Close to You (Fusion 2)

I know what’s happening here. Just wait and see.

“So tell them,” Jake says with a shrug. “I told you to tell them a month ago.”

“Holy Mary, Mother of God!” Mia shrieks. “You knocked her up!”

Cami grins. Everyone gasps and stares at Addie wide-eyed as tears gather in her pretty blue eyes.

“He totally knocked me up,” she says, getting choked up. “Isn’t it just the sweetest thing ever?”

The girls squeal and rush over to Addie to give hugs and kisses and belly rubs.

“How long?” Riley asks.

“Do you throw up all the time?” Cici asks.

“I want to throw the baby shower!” Cami says.

“I feel great,” Addie says, and smiles brightly at Jake as he walks over and kisses her cheek, then hugs her from behind. “I’m about three months along. I wanted to make sure everything was okay before we announced it. I know, that seems silly because it’s you guys, but—”

“We get it,” Riley says, patting Addie’s hand.

When the girls are all finished fussing over Addie, I saunter over and pull her in for a big hug. “I’m so happy for you, Blondie.”

“Thank you, handsome.”

“You should stop wearing those shoes. You don’t want to fall and hurt yourself.” The room goes absolutely quiet at my statement, and then all of the girls bust up laughing.

“You’re so sweet,” Addie says, patting my cheek like I’m a little boy who just said something funny. “But you’ll get my sexy shoes off my cold, dead feet.”

“Addie and Cami are very serious about their shoes,” Kat says.

“And you’re not?” Cami asks Kat, looking pointedly down at her cherry-red high heels.

“Not like you guys. You make shoe shopping into an Olympic sport. Have you seen Cami’s shoe-closet dream board on Pinterest?” Kat asks me.

“No,” I reply, smiling at Cami as she blushes.

“Oh God, you have to see it,” Riley says as Jake motions for all of us to file through the kitchen and dish up buffet-style. “The girl knows how to daydream about a pretty closet.”

“My shoes deserve a pretty closet,” Cami says softly, then latches on to my arm and buries her face in my shoulder. God, she’s funny. “I spend a fortune on them,” she mumbles into my shirt.

“I want to go play in Addie’s closet. Since we’re here anyway,” Mia says, and sniffs at the salmon. “These spent about a minute too long on the grill.”

“Sorry, chef,” Jake says, and rolls his eyes. “Eat steak instead.”

“I’m trying to steer clear of red meat,” Mia mumbles, and takes a piece of salmon, along with salad. No dressing. My heart hurts a bit for my sister. She’s beautiful, extra pounds and all, but she’s beat herself up for not being thin enough her whole life. “Addie, let’s go stare at your shoes after dinner.”

“We can totally do that,” Addie says happily, shoving mashed potatoes in her mouth. “God, I’m hungry.”

“I was constantly hungry when I was pregnant,” Cici says with a laugh. “I gained ninety pounds with my first.”

“Holy fuck,” Addie whispers, staring at her potatoes, but then she shrugs and keeps eating. “Jake’s stuck with me. Even if I do gain another whole preteen person.”

“Eat, baby,” Jake says, kissing her cheek.

I glance down at Cami and frown when I see tears in her eyes. “What is it?” I ask softly, so only she can hear. She shakes her head and looks up at me.

“I’m just happy. Everyone’s happy.”

I lean in and kiss her gently. “If you’re happy, I’m happy.”

“WHAT DID YOU think of today?” Cami asks as we finally walk into her house later that night.

“I had a good day. I always enjoy hanging out with you girls.”

She smiles and hangs our coats, then absentmindedly leans down to scratch Scoot’s ears. “I’m glad you had a good time. I did too.”

“Your mood has been hard to read today,” I say honestly, and watch as she thinks it over and then shrugs.

“I don’t know why I’ve had this weird mood on today. I’m so happy for Jake and Addie. I love celebrating my friends’ birthdays, and Riley seemed to enjoy herself. Everything was great today, but I’ve felt kind of . . . melancholy.”

“Come on.” I hold my hand out to her, then lead her up the stairs. “Show me where you’d put this shoe closet of yours.”

“Oh, it’s just a silly daydream,” she replies, but I shake my head.

“So daydream with me for a minute. Where would you put it?”

She bites her lip and watches me warily for a moment, then walks into the bedroom adjacent to her master bedroom and flips on the light. There are three bedrooms up here, not including her master. One is her office, one is a guest room, and this one is currently being used for storage.

“Okay, talk to me.”

“Really, Landon, it’s silly.”

“No, it’s not. Talk.”

She sighs and rolls her eyes, then walks about the space. “I would close up the doorway and make a new one that goes into my bedroom,” she begins. “Then I’d make this whole wall nothing but shelves for shoes. The walls on either end would have racks for clothes and this last wall would have hooks for scarves, my dresser, and more shelves for bags.

“In the middle, I’d put a vanity table and chair. Maybe. I don’t know, I don’t have it all figured out, but I’d essentially turn this bedroom into a kick-ass closet.”