing at all.
“Yeah, you know. Above the pubic area.”
If it’s possible, Eden goes even paler. “I do not want to see Pia’s pubic line,” she declares, and it takes all my self-control not to laugh.
“Eden,” I say, snagging her attention. “All you have to do is stand by her head, hold her hand and encourage her. She’s going to need support in there, and she loves you more than anyone.”
“It’s true,” Todd chimes in, looking a little better. “I think she loves you more than me nowadays.”
“That’s because you’re responsible for the alien growing inside her,” Bella unhelpfully adds.
“Hey, it takes two, you know,” he argues.
“This is not the time,” I call, making sure my voice is louder than either of theirs. “You two,” pointing at Todd and Eden, “need to get your butts in that room and help her through this. Now!”
The forcefulness of my voice seems to snap Eden out of her panic. She shakes her head, wipes a hand down her face and does a couple of on-the-spot jumps. It’s what she does when she’s preparing for a race.
“You’re totally right. Come on, Todd, we’ve got a half-crazed woman to support!”
I smile as she leans in and kisses me gently before swiveling on her heel and walking off with purpose. Todd stumbles after her, looking less confident.
Satisfied Pia has her people, I turn to Jenna, Bella, and Becca. “Okay, troops. We need to make some phone calls. Who has Pia’s parents’ cell number?”
“I do. I’ll try them now,” Becca says, whipping out her phone and heading outside.
“Jenna, can you call your parents? If Pia’s family are far away, she’s going to need some parental backup.”
Jenna grins. “Already done, Sloane. Mum and Dad should be here any minute.”
I high-five her. “Perfect. Bella, can I have the key to your apartment? Eden is going to need a change of clothes.”
“I’ll go,” she says. “I can pick us up some snacks while I’m out. Hospitals freak me out.”
That’s fair. I’m not sure I know anyone who likes sitting in a hospital. Becca
returns, and I see from her face the news is less than ideal.
“So, I got hold of them,” she says stiffly.
“Are they on their way?” Jenna asks.
Becca simply shakes her head.
“What do you mean?” Bella asks, looking perplexed. “You told them she’s literally giving birth, right?”
Becca rolls her head. “No, babe, I told them Pia was doing cartwheels in the street. Of course I told them.”
“And?” I ask, knowing I’m not going to like what Becca says.
“They said they’d see her in a few months, and that they’ll get a nanny installed at the house next week.”
“What the fuck!” Bella shouts. “They can’t be serious?”
My heart aches. I knew Pia’s parents were always absent, but I never thought they’d leave her like this. With the money they have, they could literally go anywhere in the world whenever they wanted to, so why the hell aren’t they on the first private flight back to Colorado?
The double doors swish open and Eden’s parents rush in. They search frantically until they see us.
Liz reaches us first, drawing Jenna in for a hug before summoning the rest of us.
She’s like a punky mother hen with all her chicks.
She must have been at home relaxing if her attire is anything to go by.
Both of them are in ripped jeans and band tees.
They look so different from their everyday corporate selves, it still makes me laugh in wonder.
“What did we miss?” Rick asks.
“They have Pia in a room. Todd and Eden are with her,” I say.
Rick snorts. “Poor Eden.”
“Has anyone called her parents?” Liz asks. There is a notable silence because none of us want to tell her that Pia’s parents are selfish assholes.
In the end, we don’t have to. Liz shakes her head and looks at Rick.
“Honey, will you go home and get the spare room set up? Pia is coming home with us. I’m not letting them out of my sight, not until she’s recovered and the baby is settled.
Jesus, how could they not even call, let alone jump on a plane to see their daughter and granddaughter? It’s inexcusable.”
Leaning in, Rick kisses his wife, shoots the rest of us finger guns and leaves. I knew they’d be the people Pia needs.
“Right, I’m going to head back to the apartment and grab Eden some stuff,” Bella says. “Anybody got a preference for snacks?”
Becca goes to open her mouth, but Bella lays two fingers over her lips. “I have Doritos on the list, babe.”
“Whatever you guys want,” I say, my attention focused on the door leading to Pia’s room. I hope she’s okay. Same for Eden and Todd.
I settle in a waiting room chair with Liz on one side of me and Becca on the other.
Jenna has sat herself opposite, and I can see it was strategic because she’s tapping away on her phone like a maniac and clearly doesn’t want anyone to see what she’s writing.
Hmm, I think Eden is on to something. I think Jenna is seeing someone.
Considering we could be here for hours, I make it my mission to find out. “Hey, Jen. Wanna come and help with some crap coffee?”
“Oh, sure.”
The second we’re out of earshot, I pull her to a stop. “Okay, who is it? I told you the conversation wasn’t over, and now I’m here to collect.”
Jenna blushes furiously. “I thought Eden might have told you.”
“When did she find out?”
“Just before your date.”
“Well, we kind of got sidetracked.” I laugh, waving a hand around the hospital corridor. “Why do you look so nervous?”
“It’s Kiera,” she blurts.
Kiera. I wouldn’t have guessed that in a million years. The name is like a relic from another life. “The soccer captain, Kiera?” I clarify, even though I know exactly who she means.
Jenna grimaces, but then laughs, a relieved, self-deprecating little sound. “Yeah. She’s not as intimidating when she’s teaching eight-year-olds how to tie their cleats.” The words seem to soften her posture. “I know she was, um, kind of an arsehole to Eden in high school.”
“Kind of?” I raise an eyebrow.
She squeezes her coffee cup, fingertip denting the lid. “She’s different now. Honestly.” Her face goes earnest at once. “She apologized to Eden. For everything, even the 5K sabotage incident.”
My brain conjures the memory of Eden hobbling toward the finish with me, Bella, Becca, Pia, Todd, and Bryce walking by her side.
She was so upset she hadn’t been able to run across the finish line.
Pia had wanted to hunt Kiera down, but as usual, Eden was the better person.
So much so that when Kiera turned up to Bryce’s party and got told by him to fuck off, it was Eden who stood up for Kiera.
She accepted her apology with grace and moved on.
“That’s actually…good,” I say, and mean it. “Are you into her?”
“Yeah.” Jenna’s smile is soft-edged. “It’s so stupid.” She shrugs, but it’s a fond shrug—the kind people reserve for the most impossible crushes, or rescue dogs that pee on expensive rugs.
“It’s not stupid.” I nudge her with my shoulder. “You deserve someone fun. I never knew you were into older women,” I joke, earning a playful jab to the ribs.
“I just like her.” She hesitates a beat before continuing, “Her ex is basically a psychopath, and I think it really made her look at her past self, you know.”
“Wow, I’m sorry she had to go through something so shitty.”
“She’s not hung up on the ex or anything, it’s just…
complicated. Her ex is still friends with Kiera’s friends, so it’s a little awkward.
You know how queer relationships get. Sometimes I’m surprised there’s anyone left on earth who isn’t someone’s ex-girlfriend or ex-roommate.
Anyway, I’m just trying to be a friend right now. ”
I laugh, and it’s lighter than expected. “Yeah, it is a pretty small pond. You’re an amazing friend, Jenna. I know from experience. Kiera is lucky to have you.”
“Ah shucks,” Jenna jokes because it’s her go-to method when she’s feeling vulnerable. “We’re playing it by ear at the minute.”
“I like this for you, Jen.”
“I like it for me too. I’ll tell Mum and Dad when there’s more to share. Right now, I’m enjoying the soccer camp and talking to her. She likes me, and that’s all that matters.”
We get crappy vending machine coffee and return to the waiting room, where Liz is animatedly explaining the concept of ‘push playlists’ to Becca.
My phone vibrates with a text from Eden.
It says, “send help,” followed by four skull emojis and a gif of a baby velociraptor hatching.
A second text follows moments later which reads, “Pia says if she dies tell everyone Todd’s weak and Eden’s her true soulmate.
” I show Jenna, who bursts out laughing, coffee almost coming out of her nose.
Liz leans over, catching the gist. “Are those two going to survive this?” she asks, not exactly joking.
“They might,” I say. “As long as Pia’s being drugged.”
Becca chimes in, “Honestly, I don’t think Pia needs drugs, she just needs to compete with the patient in the next room over. Every time the lady in room seven screams, Pia yells even louder.”
“That tracks,” Liz says, admiring. “Pia’s fierce.”
Bella returns, arms full of snacks and clothes.
Hours drag in a blur of junk food and rounds of “guess that medical code” every time a number is announced over the intercom.
Eventually, Todd emerges from the back. He’s got the face of someone who’s just seen a lot more blood and placenta than he’d like.
“She did it,” he says, looking stunned. We all pop up like prairie dogs.
“She did great,” he says with a wobble in his voice. “Baby is healthy. They’re going to bring them to the maternity ward after a little while.”
Taking a step towards him, I smile softly. He looks wrecked. “Is she asking for anyone?” I say, hoping but not expecting.
“She said, ‘Send in my girls, but only if Bella doesn’t make any weird jokes about the afterbirth.’” His delivery is so deadpan that the laughter is explosive.
Eden dashes out of the delivery area, hair askew, shirt untucked. She’s wearing an unidentifiable fluid on one sleeve. Her face is marred with the same horror as Todd’s. “She did it. She’s here! Pia’s a mom and I can never unsee what I have seen!”
The rest of us flood her with hugs, food, wet wipes and a stack of clothes. “How did Todd actually do?” Becca whispers, eyeing Todd from the side.
Eden makes a thumbs-up. “Took the fainting like a champ.”
Pia is propped up in bed, looking like someone who just bench-pressed a Smart car but would do it again if dared. She’s holding a bundle, impossibly small, red-faced, and already possessed of Pia’s stern brow.
“It’s a girl,” Pia says. “Meet Meena.”
“She’s beautiful,” I say, and mean it.
Eden’s face is softer than I’ve ever seen it, and everyone takes turns holding the baby, even Jenna, who pretends to hate it but is totally enchanted.
Later, after everyone leaves, Eden and I drive back to her apartment. The city is quiet and sweet-smelling in the early morning. Her hand finds mine, and she grips my fingers.
“I didn’t faint,” she says.
I nudge her shoulder. “You did so good.”
She smiles at me, tired but dazzling. “This was the best first date ever.”
I look over and wholeheartedly agree.
Bella and Becca are passed out on the couch when we arrive.
Eden doesn’t ask if I’m staying over, she simply pulls me into her room and begins undressing.
Honestly, I’m too tired to overthink it and follow her lead.
She hands me an oversized band tee and climbs into bed, holding the covers open for me.
I slip in and curl myself around her lean frame.
She’s warm and humming, fingertips making a slow circuit from my wrist to elbow. After a while, Eden speaks, voice low and a little awed. “Do you think Meena’s going to have the same scowl as Pia her whole life?”
“Oh, for sure,” I say. “But with Todd’s impossibly wide nostrils.”
She snorts, and the sound vibrates against my skin.
“Hey, Sloane?”
“Yeah?”
“Remember when all I wanted was to live alone painting by the sea?” Eden asks in a whisper.
“I do. Is that still something you want?”
I feel her head shake above mine. “No. I love my life full of people. I suppose I was a little scared, you know?”
“Scared?”
“Yeah. About growing up and dealing with the world. Life as an adult seemed so impossible.”
“Eden, you were a middle-aged adult at seventeen!”
“No, I just had the attitude of one, when really, I was just a scared kid like everyone else at school. When Pia told me she was pregnant, I felt scared again. Not just because of the baby, although my pro versus con list for having kids is still leaning heavily on the con side.” She shifts, so we’re face to face, noses almost touching.
“But because Pia was going to be doing something so big, I couldn’t stop from worrying.
But then I stepped into the room and saw my best friend pushing like her life depended on it and I wasn’t scared anymore.
Even when Pia started screaming like she was auditioning for The Exorcist. It just felt—“ she searches for the right word, brow creasing. “Good,” she finally says.
“If I’ve learned anything over the last few years, Eden, it’s that we’re always going to be scared.
Life is unpredictable, and I would’ve felt exactly the same if Becca had come to me and told me she was having a baby.
The important part is that we don’t run away when things get scary.
I won’t ever do it again. I’ve already promised you that. ”
She makes a satisfied sound and burrows closer, leg thrown over mine in a tangle which neither of us will be able to escape in the morning. I drift off, comfortably snuggled into her body. My head on her chest, listening to the rhythm of Eden’s heartbeat under my ear.
The next morning, I wake when the body I’ve been stuck to all night is no longer where it should be. Blinking the morning into existence, I roll over to find Eden looking down at me. She’s holding a cup of coffee and a plate which, if my nose is correct, is a bacon sandwich.
“Let’s go see them,” she says with excitement laced in her voice. “I bet Todd’s already planning escape routes.” She laughs.