24. Bailey
Bailey
In the weeks following the encounter with Daniel, I avoided campus at all cost. I wasn’t necessarily scared of running into Daniel, it was more that I just didn’t have the energy to worry about it happening.
It’s the last week of classes, so Aiden and I haven’t really spent much time together and I miss him.
We see each other in passing, and sit together in silence while studying for tests and writing papers, but we haven’t actually spent quality time together.
We only have a couple of days before the semester ends, and our final game night, then we head home on Sunday.
I’m sitting on the couch typing my paper when Aiden walks in and throws himself down on the couch next to me. He looks up from his prone position and says, “I miss you.”
I bend down to give him a quick kiss, “I miss you too, Bear, but we both know there isn’t much we can do until this semester is over. The last few days are critical.
“Ugh, I know, I just haven’t really seen you this week, and I miss the fuck out of you. Most nights I don’t even get a chance to come to bed until after you’re already asleep. I don’t like this at all, Blue,” he pouts.
“I’m sorry, my love. I miss you too, and I hate going to bed by myself, but just think of all the time we will spend together when classes are out for the summer.
It’s going to be so fun getting everything ready for Little Bear’s arrival, then she will be here.
This is going to be the best summer ever.
Only a few more days until we can start it.
” I give him what I hope is a reassuring smile.
I’m not feeling any different than he is about this whole thing.
I miss the fuck out of him too, but until these damn classes are over, I can’t do much about it.
“I know you’re right. I just hate it.” He sits up and turns to grab his backpack from the door where he dropped it. He grabs his laptop out so he can work on homework with me. “What do you want to do for dinner?”
“Pizza? Roro has been asking for it all day.” I respond, turning back to the paper I am finishing. He pulls out his phone and orders the pizza on the app then gets to work. We work in silence for the rest of the night, only breaking when the pizza arrives to eat quickly.
After what feels like ten hours of homework, but what’s really only three hours, we crawl into bed together.
Both of us are exhausted from the day, so we cuddle together.
My back nestled against his chest, his arms wrapped protectively around me.
We lay in silence for so long that I think he might have fallen asleep.
But when he speaks, I know I was wrong. “Have you decided what you’re going to do with classes next year? ”
I’ve been thinking a lot about this. The way that the nursing program at Alpine University works is you take three semesters of general education classes, three semesters of nursing specific classes, then two semesters of clinicals.
Since this was my last semester of nursing classes, I start clinicals in the fall.
Currently, I am signed up for clinicals Monday, Wednesday, Friday from six a.m. to six p.m. With an infant, that sounds exhausting, but at the same time if I can make it work for two semesters, I’ll be a nurse.
I can get a job and support myself and my daughter without having to rely on the Bakers for everything.
I saw a help wanted sign at the campus bookstore the other day, but when I told Aiden I was going to apply, he tried to tell me how unnecessary that was.
He knew between Rowan and clinicals I would have a lot on my plate already.
He said he would support my decision either way, but I didn’t need the job if I didn’t want it.
I still haven’t fully decided what I am going to do, but I’ve thought a lot about it.
With my schedule and Aiden’s, childcare is the problem we are running into now.
“I think as of right now, I would love to keep the clinical schedule I have. I want to finish school, so I can get a job and continue pursuing this dream, but I don’t know who I’m going to get to watch Rowan while I’m at my clinical.
There is the daycare on campus, but I have not heard great things about it.
I could try and find a nanny, but that sounds expensive.
I just don’t know how it’s going to work. ” I finally respond.
“I think, if I’m not mistaken, Charly is only taking classes Tuesday and Thursday.
She may be willing to watch Little Bear for us, while I’m in classes and you’re in clinicals.
I only have one class Monday, Wednesday, and three Tuesday, Thursday, so I will have her with me most of the time.
It’s just that small gap when I’m in class in the morning that one of us isn’t available. ”
“That’s a lot to put on you, Aiden. You will still need to study and sleep.”
He rolls us so that he is hovering over me and he can look in my eyes.
“Sweetheart, how many times do I have to tell you that she is mine? I don’t care that she doesn’t have my blood running through her veins, she is my daughter.
I need you to get it through that pretty little head of yours that I want this.
I want you to be my wife, I want to adopt Rowan, I want more babies with you.
I. Want. It. All.” He punctuates the last four words with kisses.
“Okay.” Is all I say, because what else can I say? Aiden has said those words or similar so many times over the last couple of months, but I struggle to accept them. Aiden Baker is the best man I know, and he’s never lied to me, so why would he start now?
There’s a knock on the door the following Saturday.
I’m in the kitchen finishing up some snacks for game night, and Aiden is in the bathroom, so I walk to the door.
Since everyone walked in on that kiss a few weeks ago they’ve been knocking.
Magnolia said she didn’t want to walk into something no sister should ever see her brother doing.
When I open it I see the twins, Bash and Luca standing there.
Luca throws himself at me with an excited “Bee Bee!” and I catch him easily before letting everyone into the house.
“Woah there little man, You’ve gotta be careful with Bee.” Sebastian says with a chuckle. “This boy isn’t going to know what to do when you come back in the fall with another baby.”
“He will always be my favorite boy, won’t you little man?” I shake my head.
“Blue, you better stop telling people that Luca is your favorite boy or I might start to get jealous.” Aiden says as he walks into the living room.
Sebastian looks at me with a smirk on his face and mouths, “Start?”
“Bear, you’ve known since before you were my boyfriend that you came second to Luca. He will always be my favorite boy,” I laugh. Aiden comes up behind me and growls in my ear playfully. There is another knock at the door and Sebastian opens it for Chloe and Dallas.
“I can’t believe this is our last game night of the year.
Next year we will have two littles here, and Charly will be joining us too.
” Maddox says as we all move into the kitchen area.
I set Luca in the high chair we have set up in there and give him a few crackers and a couple pieces of cheese for him to munch on while we are talking before we bust the games out.
“God, Charly is gonna be trouble.” Aiden says before popping a piece of cheese in his mouth.
“Going to be? She already is.” I shake my head.
“Anyone want anything to drink? We have the usual, water, juice, hot tea, coffee. I think there’s some beer in there, too,” I say before walking over to the kettle to start the water.
I know Chloe will want tea. Once the water is going I grab a sippy cup out of the cabinet and fill it halfway with apple juice and add some water and ice to it for Luca.
“Juice, Bee Bee!” Luca claps his hands when he sees me filling the cup.
“What do you say?” Sebastian says after I’ve handed Luca the cup.
“Fanks Bee Bee.” Luca’s little lisp melts my heart.
I know I’m about to have my own little one, but this boy will always have a special place in my heart.
When Sebastian found out a one night stand had his baby, he was junior and scared shitless.
We had just become friends, but Aiden and I both told him that we would be there no matter what, and Luca is as much my nephew as any of the Baker sibling’s kids would be.
“You’re welcome little man.” I boop him on the nose.
We fall into comfortable conversation for a little while before we head into the living room to play games.
The guys and Chloe start a game of Catan, while Maggy and I decide on Candy Land with Luca.
He wins every game because he cheats, and we pretend not to notice.
“What are you going to do for child care next year?” Maggy asks me while we are resetting the board for our second game.
“We are thinking about asking Charly since she is free Monday and Wednesday when we need help,” I respond and draw my first card for the game.
“I would be happy to help whenever I can. You know that. I will need all the Little Bear snuggles.” Maggy smiles.
“Who Little Bear?” Luca looks up at me with the most adorable confused face I’ve ever seen.
“Little Bear is the baby in my belly.” I tell him and point at my belly.
“Baby in dere?” He says, also pointing to my belly.
“Yes sir. You’re going to have a new friend soon.” Maggy tells him.
“I wike fwiends” He tells us before turning back to the game. I guess he is done with this conversation.
We continue to play games long after Luca falls asleep in my lap.
It’s such a great way to end the craziest school year of my life.
This year has been incredibly exciting, while also being completely overwhelming.
I’m grateful for every second, but at the same time, I’m very ready for it to come to a close.