“No. No, I don’t need a muffin. I need one of your hoodies, and I can’t find one,” she says, her lip doing that quivery I’m-not-going-to-cry thing.
“Are you and Viv twinning today?” I ask, digging around for the worn green hoodie from my high school days.
“Viv and I will never twin again.”
I look up to see Maggie standing in front of me, gesturing to her belly. “Your baby is a giant who grew overnight and now all my shirts are too tight, so I’m stealing your hoodies because they’re bigger than mine and you can’t complain because you and your super dick are the reason nothing fits me.”
I strip off the sweatshirt I’m wearing because it’s my only clean one, and I toss it on the bed then wrap her up in a hug. “It’s yours. And our baby is perfect. And you’re amazing and I love you.” I kiss her soundly, not ready to let her go just yet. Life is crazy and hard and unpredictable sometimes, but it’s also pretty incredible.
“I love you, too,” she says. “And yes, please to the muffin.”
It’s a good morning: Maggie made Pre-Calc make sense, I made her French toast, and there was still enough time leftover for me to send her off to class in a very good mood. Oral sex will have that effect. Hell, going down on her always puts me in a good mood. It also nearly made me late forclass, but I’m not complaining. Spending extra time with my girl was worth it. At the end of every day, I just need Maggie and the nugget to be okay. Everything else will fall into place.
That’s always been my approach to life, and it hasn’t changed. But I’m beginning to see that before things can fall into place, they need a little shove. That’s what has me trekking across campus in the bitter fucking cold for an impromptu team meeting.
I didn’t request a freaking team meeting. I don’t really need one. I just messaged the group chat and well, here we are.
JT: Anyone free to meet at Drip at 2? I need some advice.
Ollie: Say no more.
Ollie: Pregnant sex is totally safe, as long as she’s feeling good and wants the D. Well, nottheD.YourD. You know what? I listen and I don’t judge. If your girl wants to outsource dick, it’s none of my business.
JT: The fuck are you even talking about?
Ollie: I’m sending you diagrams for different positions that she might be more comfortable in. I’m not pregnant but I fucking love Lotus. Highly recommend.
JT: Jesus. Stop blowing up my phone with sex directions. I know how to fuck.
Deano: Clearly…
Deano: Mickey just hit me.
Deano: Dude, why’d you hit me?
Rosco: Little Mama doing okay? Baby Baylor good? I’ll be there at 2.
JT: Yeah, they’re good.
Santos: Will 2:30 work?
Van: Same. Pete and I are carpooling. He just loves the minivan life, what can I say?
Santos: That your ass isn’t cleared to drive so I’ve got chauffer you aroundin style?
Van: Pretty much. Everything cool, Norris? If you need us before 2:30, just shout.
Santos: Mickey, stop hitting Deano.
Santos: Deano, quit being an ass.
Van: Aren’t you glad you came to us for advice?
Ollie: Of course, he is. Dude’s lucky to have us.
Mickey: Hey, instead of meeting at Drip, you guys should come to our new place. It’s sweet. There are four walls in the shitter. We basically live in Fancy Town.
Ollie: Genius idea, Mick! I’ll make snacks.
