Chapter 5

My eyes flutter open at my alarm clock"s piercing, annoying sound. I groan and rub my eyes, feeling the weight of exhaustion pulling at my body. I glance at the clock and read 7:34 a.m.

My phone lights up with a message.

I reach for it and glance at the screen.

Donnie: Are you awake?

Me: No.

Donnie: Get up and I'll bring breakfast.

Me: No. I like my bed too much.

Donnie: I don't care. Get. Up.

Me: Sounds like you"re jealous of my bed.

Donnie: I am.

Me: But my bed loves me.

Donnie: I love you more.

Ugh, this boy makes my heart turn to mush.

Me: Okay. I'll break up with my bed.

Donnie: Good. c u soon. xo

With a deep breath, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and sit up, feeling my muscles loosen as I stretch my arms above my head. Dragging myself out of bed, I shuffle down the hall to Sophia"s room. I peek around the cracked-open door and smile when I see she is still asleep. I tiptoe to her crib and brush a strand of her curly brown hair away from her face before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

I turn off the star-shaped nightlight and walk out of the room, glancing once more at my baby before I close the door.

I go to the bathroom and wash my face, brush my teeth, and pull my hair back in a clip. When I walk into the kitchen, I notice Tia is sitting at the table, her face buried in a textbook.

"Morning," I say as I grab a mug from the cabinet and fill it with tea. I lean against the counter and take a sip. The warmth of the cup feels comforting in my hands.

"Hey," Tia says but still doesn"t look at me.

I sit at the table and lower the book from her face. "What"s wrong?" I immediately ask when I notice her eyes are red-rimmed like she"s been crying all night. She"s wearing the same clothes she had on yesterday, her school logo sweatshirt that crops at her waist and a pair of black leggings. Her hair is pulled up halfway.

"Nothing," she murmurs, stuffing her books into her backpack and standing up.

"Tia, wait." I reach out for her, and she looks down at me and gives me a small smile.

"I"m okay, really. Just really tired." She leans down and kisses my cheek. "I haven't been sleeping well, and I have classes until three, and then I have to work tonight."

She hikes her backpack over her shoulder and leaves the room. "I"ll catch you later," she mutters.

When I hear the door shut, I lean back and sigh.

Her sleeping habits seem to have gotten worse since we moved here, or do I notice it more maybe because we live together now?

I finish my tea and get ready for Donnie's arrival. After my shower, I walk into my bedroom and notice an incoming FaceTime call. quickly grab the phone and hit the answer button.

"Hey, bro." I smile as I sit on the bed looking at Jo's face. "Sup, Sade. You just get up?" He smirks.

"Yeah. I was getting ready for the day."

"You have class today?"

"Yeah, but not until later."

He nods. "Who"s looking after Sophia?"

"Remember, there"s a daycare, Jo, covered by my scholarship." I love having Sophia close by and seeing her between classes.

"Fucking daycare. How do you have strangers watching her?" He shakes his head. "You"re too trusting."

I roll my eyes. "Jo, it"s fine. She loves it." I know Jo misses looking after her and seeing her every day. It still makes me sad not having him close, but he"s been improving since the attack. He and Elisa are still going strong.

"Don"t listen to him, Sadie." Elisa appears behind him with a huge smile. She looks so much better—healthier. It took a few months before Elisa had the courage to leave her home and start considering college courses. I think she still struggles with Jo forgiving her since she blames herself for what happened to him. But Jo is a lot like me. When it comes to love, it makes it easier to forgive.

"I never do," I sing-song, and she laughs, but Jo doesn"t.

"I"ll see you later, Sadie," Elisa says as she quickly kisses Jo, and then she"s no longer on the screen.

"Bye," I reply.

"How is she doing?" I ask Jo.

Jo rubs his hands down his face and lets out a deep breath. "She"s better. We"re both still doing therapy, and she"s getting better every day."

Elisa signed up for classes to become a social worker. Right now, she works at the agency as the receptionist, which happens to pay for her tuition through a reimbursement program.

"And how are you doing?" I ask him, tilting my head. I put the phone on my desk and angle it so I can still see him.

"You know me, Sade. I can handle any shit that comes my way."

When I don"t respond, he sighs and says, "I"m good, sis. Really, I"m good." He gives me a warm smile.

"So, what"s up with the early morning call?" I ask him.

"I haven"t spoken with you for the last few days. Just checking in."

We talk about my classes, my job, my pregnancy and its symptoms, and his job as a security guard at a new club that just opened a few months ago.

After we say our goodbyes, Sophia"s little cries are heard through the apartment. I walk back to her room and see her sitting on her butt, holding the baseball blankie that Donnie got her. When she sees me, her face lights up and she smiles, showing her toothy grin.

"Hey, Sophia," I coo as I approach her crib. She reaches for me, and I pick her up with her blankie in tow and kiss her cheek.

"Let"s go see what fun things we can get into, baby girl."