Always Us (Always and Forever 2)

“Amen.” I know exactly how he feels, we’re two best friends who fell in love with our best friends.

“Anyway, I’ll leave her alone for the night, she usually comes around, I just hope she won’t make it as long as the last time.” I wait silently for a minute, assessing his mood; he’s over the conversation.

“How about them Seahawks?” I change the subject.

“Sure they’re up in points, but they have three interceptions.”

“They’re playing the Niners, so you know they’re gonna lose anyways.” I am a 49ers fan and Kingston is a Seachickens fan, our rivalry is ongoing.

“They have interception problems, but at least my team is fucking scoring.”

“Unlike you?” I joke, throwing his night in his face.

“You are so fucking funny, aren’t you?” he mocks, punching my leg.

“Fuck yeah I am, giving your smart-ass a run for your money.” Challenging Kingston drives him nuts.

“Dream on, how was my sister’s appointment?

” I gulp, my body tensing, he senses it and looks at me with his brows furrowed. “Trey?” I shake my head and shrug, putting on my game face.

“No, it was good, everything was good,” I lie, feeling terrible, but I don’t want to tell him until Shayla is ready. The last thing I need is him losing his cool and flying off the damn handle while she’s asleep. Besides, that bubble that her and I are privy to is something I’m not ready to burst. Our fucking love bubble or whatever it’s called.

“Good.” Leaving it at that, he doesn’t implore more. Releasing a deep breath, I let it go.

“Hey, Ben’s in town tomorrow, we should have a guys’ night—poker, beer, burgers. You in?”

I nod, taking a sip of my Corona. “Sounds like a plan, what’s he doing in town?”

“He said he’s passing through on his way to a show in Portland.” The Roes took off this year, after we helped them finish their album. Local Arizona band makes big, it has us looking fucking good. We have four clients using our studio the next two months. Life is fucking phenomenal.

“Sounds good, are you hungry? Shay and I made some lasagna.” He shakes his head, his eyes fixated on the plasma screen. Leaving the couch, I head to the kitchen to get some leftovers; I worked up an appetite working out on my woman.

“Grab me another beer though.” Silently nodding to myself, I make my plate then reload us both on beer. We enjoy the rest of the game, my team wins and Kingston spends another thirty minutes bitching about us cheating. A great night with my bro to round out an even better day with my girl.

Shayla

AFTER A NIGHT WITH TREY, enjoying the news of our miracle baby, I have an extra pep in my step.

This news, this blessing is just that, a true blessing and nothing makes me feel closer or more whole with Trey than the knowledge of our child. Our love was so strong, drawn out in the stars and etched into fate, that we created a life that was nearly impossible. Trey is my destiny, my future, my every reason for being, and now our child is a part of that—our child is now my purpose in life.

“You’re Miss Smiley over there. Great sex?” Lana draws me out of my wonderland and I just shake my head, looking down at the pile of towels I’m folding. We closed up the shop and came home to have a night in catching up on chores; we’ve been too busy with work and life in general that our time together and the apartment has been neglected.

“No. Just had a great day with Trey.” I’m itching to tell Lana, bursting at the seams to share this news with her. She was the first to find out about my infertility issues and I so badly want her to be the first to know about the baby. Lana’s my best friend, how can I not want to jump up and down and scream out my news?

“Yeah, well fess up, because mine was shit. Kingston pissed me off and I could really use a pick-me-up.” Opening my mouth to ask her what happened, she silences me, putting her hand up and dropping the towel on the bed. “Don’t ask, I really don’t want to do a play-by-play right now, we can dive into it later.” I hate when they fight, it almost makes me feel like I’m the one fighting. It’s that tangible. Those two make us all feel like we’re drowning in their relationship.

“Okay, but you will have to tell me everything after, deal?”

She nods, with a roll of her eyes. “Deal. Now spill, you look like you’ve got something really juicy to tell me.”

Oh, I do.

“Well…maybe you should sit down.” I leave my spot at the foot of the bed and round it, coming to sit next to where she’s currently standing.

“Why? Oh my God, what?” Moving the towels, I pat the bed, signaling for her to sit. Her bulging eyes stay on me as she hesitantly joins me.

“I thought about waiting to tell you.” I pause, turning my body into her, lifting my knees on the bed and sitting cross-legged, my hand on her knee. She mimics the movement, her eyes still fully engaged on me.