She grabs a drink and sits next to me. “If you can’t go tomorrow, I won’t go either. We’ll watch it here together. I’ll order pizza, that sausage combo you love, and I’ll make brownies. It’ll be like old times.”
Sienna and I lived together briefly. I miss how simple my life was then. But I didn’t have Olly last fall, so I’ll take the complications.
Sienna and I chat about Houston and how she’s trying to get her new business off the ground and how Ben’s doing with his new team. It’s exciting to see a glimpse of what my life might be like if Olly makes it to the NFL. I’d say when he makes it to the NFL, but I don’t want to jinx him.
“I still can’t believe you and Olly are together,” she says as she munches on some cheese and crackers. “Your fights were so epic.”
“Sometimes I can’t either.”
“So how’s it going?” She waggles her eyebrows suggestively. “Is he rocking your world?”
My shoulders slump. “There’s no rocking of anything right now. Being on bed rest means no sex.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yup. And it sucks.” Because not having sex is a big deal.
To me, at least.
There’s an intimacy that comes from being together like that which isn’t easily replicated. If he and I had dated before I got knocked up, I don’t think it would be such an issue, but as far as courtship goes, all we have is the responsibility and none of the fun that goes with being in a new relationship.
Kids and pregnancy: check.
House: check.
Bills: check.
Dating and good times: negative.
“How is Olly taking it?”
“He says it’s no big deal. That it’s just a few months, and we’ll be fine, and I appreciate that optimism…”
“But…?”
“But I never see him, and when I do, I’m usually half-asleep. And now I can’t even go to his games. It’s frustrating.” I rub my temple. “I don’t mean to complain. He’s doing his best.”
“I know he is. The season’s tough. Ben and I barely made it through in one piece. You were there for it. You know what I mean.”
It’s so comforting to have someone who understands what I’m going through. Even though Sienna and Ben weren’t dealing with a pregnancy, he got custody of his young daughter, who was a toddler at the time, and his ex made his life a nightmare.
“I’m really glad to see you.”
She grabs my hand. “We girls have to stick together while the boys are off doing their thing.”
True to her word, Sienna lands on my doorstep the next afternoon, decked out in Bronco colors, with an armload of snacks. Charlie joins us, and I’m enjoying having my two friends over when someone knocks on the door just as the game is about to start.
Sienna opens it for me. “Ugh, what do you want?”
My head jerks. It’s rare for Sienna to lose her cool, but I can’t see who’s at the door because Charlie’s in the way.
“Where’s the roly-poly?”
Amelia.
Before Sienna gets out the knives, I hold up my hand. “It’s okay, Sienna. Amelia lives here. Well, not here, exactly, but in my casita.” The look of horror on Sienna’s face is priceless. “I’ll explain later.”
Amelia struts in like she owns the place. “The TV won’t turn on. Can I watch the game here?”
