Chapter Thirty-One #2
I’d confided in all of them not too long ago about everything going on with my family.
Maybe knowing I would be a mom soon had emboldened me, because suddenly I couldn’t figure out why I’d felt the need to hide it from all of them save for Maven.
Of course, they’d all listened and comforted me, vowing their support for me no matter what I decided to do about my sister’s wedding.
But more than that, they didn’t pity me when I told them the reasons behind my family’s detachment.
They treated me like the survivor I was, helping me through a tough storm of emotions while also reminding me that none of what happened in my past defined who I was now.
And that’s the thing about girlfriends — the real ones. They’re soulmates, too. They’re the ones who show up in ways no one else can, who remind you of your worth when you forget, who fight for you and laugh with you and refuse to let you go through the hardest parts of life alone.
“Exactly,” I echoed Grace. “And I guess I just… I don’t want to get this wrong. I don’t want to hurt someone. I want this kid to have the best childhood possible, better than mine. And some days I worry about whether I’ll be enough to give them that.”
The suite was quiet for a beat before Grace leaned forward, her expression fierce in that way only she could manage. “Livia. You will be an incredible mother. The fact that you’re even asking these questions proves it.”
Chloe reached for my hand. “You’ve already broken the cycle. You know what you don’t want to repeat, and you’ll build something better. That’s what matters.”
Mia nodded, her eyes glossy. “And you’re not doing this alone. You’ve got Carter. And you’ve got us. We’re here for every step.”
“Every contraction, every craving, every meltdown,” Grace added. “We’ll be right there with you.”
The knot in my chest loosened. For the first time, I let myself believe them.
“Can I ask… has any of this impacted your decision with Lacey’s wedding?” The question came from Chloe, who was flushing red like she wasn’t sure she should have asked.
I let out a breath. “Yeah. It has. I finally put boundaries in place and told her the truth. The whole thing — about the abuse from…” I swallowed down bile the way I always did when I had to say his name.
“From Robert. I told her how our parents covered it up, and how they disowned me when I refused to stay quiet.”
“Oh my God,” Grace whispered. “What did she say?”
I shrugged. “Honestly? I think she’s always known.
She just didn’t want to admit it, because then she’d have to choose between me and our parents.
And I don’t think she knows how to do that yet.
She told me she loved me. That she was sorry it happened.
That it was awful. But she didn’t denounce them, either.
Maybe one day she’ll call them on it. Maybe she’ll keep living in denial. That’s her path to walk.”
My throat tightened, but I forced myself to keep going.
“She did say she understood my decision not to go to the wedding. Or any family function ever again. And…” I hesitated, then smiled faintly. “I told her I was pregnant. That if she wanted to, I’d love for her to be a part of her niece’s life.”
A beat of silence passed before Mia asked softly, “Will you tell your parents?”
I shook my head. “No. I don’t have anything more to say to them.”
The girls all stared at me with glossy eyes, the weight of what I’d said settling between us. Then Maven reached over and laced her fingers through mine, squeezing so tight it almost hurt.
“You’re so strong, Liv,” she said, her voice firm, steady. “We’re proud of you. And you don’t need them. You’ve got us. We’re your family now.”
I swallowed hard as the rest of them nodded, murmuring their agreement.
It was then that I realized Maven had been a little too quiet in the midst of all of this, and now that the heavier moment had passed, she was still bouncing on her toes like she had to hold the secret I’d just spilled to everyone.
“Easy, bestie,” I told her, looping her arm through mine. “You can relax and yap about all the things you’ve been forced to keep inside for a month.”
“Well, actually, I’m having a hard time relaxing at all the past few days.”
I frowned. “Oh no. What’s going on?”
But she didn’t look sad. She looked like she’d just won the lottery. For a second, I thought maybe she had.
When she held up a little white stick in her hands, I didn’t even have to look closely to understand why she was so giddy.
“SHUT UP!” I screamed, and damn my fucking hormones because tears instantly sprung to my eyes. “YOU SHUT UP RIGHT NOW, MAVEN TANEV!”
Maven just started crying with me, her smile so big it took up her whole face. “I just found out! I wanted to surprise you!”
I shook my head in disbelief before wrapping her in the tightest hug of my life. We cried and squealed and clutched each other close while the other girls slowly caught on and had their own freak outs.
“I can’t believe this,” I whispered in her ear, squeezing her tighter. “We get to do this together.”
“Thank fucking God because I have no idea what I’m doing,” Maven said with a laugh that sparked one of my own.
“Neither do I. We can be the hot mess express moms.”
“No better way to be.”
“I’m laughing even harder now at your comment about a relaxing summer,” I said, giggling. “Bitch, we are going to be everything but relaxed.”
“Pregnant as fuck.”
“In Florida. God help us.”
We laughed and cried and held each other for as long as we could, right up until the lights began to flash and the crowd noise rose from a murmur to a roar.
The game started, and despite the mountains of questions all the girls had now, we all scrambled down to our seats to watch the puck drop, and instantly, the adrenaline of the game swept us away.
When I saw Carter skate out in the first line, I screamed so loud even Ava called me a fangirl.
But in the middle of it all, I let myself think about the past month.
I thought of Carter and how he’d been by my side through the nausea and exhaustion, how he’d kissed my forehead when I apologized for being too tired, how he’d held me on the couch while I dozed off against his chest. I thought about how much I missed the electricity of us in the bedroom, even knowing it would return soon enough — and how much I’d unexpectedly grown to love the quiet, tender side of him just as much. Maybe even more.
And that night, we all watched the man my child would call Dada soon skate out with fire in his eyes. We sat in awe as he crushed it shift after shift, as the Ospreys clinched the playoffs.
Just like Carter had clinched my heart.