Semua Bab Love On Ice: Bab 61 - Bab 70

*JAMIRA* After brunch, the atmosphere settled into a peaceful silence. We all needed that break from the drama and tension that had been building up. It was long overdue for a heart-to-heart conversation with the girls. Ayana went about her day as usual, working, coming home, and hanging out with us. Her mom and I caught up on our favorite shows, went grocery shopping, and visited boutiques. We had a great time until moving day. When it was time to leave, I packed all my belongings from the guest room, which felt like my own, and loaded them into my car. Ayana got in, and we drove to my old home. The drive was bittersweet. I took a deep breath, reminding myself that I was starting fresh, with someone who might not have as much baggage. As we stepped inside, a wave of memories washed over me. There were my birthday celebrations, the meals I had cooked, and the times before and after Chris’s brother’s passing. It had been so long since anyone had been there; the place smelled

To clarify, I didn’t dislike Jamira. That would have been easier. If she had been rude, cold, manipulative, or even messy, that would have been a problem. But she wasn’t. She was actually… fine. Too fine. She cooked, cleaned, smiled, and even asked Kayla about school. She even bought my favorite coffee creamer without asking. Which somehow made the situation worse. If she had been awful, I could have easily explained my frustration to Eric. Instead, I sounded crazy. “Hey Eric, your pregnant girlfriend is too nice, and I hate hearing you laugh through the walls.” Yeah, that would have gone over well. The condo used to feel manageable and predictable. Now, it felt crowded. Not because of bodies, but because of emotions, mostly mine. Jamira was trying to settle in, Eric was trying to be a provider, and I was trying not to feel pushed out. Kayla was asking questions. The baby was somehow already taking up space without even being born yet, and no one was saying anything about

*JAMIRA*Ayana’s words lingered in my mind all night. By morning, I had a clearer understanding of the events that had unfolded, which made me contemplative.Eric stood in the kitchen, clad in gray sweatpants and a red T-shirt, pouring coffee while scrolling through emails.His appearance conveyed a sense of exhaustion, a kind that settled deep within his bones.I absentmindedly rubbed my stomach before entering the room.“Good morning,” I greeted him.He looked up and responded with a warm smile.“Good morning, beautiful,” he said.He leaned in to kiss me, but I gently caught his wrist, drawing his attention.“We need to talk,” I said.His expression shifted, and he wasn’t defensive; instead, he seemed prepared for the conversation.“About last night?” He asked.So, he was aware. That was reassuring.I nodded.Eric sighed and placed his phone down.“Okay,” he said.I sat at the kitchen island while he remained standing.Classic Eric, always ready to fix things rather than confront hi

*ERIC* Two cars. Three people carrying the same destination. Three completely different silences. As I pulled onto the road toward my parents’ house, I couldn’t shake the feeling that dinner wasn’t going to end the way any of us hoped. I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew what I didn’t want. The tension was so thick it felt wrong walking inside someone else’s home like that. I slowly pulled into the driveway, stretching every agonizing minute. Jamira placed her hand on top of mine. I let out a deep breath that I’d been holding the entire ride over. I stopped the car and got out. As I walked over to the passenger side to let Jamira out, my heart started beating fast as my anticipation grew. I forced a smile on my face as I grabbed her hand and led her to the door. This time, we showed ourselves inside. My dad was on the couch watching football while yelling out to my mom, who was in the kitchen finishing up dinner and preparing dessert. “Kitty, your kids

*CHRIS* The next day, I went into work with dinner still on my mind. I never knew my mom was in such a state. She seemed perfectly fine when she came to visit me at the hospital. She even helped me around the room during my recovery. I hadn’t known she’d been lying. Neither did I know that she lied to my dad too. I wondered what else they weren’t telling me since I left last night. That unsettling flutter in my stomach hadn’t left either. It’s safe to say I didn’t sleep. Between me trying to find Mira and worrying about my mom, I might be on the verge of losing my mind myself. I didn’t talk to my dad about it because it was already late, so I ended up leaving, but I intended to talk to him about it today. The morning rush came early, and we were all busy trying to get everyone in and out. It wasn’t until around one o’clock that I was able to get enough breathing room to go address things. I went down the hall and knocked on his door. “Come in.” I walked in and sa