Tessa Teevan - Inflame

I mull it over as I transfer the tomatoes to the food processor and turn it into a pulp. “I had no idea she wanted to move up there. That seems random,” I comment, and Mom gives me a knowing look.

“I swear, you men are so oblivious. I thought with having grown up with two sisters you’d be more astute, Kale Montgomery.” I frown as she continues. “Your sister’s been in love with Xavier Cruz and his little girl since the moment you brought them home with you. Did you not notice the way she couldn’t take her eyes off him this past Christmas? Or how she went out of her way to ensure that Lily was introduced to manicures, pedicures, and all things woman because she knows she doesn’t have a momma?”

Shaking my head, I disagree. “Kalli was just being Kalli. I know she had a crush on him when she was a teenager, but she’s dated plenty of guys since then. She’s a total flirt and the girliest girl I know. Between me and Kaylie, she’s never had anyone to do that kind of stuff with, so she was just having fun doing it with Lily.” I try to convince her, but in the back of my mind, I wonder if she’s right, if Kalli really does have a thing for Xavier that’s more than just her unrequited teenage crush.

He hasn’t dated much since I’ve known him, even though his mom and I have both encouraged it. Part of me thinks Angela left him too broken, and he’s decided Lily’s the only girl who needs his attention right now. Before, I might’ve agreed with him. Now that I’m with Lucy, however, I have a feeling that the love of a good woman is something Xavier needs desperately, and I wonder if Kalli really could be that person for him.

“Maybe so, but I’m telling you, I know what I saw. But enough about your sister. How are things with you and Lucy? She’s glowing, Kale. She’s absolutely beautiful,” Mom gushes, and I nod in agreement.

“Things are good. Hell, they’re great even. The closer it’s getting to her due date, the more tired she’s become, but the doctor said that’s normal. I’m making sure to keep plenty of fiber in her diet because she swore that if she gets hemorrhoids it’s going to be my ass that’ll suffer.”

Mom laughs, shaking her head. “I don’t blame her. When I was pregnant with the twins, I had the worst—”

I hold my hand up to stop her, not wanting to hear another word. “Okay, Mom. A little TMI there. I don’t know. I’m sure Lucy’s probably getting tired of me watching her all the time, but ever since the scare with Lily, I can’t help it. I just keep telling myself that it’s only six more weeks until I can breathe easy.”

She gives me a soft, sympathetic look. “Oh, Kale, you have no idea. The moment that baby is born, the last thing you’re going to do is breathe easy. You’re twenty-nine years old and I still worry about you.”

Leaning across the counter I give her a kiss on the cheek. “I know, and I love you for it. But you know what I mean. I’m just ready for him to be here, to hold him in my arms. A tangible, living, breathing little human being.” As I continue to make her sauce from the recipe I know by heart, I feel her eyes on me. Looking up, I catch her gaze and know what’s coming. “No, I haven’t and I don’t want to talk about it.”

She rounds the island and places a hand on my arm. “Kale, don’t you think you’ve waited long enough? She’s bound to find out, and it needs to come from you.”

Turning to look at her, I shrug my shoulders in defeat. “I know, and I promise I plan on telling her. It’s just that… I’ve waited too long, I think, and I know telling her will just upset her, which is the last thing I want to do in her condition. I don’t know why it matters anyway. It doesn’t change anything between us. It’s just a horrible piece of my past that I’m trying to shield her from for as long as I can.”

“Okay, Kale. I understand, and I’ll respect that. But I have a feeling Lucy’s stronger than you’re giving her credit.”

Wrapping my arm around Mom, I give her shoulders a squeeze. “Thanks, Mom, and trust me. I know how strong she is, but I’m just trying not to stress her out. Can you get that?”

She looks up at me and nods before moving back to the pasta. She changes the subject to baby names, and I breathe out a sigh of relief as I silently pray that I can get through the rest of the weekend without it coming up again.

I’M NOT surprised when Lucy’s ready to turn in early. Her energy levels have been slowly decreasing the closer we get to her due date. Dinner was uneventful, even after Kaylie showed up in a rush halfway through, muttering apologies and giving greetings all at once before settling in for Mom’s homemade lasagna. After dinner, Steve and I watched a baseball game while the women all talked about childbirth, and I did my best to tune them out. I had to laugh when Steve commented that it was a damn good thing I was having a boy, and as much as I love all the women in my life, I couldn’t disagree for a second.

Now that we’re lying in bed, I’m feeling restless beside Lucy, and as much as I try to calm my shaking leg, I can’t.

She turns to face me, bringing her own leg up in between mine in an effort to stop me, and it mildly helps. “Why are you so anxious tonight, Kale?” she asks, looking directly at me.

“To be honest, I’m not really sure. I guess with the baby shower finally happening, I’m getting more and more ready for the due date. This is the last big thing before he’s here, and I’m more than ready to meet our little guy.”

A slow smiles forms across her lips. “Trust me. If anyone’s ready, it’s me. And don’t think I didn’t notice the way your mom put Metamucil in my water tonight. Did you tell her about my threat, Kale Montgomery?” She grins at the guilty look on my face and gives me a playful slap on arm. “Oh my God, you did! That is so embarrassing.”

She hides her face in my chest as I laugh at her. “You think that’s embarrassing? She started telling me a story about when she was pregnant with the twins, and I almost wasn’t able to stop her from spilling all the juicy details.”

“She didn’t,” she gasps, trying to contain a fit of giggles, but they break loose when I nod. “Okay, you win. That is worse.”

Her laughter dies down as she lies on her side, the only way she can sleep these days. My chest presses against her back as I hold her close.

“Hey, can I ask you something?” I whisper, stroking her hair just below her ear. I feel her inhale as she nods. “Do you think Kalli has a thing for Xavier?”

She lets out her breath and turns her head back towards me. “What? I’ve never even seen them in the same room together, so how would I know?” she asks, and I realize she’s right.

I’ve been thinking about Mom’s suggestion about the two of them since dinner. Part of me wonders if she really is thinking of moving to Tennessee. I decide to corner her this weekend to ask, but I’ll make sure to leave Xavier out of the conversation.

“I don’t know. I thought maybe she would’ve said something to you with all the texting you two do.”

“Hmm… Well, she was shaken up after Lily’s accident, but I figured that was just because she’s your goddaughter. Other than that, I really have no idea. But come to think of it, they would make a pretty cute couple.”

“You think? I don’t know. He’s six years older than she is. Plus he has a kid and had to grow up a lot sooner than most guys,” I mention, not sure if Kalli’s quite mature enough to deal with someone like Xavier.

“Oh, that’s not that bad. It’s not like she’s eighteen and a senior in high school. She’s an educated adult. The true question would be if Xavier could handle a whirlwind like Kalli. I don’t know, but it’d be fun to watch.”

“It’s probably nothing. Just a hunch Mom had from Christmas,” I tell her, putting the subject to rest. “Now tell me. What do you think about the name Blake Russell Montgomery?”

She wrinkles her nose at me, twisting her lips as she thinks it over. “I like Blake, but Russell? Not so much.”

“Oh, come on. Think about it. He’d be B. Russell “Sprout” Montgomery.” I start cracking up as I watch her play it over in her mind, and I recognize the second it dawns on her.

“Oh my gosh, I’m about to revoke all your baby naming privileges, Kale Montgomery,” she says as she turns away from me and fluffs her pillow.

“Hey, that was funny!” I tell her, and she just shakes her head.

“You are such a moron sometimes.”

“Yeah, but you love me,” I say, sliding my hand under her shirt to rest on her belly.

She lets out a slow sigh, and I can hear the smile in her voice. “Yeah, I love you. Corny foodie jokes and all.”

Lucy

I STRETCH as the sun shines through the window and realize I’m in bed alone. Glancing at my phone, I see that it’s after ten in the morning and jump out of bed so I can get ready for the day. It’s going to be a very informal baby shower with just my family and Kale’s, but I still want to look my best because, knowing Mom, there will be gobs of pictures taken.

When I finally emerge from the bedroom, I’m freshly showered with my blonde curls hanging loose down my back. I’ve been fortunate to have flawless skin throughout the pregnancy, and I keep it simple by adding bronzer to my cheeks and just a few swipes of mascara to my lashes, perfecting the look with a pale pink gloss.

Kale’s eyes widen when he sees me as I walk down the stairs. I’m wearing a charcoal-gray wrap dress with a V-neck to show off just how much pregnancy’s changed my now full breasts. The wrap sits just above my bump, effectively highlighting it, and even at eight months pregnant, I feel sexy. It took Charlie and me forever to find the perfect dress for the shower, but when Kale reaches me and pulls me into his arms, I know I picked the right one.