10. Gigi
CHAPTER 10
Gigi
The cold November air slaps my cheeks as soon as I get out of the front door in the direction of the U-Haul. It’s not my move-in day. My stuff is all unpacked and set around the apartment. It’s Kai’s and Luke’s. I know, starting your newlywed life sharing an apartment with your husband’s best friend is not ideal, but I’m thinking positively about this. Kai even said that he’d help with the babies, although I doubt taking care of a calf or a horse is the same as taking care of a newborn human. He’s really sweet, and I hate that he and Zoey are going through a breakup right now.
Sighing, I take my phone out and send her a text.
I miss you.
Zoey
I know. Tell Luke I’m sorry that I’m not helping him with his move, but I don’t want to see Kai.
Are you going to say goodbye before you leave for winter break and go on your self-imposed exile?
To you, Luke, and the babies? Hell yeah. Him? To be determined.
“Nuh-uh.” Kai immediately grabs the box that I’m carrying, and an easy smile tugs on his lips. “Your husband is going to murder me if he sees you doing all the grunt work. Just stay inside, look pretty, and tell me where all the shit is supposed to go.”
“Where is Luke, anyway?” I ask. The last I checked, the two of them didn’t have this many things that they’d need to do a back-and-forth trip. One time should be enough. But Luke isn’t with Kai. His truck is nowhere to be seen, either.
“Got pulled in for work. The professor asked whether he wanted to fill in for another student supposed to be helping out with a workshop or not, and Luke said yes. It shouldn’t take that long. He said he’d be here by four.”
“Alright, then,” I say as I rub my hands together to warm them up. “Let's get you moved in.”
Being the good guy he is, Malakai unloads the truck by himself. He carries all thirty boxes alone, not letting me lift a finger, and listens dutifully when I tell him where to put things. Since I had a head start with my shit, there is already a system in place for the common areas. He says he’d rather follow that than create chaos.
“Are you sure, Kai?” I ask, cradling my growing belly. “I mean, it’s your home now, too. I don’t want you to think I’m bossy.”
Kai chuckles as he carries the two remaining stapled boxes. “As long as you cook for me from now on, I’m good, roomie.”
“A little birdie told me someone needs a hand with the furniture?” A familiar, masculine voice echoes through the walls.
Kai tilts his chin downward, giving me a knowing look. “Really, Gigi? You called Zach for backup? I might not be a jock, but I do go to the gym, you know.”
I flash him a guilty smile. “I don’t want you to blow out your back.”
“I’m turning twenty-two not forty-two,” he quips.
“Not about the age, man,” Zach chimes in, approaching from behind Kai. “Besides, your couch that’s still at the back of the truck is massive. What was your fucking plan?” he asks as they do their bro-handshake thing.
“Wait for Luke,” Kai says, shrugging. “What time is it, anyway?”
I check my phone. 4:30 p.m. Luke should be here. This is his stuff. As if he knows I’m thinking about him, a new notification pops up on my screen.
Luke
Sorry. Sorry. Will be home a bit late. The Q&A session is running longer than expected and it would look really bad if I bail.
Sighing, I text him back that it’s fine, and that Zach is here for reinforcement.
“Luke is running late,” I tell the boys. “Can you both do it? Or do we need more manpower?”
Zach and Kai manage to empty out the U-Haul. With the extra help, everything goes faster, and we are finished just in time for Kai to return the truck before the pizza arrives. I’m unpacking one of the boxes labeled “kitchen” when Zach comes out of the shower wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt that belong to Kai.
“Nice digs,” he says, running a towel through his damp hair.
“Thanks for helping, Zach,” I say, giving him a side hug. “You’re the absolute best. I’d call Zoey, but there was no way she would’ve been able to help us out with the big things. Besides, she and Kai are going through it.”
“You’re one of my best friends, Gigi. You can give me a call any time, especially if you need help with heavy lifting.” He looks around for a moment before opening his mouth and closing it again, hesitating to say what’s on his mind. “So, uh, Luke’s family didn’t sweep in to help, huh? I’m guessing you both are still on the outs with Andrew’s parents? I know Luke was really tight with them. This seems like something that they would help with.”
I shake my head, feeling the pregnancy hormones pushing tears out of my eyes again. “Luke is still refusing to take their calls. And it’s not like they contact me, anyway.” Not since that night Mike did.
Think of happy thoughts, Gigi. Picture the beach. Picture the park. Picture Andrew’s smile. Picture Luke and the twins. Picture hanging out with your friends.
“All of this because his dad didn’t show you guys the goodbye video?” Zach asks, putting the towel over his shoulder. “Not to play devil’s advocate here, but maybe he was just grieving and wanted to keep that memory of his son to himself first. Do you think that could be the reason?”
Oh, Zach. If you only knew how disgusting Andrew’s dad actually is.
“ Trust me, that wasn’t his reason. Andrew said some things that he didn’t want to be shared.”
“That so?”
“Yep. And some of them didn’t really reflect good on his dad,” I say vaguely, not wanting to air the Palmers’ dirty laundry unless I absolutely have to.
“Care to elaborate?”
“Sorry,” I say with a guilty tone. “I probably shouldn’t. Family drama.”
As if we’re already short on those.
Zach nods, not pushing the topic any further. I glance at him and give him a grateful look. I think I’d burst into tears if he’d press me on the spot and dig deeper. “If you want to talk, Gigi. Any time. You know that, right?”