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I finish my bowl of cereal before I grab my phone and draft a text to Kaylee. I feel like a loser, but after my last conversation with Mia that happened via text message a few days ago, I also feel like Kaylee might understand me more than Mia would.

It’s only now I realize I haven’t spoken with Mia since Cooper and I reconnected. I’ve seen her boyfriend more than I’ve seen her.

I want to tell her about Cooper and me, but I also feel like she’d rather see me with Greg than with Cooper…and it’s not her decision to make. She slipped into class late yesterday, so we weren’t sitting by one another, and I had to run out to get to the stadium for the Monday intern meeting, so we didn’t talk after class. I’ll see her in class today, so maybe we can chat then.

It’s not even a contest for me when it comes to the great Cooper versus Greg debate, though. It’s between the man who feels very much like he might be my soul mate versus a guy I’ve known a couple years and have never once been interested in. If Mia can’t understand that, maybe she isn’t the friend I thought she was.

I finally shoot off the text to Kaylee before I lose my nerve even though she’s married to the hottest tight end in the NFL and I’m freaking out a little as I click the send button.

Me: Hi Kaylee! It’s Gabby. Cooper told me to text you to see if I can help you with StrongFitKids while he’s out of town, and I’d love to grab coffee and chat if you have time! I have class and then need to swing by the stadium, but I’m free after five today and tomorrow.

Her response doesn’t come right away, but I don’t really expect it to since I know she’s busy between her job coordinating the SFK program in her husband’s fitness clubs and raising twin baby girls.

I take a shower and head to school, and I’m ten minutes early for class since I’m hoping I’ll run into Mia. It’s while I’m sitting waiting for class to start that I get a return text from Kaylee.

Kaylee: I would love that! I’m so swamped. Would you mind coming over to my place? Tonight works better since Ben has tomorrow off. We can chat SFK and see if you still want to do some work for me. BTW I’m absolutely thrilled Coop pulled his head out of his ass and got back together with you. I love you for him.

My heart melts as I read her words. She’s one of his best friends, and she approves. Her words seem to push me up onto the kind of floating cloud I can ride for weeks.

And then a text comes through from Mia.

Mia: I’m going to miss class today. Can you take notes for me?

Me: Is everything okay?

Mia: Just an epic hangover. Dylan and I went to a concert last night. He’ll be at the stadium for the internship though.

I guess I won’t see her today…and I swear I’m not judging her reason for missing class.

Except I’m totally judging.

I’m a Type A, straight A student. Mia used to be, too, before she got tangled up with Dylan. I’m starting to wonder how good he is for her, but given how I feel like she’s judging my relationship with Cooper, I also think it’s not my place to judge hers with Dylan.

Me: I’ll send you my notes after class.

I text Kaylee back, too, letting her know I can swing by after work and bring dinner with me, and then I ignore my phone a while so I can take meticulous notes for Mia.

I hit my second class of the day with enough time to eat a granola bar in between and to catch up on my messages, and I’m happy to spot one from Cooper.

Or rather, from Captain .

Captain: Landed and missing you.

Me: Still here and missing you. I made plans with Kaylee for dinner.

He doesn’t respond by the time my next class starts, and I hate the distance already.

After class, I head to the stadium to work a few hours, and I learn we don’t have another challenge until Thursday, but it’s going to be a big one. My mind races with all the possibilities, but we’ll find out soon enough. The interns are split up into different departments, so I don’t get a chance to chat with Dylan at all. And then I order dinner and grab it on my way to Kaylee’s house.

I’m immediately impressed by the gorgeous mansion I pull up to after following my GPS to her address, and when I ring the bell, I hear a baby crying through the closed front door.

Kaylee looks stressed as she opens the door, bouncing a girl on her hip. The girl has tears streaming down her cheeks. “This entire freaking house is tile, and these little girls are racing to see who’s going to walk first, and it’s impossible to keep two babies from crawling and standing and falling backward right onto the tile.” She shakes her head and blows out a breath. “Come on in.”

I giggle a little as I walk in with the bags of food I picked up on my way. “Can I help with anything?”

“You brought me dinner. You’re a freaking lifesaver.”

I giggle, and then I realize there was nothing to be nervous about. Kaylee is a new mom doing the best she can, and she’s flustered and stressed and I’m the girl stepping in to make things just a little easier for her today.

I set the food on the table and spot the other twin playing on the floor with a stuffed animal. I walk over and talk in a baby voice with her for a minute, and she coos happily.

Her sister is in her mama’s arms, and she’s calming down, too.

I get a weird feeling in my chest…like this is something I want. I’ve never been sure if I wanted kids given how I was raised, but I feel like in the right circumstances and with the right person, it could be a really magical thing.

Is Cooper the right guy? Am I in the right circumstance?

Time will tell.

And then the one Kaylee is holding must remember what just happened because she lets out a loud wail of a scream.

Then the one on the floor cooing happily starts up with screams as loud as her sister’s.

Kaylee sighs as she makes her way over to the one on the floor. “I’m going to go feed these two and tuck them in. Go ahead and start dinner while it’s hot. I’ll be down in a half hour or so. I’m so sorry.” She scoops the one on the floor into her free arm. She carries both babies up the stairs, both screaming their heads off, and I stare after her in horror for a beat as that warm feeling in my chest evaporates like the wind, and I’m left wondering whether or not this is something I might ever want.