Page 3

Eight Years Ago

Jordan

My phone rings and I glance at the clock on my nightstand as I reach to answer. Who is calling at three in the morning?

The picture on my phone is a ridiculous one. Alice, crossing her eyes and poking her tongue out at the camera, her hair neatly styled in that half up, half down hairdo she wore at my sister’s wedding, her burgundy dress showing off her best features.

I should change it.

I really should, but I don’t have the heart to.

Not when she sneakily took my phone at the wedding and snapped a bunch of pictures, making this one her caller ID photo.

Not when she told me I was cute that night and looked at me like she wanted me.

Maybe it was because nobody looked at me like that in a long time, but for a moment I actually considered it—being with Alice, tilting her head back and kissing her.

But I didn’t; of course I didn’t. Not when she’s my best friend’s little sister.

It wouldn’t be right.

Robbie would probably kill me if he knew I thought about his sister like that.

The phone continues to ring as I stare at it until Jess taps me on my shoulder and mumbles, “Babe, make it stop.” She whines the last word, and I quickly mumble, “Sorry”.

I unplug my phone and take it into the bathroom. “Al, what’s wrong??”

The screech from the other end makes me drop my phone from my ear and I fumble with it, catching it at the last second before falling in the sink.

“Jesus, Al, don’t scare me like that,” I whisper angrily.

“Sorry, sorry, I’m just so excited, J! We’re gonna be aunt and uncle!”

I sigh, not knowing why I needed that reminder at three in the morning. “Yes, we’ve known this for months now, Al.”

“No, J. Tonight! We’re gonna be aunt and uncle tonight! ”

My eyes widen and I scramble out of the bathroom to my closet, tripping in the process. I mumble another “sorry” to my girlfriend and hightail it out of my apartment.

“Which hospital? And isn’t it a little early? I thought Tangela wasn’t due for another two weeks.”

“St. Mary’s. And I don’t know, my mom just called and said they’re at the hospital already. I’m pulling up in front of your building now.”

I open the front door just in time to see Alice park her brother’s Jeep and wave at me excitedly.

I hang up the phone and make my way to the passenger seat, and as soon as I enter, the smell of Alice’s floral shampoo hits me.

She’s wearing a navy sweatshirt with a pretty bow embroidered on the front and black leggings.

Her hair looks damp and her face is free of makeup, and the smile she wears is so huge it brings out both her dimples.

How did I never notice she has dimples before? She looks beautiful.

“Are you excited?” she asks, and the question brings me out of my haze.

“Terrified,” I say, refocusing on my phone and texting Jess to let her know I’m headed to the hospital. How did I not think to tell her?

“Why terrified?”

“I don’t know about you, but I don’t have much experience with babies. I wouldn’t know what to do.”

She laughs brightly, “You think Michael knows what to do? If anyone should be terrified, it should be my brother.”

I laugh along and say, “Yeah, you’re right. I just know Tangela, and she never asks for help, even when she most needs it. So I guess I’m worried about her more. What if she needs my help and I’m bad at it?”

“Oh, J,” she says softly, reaching out her hand and grasping my forearm on the center console. “You’re gonna be an amazing uncle. I promise.”

She can’t possibly know that, but the conviction in her words helps soothe my anxiety. I think back on all the times I’ve been around her in the last year, at holidays and family gatherings. She has this way about her that makes me feel comfortable, more at ease, and I’ve never understood why.

“Thanks for being here, and for picking me up,” I say, my hand twitching to cover hers. “I would have kicked myself if I missed it.”

“Of course. I got your back, J,” she says with a smile, and takes back her hand. I bring my arm to my lap and rub at the spot she was holding.

The drive to the hospital is short and I refrain from commenting on Alice’s crooked parking, even though she is taking up two spaces. I look back at the car, sighing because that’s a huge pet peeve of mine.

Alice turns back and rolls her eyes at me. “It’ll be fine, let’s go!” She grabs my hand and starts running through the parking garage, and I have no choice but to follow.

Alice

This is the most exciting thing to ever happen in my life!

Okay, that may be an exaggeration, but I am so thrilled to be an aunt. Ever since I was thirteen and my parents let me get a job as a babysitter, I’ve loved working with kids. They’re so curious, funny, and smart, and I want at least five of them in the future.

I’m buzzing with excitement as we ride the elevator up to the fourth floor and I realize that I’m still holding Jordan’s hand, squeezing tightly. He doesn’t say anything, just smiles down at me, the same excitement showing in his eyes.

The elevator dings, and Jordan squeezes my hand once more before letting go. I miss the warmth of his hand but recover quickly when I see Robbie walking with a four pack of coffees in his hand.

“Roro,” I say, calling him by the nickname I came up with when I was young and couldn’t pronounce his name.

He turns around, stifling a yawn and waving at me. “Hey, Al. Glad you made it. And you brought Jordan.”

“Hey,” Jordan says, fist bumping Robbie’s free hand.

“What’s the update?”

Robbie grimaces and says, “Well, we might be here for the whole night. The baby is not quite ready to join us. But we’ve got coffee!”

We nod and follow him into the waiting area, saying hello to my parents when we take a seat.

“I know they live like three hours away and it’s late, but do you want to call your parents, J?” I ask, pulling my knees up to my chest on the wide waiting room chair and getting comfortable.

“I’ll call them in the morning. If I tell my mom now, she’s going to go in helicopter parent mode and call Tangela nonstop.”

I laugh and shake my head. Their mom does seem like a handful at times, but she’s a sweet woman.

“Besides, Tangela told me she plans on taking a trip over to their side of the state a few weeks after the baby is born.”

“Smart,” I say, turning my body to face Jordan. He peeks at me from the corner of his eye and his smile hikes up. “What?” I ask, giggling.

“You’re going to be the best aunt. Always thoughtful, always considerate.”

I can feel the blush taking over my face and I look down, fiddling with my sweatshirt. “Thanks, J.”

We spend five hours in the waiting room, our butts numb and glued to the chairs, and just when I’m about to get up and find some coffee and breakfast, Michael comes out.

His hands are shaking and there are tears in his eyes, and for a second I panic that something bad happened.

But no, he’s smiling like an idiot, clapping his hands to get everyone’s attention.

I quickly sit up and walk up to him, and he puts his arm around me, tucking me into his chest. “She’s perfect,” he whispers, and my eyes widen.

They didn’t want to know the sex of the baby ahead of birth so this is a surprise to all of us.

I hug him back and hear him say to the rest of the family, “Tangela is doing great, and our daughter is here. We’re naming her Katie.

” Mom and I start crying once we realize they’re naming her after our grandma Katherine.

My dad, Robbie, and Jordan join the group hug too, and we all take a moment to congratulate my brother.

“Thank you for being here, everyone.”

“When can we see them?” I ask, and everyone laughs. I’m not sure what’s so funny, but whatever.

Michael shakes his head at me, and I deflate. “Not right now. We’ll get them discharged first and you can come by later when we get home, okay?”

“Fiiine,” I whine, letting him get back to his wife and daughter.

On the bright side, I can go back to sleep now. As my parents and Robbie take off, I hang back and turn to Jordan.

“Let’s get you home,” I say. I don’t know what I expect to see on Jordan’s face, maybe the same excitement that’s showing on mine, but Jordan isn’t looking at me. There’s a slight grimace on his face as he looks behind me.

My head turns to look over my shoulder in the direction he’s staring and I see a beautiful, curvy blond woman wearing a full face of makeup and a black pantsuit.

She’s stunning, and she’s walking right towards us.

My brain doesn’t comprehend what it’s seeing as she smiles and steps into Jordan’s arms, one hand cupping his neck as she kisses him.

And not just a hello peck, but a full on makeout kind of kiss.

My eyes might be bulging out of my head as I stare at them and there’s a deeply uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. I think I might throw up.

Jordan has a girlfriend? Why the hell didn’t he tell me?

I feel more betrayed than heartbroken, because how dare he? We’ve been chatting for the last five hours, talking about our hopes and dreams, families, careers, and failures. And he couldn’t even mention that he’s dating supermodel business Barbie over here?

I swallow the tight knot in my throat and walk away from their public display of affection. I don’t turn back when he calls after me. I just say, “Looks like you have a ride home. See ya!” as brightly as I can muster.

Jordan has his girlfriend to keep him company now.

He doesn’t need me.