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Play areas filled with giant stuffed animals and beautifully structured (but tiny) tables and chairs. Bookshelves.

And I don’t think I’d ever seen so many baby clothes. I picked up the tiniest little onesie covered in ducks and immediately put it back down again. I didn’t know anything came so small.

“That’s so cute .” Radley’s entire face scrunched up. “And look at these.” She ran her hand over a rack of onesies covered in baby animals before pulling the bunny one out and holding it up.

I didn’t blink.

This was everything I had yet to think about.

I’d only just come around to the idea of new clothing, but all of this—everything as far as the eye could see—was something I’d have to buy over the next six months.

Sooner, even. And then a baby would arrive.

A tiny baby I’d have full responsibility over.

There was a valid argument to say that considering I was pregnant at twenty-one and still in school, I couldn’t even take responsibility for myself.

“Mills, you okay?” Holiday turned around from where she’d been talking to Cynthia.

“There’s so much,” I whispered, my eyes falling on the section dedicated to breast pumps. I didn’t even know there was more than one type of breast pump.

She walked back to where I was glued to the spot. “I know, but today is about you, not the baby. Cynthia says clothing is over there.” She pointed in the far distance and looped her arm around my shoulder. “Let’s move past this section quickly.”

“But it’s all stuff I’m going to have to think about.”

“And we can think about all of it together, but let’s do it tomorrow. Better yet, let my brother do it. And you enjoy today before you get overwhelmed. ”

“Okay,” I replied, trying hard to stop my head from exploding. “Take me to the clothes.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Have you ever tried shopping with someone who knows exactly what to wear because she’s spent years being sent the best clothes and fitted for the best events?

It’s both immensely helpful and exhausting.

I’d always loved shopping, but thirty minutes in and I’d come to realize I wasn’t a shopper .

Not like Holiday, who shopped with military precision and an expert eye.

Even Radley escaped at some point after the first hour to go shopping on her own.

I must have tried on a thousand different items of clothing.

I didn’t even know what I’d said yes or no to.

Though in reality Holiday had decided for me.

I simply showed her what I was wearing while she passed me something else to try as she sipped champagne that Cynthia had brought us (I’d been given something nonalcoholic).

There should be a music montage playing in the background instead of the soundtrack of me huffing through another pair of pants, some scarily large maternity bras, and I’d point-blank refused to try on any workout clothing.

“Jeans next. My stylist swears these are the best for maternity,” said Holiday, thrusting a pair at me. “I have the regular ones, which is what I’m wearing now. So if you like them, we can get them in all colors, which makes it easy.”

“Okay, but then we’re done. I truly can’t take any more.” I flopped down on one of the chairs and wished I hadn’t. It was too comfy to leave. “How long have we been here? The store must be opening soon.”

“An hour and twenty,” replied Holiday, checking a watch that looked exactly like Tanner’s. “We’ve still got half an hour.”

“It’s going to take that long to pay.”

“Exactly, that’s why they’re ringing it up as we go. I thought it would save time.” She smiled, like she’d come up with the best plan ever, but my heart beat a rapid pulse.

“What? But I don’t know what I want yet. I’ve tried on hundreds of things.”

“Not quite,” replied Holiday, unaware of the panic rushing through me. “And we’re taking it all.”

“Holiday! I can’t afford to buy everything I’ve tried on.

” I had a little money saved, and my mom’s credit card, but there was no way I was buying everything.

I don’t even know why I’d tried it all on.

But like her brother, she wasn’t used to hearing no .

“I’ll get the workout clothes, a couple of jeans, and the sweaters.

That’s enough to get me through the winter. ”

“Winter, of course.” She slapped her palm to her head. “We need coats.”

“ Holiday .”

She stood up, marched over to me, and grabbed my shoulders.

Her gaze was so intense as she stared at me in the exact same, determined way Tanner did.

Firm mouth, strong nose, and sculpted cheekbones.

Except she was blonde where he was dark.

She was smooth where he was rugged. But underneath it all, I felt like I was looking right at him.

“First off,” she began. “I get forty percent off everything, which practically makes it free. Second, Tanner is paying. Except for that super cute jumpsuit you tried on, I’m buying you that. Plus the giant stuffed duck, because I’m a cool auntie, and I give the best gifts.”

I didn’t ask what stuffed duck.

“No. He can’t pay, either, I don’t care if he has the money.”

“Millie, you’ve met my brother. If I don’t spend the entire day treating you like a queen and giving you enough new clothes to fill that walk-in wardrobe of yours, I’m going to hear about it until the end of time. And I’m not prepared to do that, sorry. It’s where I draw the line.”

I sighed. She had a point. I was also not a fan of hearing about it until the end of time. And was I really some special kind of brat to complain about Tanner asking his sister to take me out for the day when she was already so busy? Plus, who didn’t want a wardrobe full of beautiful clothes?

“Okay, thank you, Hol. I’ll let you spend Tanner’s money.

” Glancing over her shoulder, I spotted a sweater I’d seen before my fashion show had started.

A navy-blue cashmere sweater with daddy embroidered on the front in red thread.

Tanner had already given me so much, and I’d given him nothing.

I’d taken it from the hanger, instinctively knowing how much he’d love it, even if it had made Radley laugh. “But I’m paying for this.”

“Good girl.” She leaned in and kissed my cheek. “You want my discount, though, right?”

“Of course.” I held up the jeans still gripped in my fist. “I truly don’t need these, can we find Radley and go have brunch now?”

Holiday tutted, took the jeans, and placed them against my body. “These look fine, I trust the fit. We’ll buy a few and if you like them, my stylist will send you the rest.”

“Thank you.” I breathed out. “Thank you, Hol. I mean it, you’re going to be the best auntie. I know it.”

Her smile lit up her entire face, the one she was famous for. The Hollywood starlet.

“You bet I am.” She hugged me. “You go and find Radley, I’ll pay and then we’re moving to our next destination.”

Millie: Thank you for asking Holiday to take me out. It was really kind of you

Tanner: Anything for you. Are you having fun?

Millie: I am. Now I’m not under Holiday’s rule and I’m sitting down with someone rubbing my feet

Tanner: I’ll rub your feet whenever you’d like *winky face* You name the time, I’ll be there

Millie: Don’t make it weird

Tanner: Nothing weird about me wanting to rub your feet. I like your feet. *angel emoji*

Millie: *eye roll emoji*

Tanner: Did you buy me something?

Millie: Maybe

Tanner: Is it underwear?

Millie: You wanted me to buy you underwear?

Tanner: I wanted you to buy underwear for you

Millie: I bought pregnancy underwear, it’s not sexy. Don’t get any ideas

Tanner: Anything would be sexy on you, Mill s

I was about to reply when I realized that the manicurist was patiently holding her hand out for me to give her mine. Tanner would have to wait.

“Did my mom ask if you wanted to be on the Simpson’s group chat?” Holiday asked from the chair next to me. “If she does, say no. The current topic is my nephew’s missing tooth and how he got ripped off by the tooth fairy. We’ve been talking about it for five weeks.”

A flurry of goose bumps shot down my spine as another beautician began rubbing my feet with exfoliating paste.

That initial swipe over my arch had me relaxing and squirming all at the same time.

Another technician was working on my hands, I was nicely full from a delicious brunch, and on my way to being the most relaxed I’d been in a long while.

So much so, I’d forgotten about Tanner’s mom.

I huffed out a small laugh and shook my head. “Nope. Not been added to the group chat.”

I’d been waiting for Tanner when he got back from the breakfast with his parents. One look at his shell-shocked face and I descended into panic mode. It took fifteen minutes for him to calm me down and another fifteen to explain his mom was on hyperdrive levels of excitement.

As I slowly understood they didn’t hate me or think I’d gotten pregnant on purpose for Tanner’s money, but wanted to get to know me, I’d agreed to anything he’d asked.

Sure, you can give your mom my cell number.

In less than a week, I think I’d received a hundred messages including but not limited to pregnancy advice, baby pictures of Tanner while telling me what an awesome dad he was going to make, pictures of her five grandchildren and how cute they were, more about how wonderful Tanner was, and the news about the tooth Holiday was talking about.

One time she’d called me and we ended up speaking for two hours.

Other times I’d been napping, and thankfully Radley had been there to field the call.

The only thing getting me through was that it came from a place of love, and she didn’t hate me.

But if she didn’t tone it down soon, I might well explode.

She was currently trying to plan a trip to D.C.

to meet my mom. I had a feeling she didn’t want to be dethroned as the world’s best grandma, an award she’d won for the past seven years apparently.

“But…” I paused, wondering how to put this delicately. “Um, is?—”

“My mom always this nuts?” Holiday finished. “Yep. Especially when it comes to Tanner.”

“What d’you mean?”

“She babies him. He’s her baby boy.” Holiday shrugged. “You have brothers, right? You know.”

I thought back to the million times my mom had done things for my brothers that she never would have done for me. Or rather, I would have done for myself without waiting for her. “Yeah, I get it.”

“So do I,” mumbled Radley, who I thought had fallen asleep.

Holiday fanned through the shades of nail colors, debating between two different nudes. “We have an older brother, Lucas, who also gets preferential treatment, but Tan is a whole different ball game, and he used to milk it for all it was worth. But he’s grown up a lot the past year. ”

“What d’you mean?”

Holiday sucked in her top lip. It was casual, but I could also see that she was seriously assessing her response, cautiously almost. Like she didn’t know how much to give away.

“When you came along it was like he had a reason to stop dicking about and take responsibility. He’s always had such talent on the field, he’s an incredible baseball player, but it’s been easy for him.

He’s never had hardship, or had to try. I spent years and years going through auditions and rejections, making very questionable decisions…

” She paused, taking a breath. “All I’m saying is you’re the first person who’s come along and not shown him the adoration he immediately gets from everyone else. ”

I turned and stared at her; I didn’t know what to say. Or if there was anything to say.

“You know, it’s a running joke in our family that Tanner is the favorite.

Everyone loves him, he’s always happy and full of life, but also kind of an idiot and takes nothing seriously except on the field.

I’m not saying he likes you because you didn’t fall at his feet, but it made him stop and think.

And if you notice, this season he’s been playing even better than last. His batting average is stronger, he’s fielded more balls, his reflexes are quicker.

And I can’t remember the last time I heard him mention a girl that wasn’t you. ”

My mouth opened to respond, but Radley got there first. “That’s what I keep telling her.”

She earned herself a scowl.

“Anyway…” Holiday continued. “You can totally te ll me to mind my own business, and not meaning to sound like my mom, but what’s happening with you two?”

“They kissed the other day.”

“Radley,” I snapped, shooting her another glare, but it was hard to be really furious when my feet were being massaged so incredibly well that I could feel the tension melting away.

Also, I didn’t care about Holiday knowing, but there were another six people in here doing our nails and I didn’t want to discuss my romantic life in front of them.

But the news had been spilled now.

“Oh my god, you did?” Holiday clapped her hands together. “I can’t believe he hasn’t told me.”

I was still wrapping my head around the kiss. Not because I hadn’t enjoyed it, but because Tanner hadn’t tried to kiss me since, and I was working hard on not being disappointed.

I was reliving it every moment I could. The way his eyes skated over my face until I was on the verge of implosion, the gentleness of his mouth teasing mine, the scent of him still embedded in my brain. All of it.

It had to be the baby hormones, there was no other explanation.

“It was nothing. It was after the ultrasound and we were caught up in the emotions of hearing the heartbeat.” I waved her off.

“Do you like him?” she pressed.

“I like that he’s not annoying me as much as he did,” I replied.

Thinking about it, he hadn’t annoyed me in a while. Not for a few weeks now, maybe longer. In fact, I couldn’t remember when he last boiled my blood.

The past couple of mornings I’d even woken excited to see him, and for more than the smoothie he brought me.

“Just think, I could be your sister-in-law.” She winked. “Which means we’ll get to do this all the time.”

“Jesus, Holiday. I said I liked he wasn’t annoying me so much, not that I wanted to marry him.”

She peered at me pointedly before concentrating on her nails again, and for the rest of the day all I could think about was the way she said, “Hmm, we’ll see.”