Sienna takes her hand. “That sounds very mature.” Then she turns to me. “Are you planning to stay at the Stallion Station? Or are you getting a bigger place?”
That’s a damn good question.
“I hadn’t thought that far.” I can’t afford a bigger place. My scholarship covers housing, and the Stallion Station, which is what everyone calls the football house, is one of the options. I could probably swing a studio apartment, but I’m not sure where I’d put two infants. The dresser drawers?
“It’ll be hard to take care of the twins there,” Sienna points out. “There’s zero privacy. And don’t get me started on that downstairs bathroom. Plus, what happens when there’s a party, but you haven’t slept because you’ve been on baby duty?”
Maggie gives me a worried look. “You could stay with me on those nights, I guess. I have extra bedrooms. If you don’t mind a hole in your wall or drafts.”
“Would it be so bad if Olly moved in with you full time?” Sienna asks slowly. “Take it from me, the season is going to bust your balls. You two are going to be slammed. Living together will give you a chance to see each other at least once a day. You might not be able to squeeze that in otherwise. And what happens when you’re eight months pregnant and living there all by yourself and having to climb those steps? I’ll be worried about you.”
I wipe the sweat off my brow. Jesus, Sienna is freaking me out. “I’m amenable to whatever Maggie wants to do.”
My not-girlfriend turns to me. “Would you want to move in? I promise I won’t be all up in your business. We could still work on the friend thing.”
What if I want her in my business? But after all the shit that happened this spring, Maggie is skittish.
No, she’s pregnant and scared and needs you to be her friend.
It doesn’t matter what I want. What matters is what she needs.
“I’m game for whatever you want to do. If you’re comfortable with me there, I’ll move in next week.”
The furrow between her brow smooths out. “Okay, roomie.”
Internally, I sigh. I’ve been upgraded from not-boyfriend to housemate. I suppose it’s a start. At least I can keep the creepers who rent her casita away from her.
“Yay!” Sienna claps and hugs Maggie for some reason. “Sit tight. I have a gift for you.”
“But you’re the one leaving.” Maggie laughs with delight.
Sienna runs off to her bedroom and returns a minute later with a small package that she hands to Maggie. “To remember me by.”
“Stop. As if I’m going to forget you.” Maggie unwraps the jewelry box and pulls out a dainty gold necklace with a butterfly.
“It reminded me of you. I know you have a lot on your plate, but think of it this way—if nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies. And you’re going to be a beautiful butterfly, mama.”
That does it. They both start bawling and hugging again. I squeeze Maggie’s shoulder and excuse myself to the kitchen, where the guys slam down pizza.
But I watch the girls from the other room and wonder if I can be what Maggie needs.
I wanna try.
26
MAGGIE
In awe, I watch as four giant, sweaty men traipse in and out of my house.
Olly introduced me to Cameron, Billy, and Diesel, fellow teammates who are moving into his old place. The guys are helping him haul his furniture over here and settle everything into a bedroom upstairs.
As I’m pouring some boring decaf coffee in my to-go mug, I overhear them talking. I should probably remind Olly that I have excellent hearing.
“Why are you giving up the Stallion Station again? Your girl is hot and everything, but bro, you’ll be missing out on our workout room, the pool, hot tub, and all the parties.” He lowers his voice, and I’d bet anything he’s reminding Olly about the girls who frequent those festivities.
“Not everything in life is a party, Billy.”
“But there are holes in the wall. I nearly killed myself on a rotten floorboard on the porch. I don’t mean to be a dick, but this place reminds me of that haunted mansion in Stranger Things. You know, the one where everyone almost died?”
