Cherished (Wanted 4)

She took a sip of water and smiled as she shrugged her shoulders. “Don’t know, but in my father’s eyes, it’s fair.”

Jeff just looked at Ari and smiled as Luke dumped water over Ari’s head. She screamed and jumped up. She grabbed Luke and gave him a tickle attack.

“Are Brad and Amanda still planning on coming out?” Heather asked Josh.

“Nope. I think the move into the new house is taking its toll on them all. Amanda wasn’t feeling good, and Maegan has strep throat,” Josh said.

Everyone let out a gasp. We all looked at each other and laughed.

“Jesus H. Christ, look at us,” Ari said as she glanced around.

Everyone took a good look around and then turned back at Ari.

“We’re old. I mean, we act old. It’s like we’re our…” Ari looked over at where Garrett was still telling his story to everyone. Then, she turned back to us and scrunched up her nose. “We’re consumed by the fear of sickness because, my god, if our kids get sick, then that’s it for our perfectly planned days. Germs and running snot noses for a week. We plan a Fourth of July get-together with our parents instead of going to some country bar where we can take a few spins around the dance floor while getting drunk. It’s like we’ve grown up and become…” She turned and looked over at the older group of friends all talking and laughing with each other. She slowly smiled. “Them. We’ve become our parents.”

“Ari? Why do you say you are Mom and Dad?” Matt asked.

Ari laughed. “It’s just that we act like them, Matt, ’cause we are all older now and have kids.”

Matt nodded his head. “Will I ever have kids, Ari?”

I saw the sadness instantly fill Ari’s eyes as her smile faded for just one brief second.

“Would you like to have kids someday, Matt?” Ari asked.

Matt looked around at each of us. He was really taking in the sight of everyone before he looked back at Ari. “Hell no, I want to be a motherfucking cowboy.”

Jeff jumped up and down as he did a fist pump, and then he walked up to Matt. “Yes! Buddy, you said it right this time! Motherfucker!”

“Jeff!” Ellie and Ari both called out.

Matt stood up. “Jeff, I’m going to hug you!” He slammed into Jeff, clearly pleased that h

e had just made Jeff so happy.

Ari shook her head. “Wait till my father hears this one.”

I let out laugh, and then I felt the same pain, but this time, it was stronger, like the baby had kicked the shit out of me.

Scott had his hands on my stomach. “Damn, that was a big kick, and your stomach is getting hard.”

I had to take a deep breath. Wow, that really hurt.

Ellie stood up and walked over to me. “Jess, how long have you been having pains?”

Scott jumped up. “What? Pains? When did you start having pains? How long have you had them for? Why didn’t you tell me you were having pains? I’m supposed to time them!”

Josh said, “Damn, our only job, and it seems like we all mess that part up.”

“Right?” Jeff and Gunner both said at the same time.

Heather started to push Libby on the float as she made her way to the edge of the pool. “Jessie, oh my god, is it time?” She picked up Libby and walked out of the pool.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I, um…I don’t know. I mean, they feel like Braxton Hicks contractions…but harder.”

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph…Jess, those are contractions. How long have you been feeling them?” Ari asked.

“Uh…”