We order food, and while waiting, turn on a streaming service to binge-watch until the food arrives. It’s not unusual for us to devour an array of food just to ourselves, and it’s the small things like this that I miss about not living close to Millie.
Our food coma knocks us hard, so we head to bed to lay in the dark and just talk.
“I wonder what Will is doing now,” I say out loud.
“He texted me. It’s a bunch of misspelled words. But apparently, he’s at Andy’s, drunk on God knows what.”
“Andy will take care of him,” I assure her, at the same time trying to roll over to my side. My back has been aching all night, more so than usual. “Even though he deserves the nasty hangover for being a jerk.”
“Ava?” Millie whispers in the dark. “Is there something going on between you and Austin?”
Even in the night, with darkness shadowing the room, my eyes widen, and everything feels bright. I shuffle uncomfortably again, trying to think of something to say which isn’t the truth.
“We’re close,” is all I manage.
“Ava, it’s me. I know I have a past with Austin, but he was never supposed to be my future. So as much as my asshole husband is upsetting me right now, there will never be anyone but him.”
“I know.”
“It’s okay, you know. The two of you are expecting a baby together. So why not make yourselves a proper family if you also feel that way about each other?”
Here is my sister giving me the green light. The one person I thought would never forgive me for my mistakes. But as I continue to lay here beside her, my chest begins to expand at the thought of making a family a possibility.
My mind imagines Austin in bed with me each night, making sweet love to me like I’m the only woman he’ll ever need. Then, I see a ring, him getting on one knee. But like a splash of cold water, all of these daydreams remind me of the life Austin and Millie once shared together.
“I’m tired, Millie. It’s been a long night.”
“Okay,” Millie agrees faintly. “Falling in love with Austin isn’t the hardest part, Ava, but losing him to someone else will be.”
Millie left early the following day to have a meeting at Nikki’s office over some legal matter.
Alone, with my thoughts, there’s only one thing plaguing my mind.
I leave my apartment dressed in a maxi dress because the humidity is at an all-time high today. My hair bothers me, so in the cab, I tie it up into a loose bun, not caring how unkempt I look.
I am a woman on a mission, ready to step into the boxing ring.
“I’m here to see Will Romano.”
The receptionist is an older lady, maybe late forties. Will was smart enough to ditch the bimbos, or perhaps that’s Millie’s doing. Though truthfully, the woman could go easy on the lip injectors. Unless she’s a cocksucker. Oh, my God, is that why she was hired?
“Do you have an appointment?” she asks rudely.
“No, trust me. He will see me.”
“I’m sorry. Mr. Romano is only seeing appointments.”
“Look, lady,” I hiss while leaning on the desk for support. “I’m his sister-in-law, and I’m going to drop a baby soon. Do you really think I care about your stupid appointments rule?”
The woman picks up her phone. “I can ask him if he’ll see you.”
“You know what?” I raise my palm to stop her. “I will see myself in.”
Walking to his office, I don’t even knock. When I enter, he is on the phone and appears annoyed to see me. Will is usually very well-groomed, but today, he’s sporting an unshaven face, loose tie, and his hair looks wild like he’s been running his hands through it repeatedly.
“Walker, let me call you back.”
He presses his phone and sits back in his chair like the arrogant asshole he is.