Chapter 7

Donnie: Hey baby. Something came up and I won't be able to pick you, but Ash will be there.

Me: K.

Donnie: Plz don't be mad.

Me: I'm not.

Donnie: Yes, you are. What's with the short ass messages.

I roll my eyes.

Me: Seriously, I'm fine. Just in a little pain.

The phone rings, startling me. I glance at the screen and see that it"s Donnie calling. I answer with a smile, but Donnie"s voice is filled with concern. "What"s wrong?" he asks urgently.

I tease him, "Well, hello to you too," but the sound of loud male voices in the background catches my attention.

"Cut the crap, Shorty. Are you okay?" Donnie says, his tone is serious.

"Donnie, seriously. You are a pain in my ass. It"s just cramps," I say while grabbing my purse from the locker.

Donnie"s voice softens as he apologizes. "Sorry, I just worry about you."

The recent events in our lives have made him extra jumpy and me being pregnant with twins now adds to that. He"s been sharing all the gory details of the complications that could arise during my pregnancy with twin boys. No one wants to hear that shit.

I try to calm him down. "I know, but I promise you, I"m fine. I"m just ready to go home."

He asks, "Long day?" The voices in the background lessen. He must"ve stepped out of the room.

"Yeah," I say with a sigh and lean back against the locker. "One of the waitresses called off sick today, so I had extra tables." I think I strained my back when I dropped the empty tray on my way back to the kitchen. But I"m not telling Donnie that.

"Are you working too hard?" he says in a sweet, calming voice.

I repeat, "No. Just a long day."

"Okay, well, Ash is on his way. I"m sorry I couldn"t pick you up, Shorty." He sounds guilty, which I find ridiculous.

"Donnie, it"s not a big deal. Your education and career are important," I reassure him.

"So are you," he says without hesitation.

I can"t help but smile at his words.

"Has jackass hit on you tonight?" he says sarcastically, but I can tell he"s annoyed.

I look down at my growing belly and place my hands on it. "Stop it," I chastise him playfully.

"I"m serious, Shorty. If he does it again—"

"I know, Donnie. I"m a big girl. Relax," I say with a chuckle.

"I know you are, baby. Look, I gotta run, but text me when you"re home," he says.

"I will," I say as I rise to my feet, put my purse strap over my shoulder, and walk out the door.

"I love you," he says.

"I love you too."

After several steps, I receive a text message from Ash informing me he is outside. Jake calls out my name. I stop and turn around to face him. "Do you have a ride home?" Jake asks.

I nod and reply, "My friend is outside."

As I try to walk away, Jake gently grabs my elbow, forcing me to look at him. "Sadie, I"m so sorry if I made you uncomfortable when I asked you to the museum the other night. I wasn"t trying to be inappropriate, and I was just really asking as a friend."

I can tell he is sincere in his apology, so I reply, "I know."

Jake"s shoulders relax.

"If I was offended, there"s no way in hell I"d be back tonight," I add, trying to lighten the mood.

Jake nods in agreement and says with a chuckle, "Right. Have a good night, Sadie."

I say goodbye and walk to the parking lot to find Ash sitting in his Jeep with his phone in his hand. "Hey, Shorty," he says with a smile and while offering me his hand. I take it because, I swear, my boys are growing every day.

"Hey, Ash," I reply as I shut the door.

"Seize the Day" by Avenged Sevenfold fills the car as we drive down the road. It"s a peaceful night with a warm, calm atmosphere that feels almost surreal. Despite the music, we don"t exchange a single word during the four blocks.

As we pull up to my apartment building, the engine of his Jeep comes to a stop, and he turns to look at me. His eyes are warm and friendly. "Do you need me to walk up with you?"

"No, that"s okay. I"ll be fine," I reply. We gaze at each other in silence for a few seconds, and I notice a smile forming on his lips. "What?" he asks, sensing that I want to say something.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, of course."

"What's going on with you and Tia?" I blurt out, not beating around the bush. "Ever since we moved here, things between you and Tia have been off, and I"m just wondering if everything is okay."

He lets out a deep sigh and rests his hand against the headrest, rubbing his hands down his face before resting them on the bottom of the steering wheel. "I know you care, Shorty, but it"s between Tia and me," he says dismissively.

"I understand, but the coldness between the both of you affects all those around you," I reply, trying to reason with him.

He rolls his head to face me, his eyes reflecting a deep pain that he has been trying to hide. "I"m sorry, but I just can"t talk about it," he says, his words trailing off. Something in his tone makes me realize that something serious must have happened between them.

"Did she hurt you, Ash?" I ask.

He shakes his head solemnly, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

"Did you hurt her?" I ask, hoping to get a clearer picture of what is happening. Again, he shakes his head, his expression pained and regretful.

"I love you," I tell him. "But I won"t choose sides."

Even though I view Tia as my sister, Ash needs to understand that even though I have a close relationship with her, I won"t automatically take her side. I will always give him the benefit of the doubt because he is equally important to me, and I want to support him whenever he needs me.

"I would never ask that of you," he says quietly.

"I know that," I tell him with a smile. "I just want you to know you can also lean on me and trust that I wouldn"t share your feelings with Tia, and the same goes for her."

"Thank you, Shorty," he says, his lips curving upward in a small smile. "Things will get better soon, I promise," he says, his words sounding more like a plea than a statement.

"Okay." I plant a soft kiss on his cheek. "Night."

"Night, Shorty," he says as I walk out the door and up the stairs. Ash waits until I reach my apartment door before leaving. Once inside my own place, I hear my phone beep and notice a text from Donnie waiting for me. I place my belongings on the console table and pick up my phone to read the message.

Donnie: Are you home?

Me: Just walked in.

Donnie: Good. How was Ash?

Me: Didn't say much.

Donnie: Don"t take it personal. He loves you.

Me: I know.

Donnie: What are you wearing to bed?

I laugh.

Me: Good night, Donnie.

Donnie: Love you.

Me: Love you too.

The apartment is dark and quiet. The lights are dimmed, and there is no sound except for the soft hum of the refrigerator. Tia must"ve gone to bed early, which is unusual as she usually waits up for me.

Walking down the quiet hallway, I approach Sophia"s room and gently push the door open. She's lying in bed with one leg hanging out of her blanket and her chest rising and falling steadily with each breath. I lean over to place a soft kiss on her forehead, careful not to wake her.

After closing her door, I go to my room and shower before slipping into my cozy pajamas. I switch off the bathroom light and step out into the hallway, and I almost piss my pants when Tia lets out a high-pitched scream. Bursting into her room, I see her thrashing around in bed, tangled in her bedsheets, begging someone to stop hurting her.

Concern grips my heart as I rush to Tia"s bedside. "Shh, it"s okay, Tia. You"re safe. It"s okay," I whisper, wrapping my arms around her.

After a few moments, Tia finally settles down and whimpers into my chest. I rock her gently, and she eventually falls back asleep. I tuck us under the warm covers and lay beside her, trying to keep the nightmares away.