LOGINI open the front door and smile widely. “Let me take that!” I insist. Lily and Pedro come into the house carrying drinks and snacks. “No need to upset the baby!” “I’m barely pregnant, Esme,” my best friend taunts. “Two months is nothing.” “As someone who’s had two babies, I can promise you that yo
“Save the kissing for your personal time!” I hear Annie prodding at me. We look over at her and Guillermo. Annie, to her credit, wasn’t lying about trying to get pregnant. Four months ago, she called us to say she was six weeks pregnant. Now, her bridesmaid dress shows off her baby bump. "How are
It’s a little more than a year later that Derek and I walk down the aisle. With Bea as our flower girl, Tris as our ring-bearer, and all the people we love watching, Derek and I say our vows. “What can I say that I haven’t before? You’re stronger than any woman who’s gone through the trauma you hav
“Thank you.” I take my time to get out of the car, but Derek is fast. He unbuckles Orchid in one swift movement. He hands over the baby and grabs my bag from where he left it next to her. Then, after locking his car, he holds out one hand to me. I’m touched by his sweet gestures today. He must kn
Esme Derek picks us up from the hospital a couple of days after giving birth. Walking again has been very challenging, but nothing beats holding my daughter in my arms after all this waiting. Bea and Tris both got to hold Orchid. Annie and Lily came to visit their little “niece.” My mom cried her
I’m overthinking this. I don’t even have a ring yet. Hell, I don’t know what kind of ring Esme would even want. Guess Annie and Lily are going to be helping me more than I thought. Hmm. She’s going to be here for at least a day or two. Maybe I’ll wait until she gets home. I pull out my phone to t
I hold out a hand, beckoning to the empty seats. “If you want to chat, you can stay a little bit. My friends won’t mind.” In truth, the second they see the ginger sit down, they start celebrating together, while I roll my eyes. “I’m Archer,” he introduces, holding out a hand to me.
“How have you lived here with your shit all over the place?” Lily groans as she rifles through a box left on the ground. “I don’t know where anything is!” “I’ve been figuring it out,” I say as I walk into my bathroom to Annie. “Girl, you need to clean this place up. What are you wait
A raised eyebrow from my boss. “Oh?” “Things were just happening around me. Now, however, I’m the one who’s making things happen, and that alone is important to me.” Derek puts down his beer bottle, crossing his arms over his large, muscular chest. God, what would it feel like to tou
“So,” Derek asks as he moves out of my way in the frenzy to get the right ingredients. “Are you going to tell me why you actually asked me to have dinner with you?” I let my eyes lock with his and ask myself if I should be completely honest. I do enjoy the company whenever possible. But in t







