Chapter 16 #2
“We’ll take good care of her, number twenty-five.” Sloane winks, linking her arm through mine, and pulling me toward the couch and away from Foster.
“Be nice, ladies,” he says.
“No promises!” Rowan calls out. He chuckles, shakes his head, and closes the patio door behind him as he steps outside.
“Girl, I don’t know how you did it, but you’ve brought Foster out of his shell. He’s smiled more in the last few months than he has the entire time I’ve known him,” Corie says.
“I didn’t do anything,” I tell her.
“You did, by being you.” Sloane winks.
I smile at her. “Maybe, but Foster is easy to be around. I think maybe he just needed someone. Not that all of you are not there for him, but I’m not connected to any of you or his career in any way,” I say, trying to make my theory make sense without divulging anything Foster has told me about his life.
I know he told the guys, and I assume their wives by association, but that’s not my story to tell, so I need to be careful about what I say.
“You might be right.” Rowan smiles. “Regardless, we’re glad he has you, and we’re glad that you’re here.”
“Thank you. I’m happy to be here.”
“Okay, so, who wants to go first?” Sloane asks.
Then she turns to me. “We have to speed through this impromptu girls’ night, because our husbands are needy, and I have no doubt they’ll be back in here in no time.
So, we need a quick catch-up with everyone in case we need to vent about them. ” She laughs.
“Makes sense.” I smile at her. I love the energy of these ladies. Carrie would love them, too. Maybe one day, I’ll get to introduce her to them.
“I’ll go first,” Sloane says. “I want another baby.” Everyone cheers, and she smiles, then looks over at me. “Camden isn’t my biological son, but he is my son, and I think he needs a brother or sister to play with.”
“You know Daddy Sin is going to be all over that.” Bellamy sniggers.
“Have you told him?” Corie asks.
“Not yet, but we’ve both dropped hints,” she says, radiating with happiness.
“I’ll go next.” Bellamy raises her hand. “Momma needs a date night. Any takers to keep Coral for a few hours?”
“We’ll take her all night. Just let us know when,” Rowan offers.
“We can, too,” Sloane tells her. “Cam would love it.”
“Thanks, ladies. You know I’ll repay the favor anytime.”
“Alexander is still not sleeping through the night. Any thoughts? The pediatrician says it will happen in time, but I’m so tired. Knox is incredible and gets up with him, too, but we’re both running on fumes these days. I’m just glad we’re not in season.”
“I think it comes with time,” Bellamy says. “Coral was around three months. We kept her on a strict routine, and that helped so much. I’d also wake her up during the day, anything to keep her going, as long as it didn’t piss her off.” She laughs. “But it worked.”
“We’re trying to do that. I need to wait it out, and we need to follow it exactly and see if that makes a difference. Thanks.”
“Well, you can’t say anything, because Landry wants to tell everyone together, but I know my husband, and I’m positive that he’s also spilling the beans right now. We’re pregnant.” She beams. “I’m twelve weeks today.”
“Congratulations.” We all stand to hug her—yes, even me, because it’s exciting, and these ladies make me feel as though I’m one of them.
Once everyone has settled back into their seats, all eyes turn to Amanda. She swallows hard and starts to speak. “I leave town tomorrow. As you know, the first adoption fell through, but the second, she’s being induced on Monday. I’m going to be there, and I get to bring my son or daughter home.”
“Manda! That’s amazing,” Bellamy gushes, standing and hugging her friend. They’re both wiping tears from their eyes when they pull out of the hug. Bellamy moves back to her seat as Amanda drops another bomb on us. “Ethan’s cheating on me.”
The room goes silent. Bellamy clears her throat. “Are you sure?”
Amanda nods, silent tears streaking down her cheeks.
“I’m sure. He’s always at work, and anytime I invite him to go with me to things, like here for example, he makes me feel guilty for asking because he’s working so hard.
I felt bad, so I took him a late dinner to the office and found him in his office with his secretary.
He was doing things to her that he never did to me,” she says.
“In fact, it’s been months since he’s touched me.
I thought it was because of the fertility issues, but turns out, he doesn’t want me anymore.
” She cries, and Bellamy stands again and goes to sit next to her, pulling her into a hug.
“What about the baby?” Rowan asks.
“I’m still going through with it. I want to be a mom, and I won’t back out. This baby needs a loving family, and I can be both mom and dad. I’ve thought about this—that’s all I’ve done is think about it—and this is what I want. I can do this without him.”
“Of course, you can,” Corie tells her. “You have us.”
“And me,” I speak up. “I know you all don’t know me, but I’m here to help or babysit. I only work three days a week at my job, so I have some extra time if you need me.”
“Thank you, Eden. I might take you up on that—all of you. I’m going to need you. They say it takes a village, right?” Amanda asks, smiling through her tears and heartbreak.
“You’ve got this, Momma,” Sloane says, but it only makes Amanda cry harder.
“I never thought this would be my life. I was so na?ve, and now look at where I’m at. Adopting a baby on my own and getting divorced.”
“He’s a dick,” Bellamy tells her. “These ladies have never even met him because he never comes around. It’s as if the two of you have been married but living separate lives,” Bellamy says gently.
“I know. I should have seen the writing on the wall.”
“Sometimes, we’re too close to a situation to see it clearly,” Corie tells her. “This sucks, and I hate it for you, but we’re here for you.”
“You’re going to divorce his ass, raise your baby, and one day, a man is going to come along and he’s going to cherish you.
I know it will happen because it happened to me.
He’ll pop up when you least expect him. You’re going to get your happily ever after, Amanda. I can feel it,” Bellamy says fiercely.
“Yeah, what she said,” Rowan says, and we all laugh. Even Amanda.
“Thank you. I’m sorry to dump this all out, but I’m happy and sad and so damn angry.”
“Never apologize,” Corie tells her. “We’re your friends. We might not have the history that you and Bellamy have, but we’re here for you. Whatever you need to get through this, we’re here for you.”
“And me.” I raise my hand, feeling awkward, but my heart breaks for her and all that she’s gone through, and I just got the evening's CliffsNotes version.
“Your turn,” Amanda says, nodding toward me.
“Oh, um, I don’t know what to say,” I admit.
Sloane shrugs. “Anything. This is a judgment-free zone, and this circle is sacred. We won’t even tell our husbands if you don’t want us to.”
“I’m in love with him,” I whisper, then quickly slap my hands over my mouth.
Shit. Shit. Shit. I just told his friends and his family that I love him.
He’s going to find out and send me packing.
I’m starting to panic, and they must read it on my face because Corie comes to sit next to me, wrapping her arm around me.
“I know you don’t know us, but we know him, and we love him, too.
” She smiles. “There’s a connection between the two of you, a special one, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the two of you.
I can see the fear in your eyes, and it’s okay.
I don’t know if it’s because you confessed it out loud or because of the feelings themselves, but either way, it’s going to be okay. We won’t say anything.”
“We will help you, though, if you need it,” Rowan says.
“Help me how?”
“Oh, we have our ways.” She grins. “We can get information from the guys.”
“No, please don’t do that. This is just us hanging out. I wasn’t supposed to catch feelings.”
“Eden, babe, I hate to break it to you, but you’re not the only one. I’ve never seen Foster with a woman,” Bellamy tells me.
“He’s got that look when his eyes are on you,” Amanda says.
“It’s the way all their husbands gaze at them.
Trust me, I know, because mine never looked at me that way, and that explains a lot about the situation I’m in now.
He feels it, too.” She nods, as if she needs me to see and hear what she’s saying.
“Please don’t tell him,” I say, my voice wavering with emotion.
“We won’t,” Sloane assures me as the back door opens.
I exhale a deep breath and place a smile on my face.
“Ladies, are you done yet? We miss you,” Landry says, moving to where Rowan sits, helping her stand, taking her seat, and pulling her onto his lap.
The rest of the guys file in and do very similar things.
Foster is last, and he moves to stand in front of me.
He offers me his hand, and I take it, allowing him to help me stand.
He sits, tugs me onto his lap, and wraps his arms around me, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world in front of his people.
Corie winks at me, and my face heats. I look down at my hands to hide it. Once I feel like I’m under control, I don’t make eye contact with anyone for fear I’ll give away how much I feel for this man holding me.
“Oh, we have some news,” Landry says. “My swimmers won the race!” He thrusts his fist in the air, and everyone laughs and offers their congratulations. It’s obvious we all already knew, and that endears me to this group even more.
They have each other’s backs, and I trust that the ladies will keep my secret. I don’t know what’s next for Foster and me, but I know I want every moment I can get.