Life After Love: Part 1

SERENA

Stumbling straight into the third trimester of this pregnancy, I felt myself in a much brighter mood. My skin was glowing, my sleeping patterns weren't as messed up. The only thing I wasn't handling well was the heartburn. This baby did not like me eating fried foods, which sucked because that's all I've been craving lately. That and boxes full of chocolate bars. I carried one in my hand, taking a bite out of it as I pulled up to Pasadena City Jail, parking on the curb as I waited.

Savoring the chocolate melting onto my tongue as I listened to one of my favorite nineties throwback playlists, I turned when the passenger's side door of my car opened and Michael entered. His beard had grown extensively in the past three months, but he still managed to rub it all over my cheek as he reached to hug me.

"Look at you. You're glowing." Michael observed as I swatted him away when he began to rub my small bump and we exited the same way I drove in. Today was March first, Daniel's birthday, and I couldn't think of a better birthday present than to bust his best friend out of jail in time for his party. More like posting his bail of a half a million dollars until we waited for his trial to begin, but still. No one was going to top my present. Or presents rather. I still had one more up my sleeve and it was still sitting tight in my purse.

"We need to do something about that beard, Michael." I insisted and he chuckled as he buckled up and we entered the road back into town. I just got back myself from New York. Granted I was only supposed to be there to visit family for a few weeks and to check out some potential real estate properties upstate. Weeks turned into months fairly quickly, but I was back and ready to work my ass off until this baby was born.

"You ain't touching my beard, Serena." He argued and I rolled my eyes and figured I'd convince him when we got into town and stopped by the barber shop.

"Such nasty words for someone who just freed you from Hell." I stated, taking another bite off my chocolate bar and he immediately took it and threw it out of the car window.

"Hey!"

"It's bad for the baby", he defended and I sighed, regretting bailing him out already. All jokes aside, I was glad he made it out of there alive. Considering drug trafficking involved some serious buyers and sellers with violent tendencies, I was glad the rest of the group and I managed to track down the responsible drug cartels and paid Michael's debt off. He was free. For now. He'd lost his medical career but I was sure he'd have no problem finding something else to focus on while his trail started.

After I persuaded Michael to get his beard trimmed like I promised, I told him I'd wait in the car while I munched on another chocolate bar and read through my unread text messages. I smiled when I saw one from Kyle. We'd broken up two months after we left Texas, on good terms and remained close friends that texted each other on occasion after he moved back to Texas. I told him I was back in town and that we should catch up soon. He agreed and set up a lunch date for next week.

Marley's text was next, and she was pressuring me to tell her if my plane had arrived yet. I didn't want to tell her I've been in Texas for all of three hours now, my luggage still in my trunk, since I had nowhere to live at the moment. I had given up the lease to my condo before I left for New York and packed the rest of my stuff, placing it in storage until I got back. I planned on staying at a hotel in the meantime, but I wanted to show up at Daniel's party first. I hadn't seen him since I left three months ago, but he did call every once in a while to check up on me and the baby. He had kept his distance like he promised. No surprise visits. No late night pop-ups.

It only made me miss him more. I'd blame it on the hormones, but being with Kyle had taught me that I didn't want someone as tamed as he was. I needed someone who accepted how wild I really am, and who ran wild with me given the chance. If that was still Daniel, then I wouldn't turn down the idea of trying again. If not, I wouldn't push for anything other than helping me raise this kid growing inside of me.

The weather in Pasadena was in the high sixties, which inspired me to roll down the windows and feel the breeze hit my face when Michael and I got back on the road towards Daniel's house. Marley had sent a mass text invitation a week ago, letting everyone know the party was at his place. Being the perfectionist she was, she hated when people showed up without RSVP'ing first. I smirked, excited to see my best friend again when I pulled up into Daniel's driveway. There were only a few cars parked out front, and I appreciated that since I didn't feel like having large amounts of strangers touching my stomach all evening long.

"How do I look?" Michael asked, rubbing on his newly trimmed scruff as I handed him his old sunglasses and he put them on.

"You look fabulous. Marley will definitely appreciate it." I mentioned, sending him a wink as he blushed. I knew he still had feelings for Marley, eventhough she wasn't particularly happy with him since she found out he was dealing drugs again. Good news was, he still had a shot. Freddy and Marley hadn't made anything permanent yet. Freddy was still recovering from his burns and trying to raise a four-year-old little girl. He had his hands full as it is.

"Come on. Let's go crash this party", I exclaimed as I killed the engine and Michael jogged around to help me out of my seat. Locking my car, I took his hand and we headed towards the side fence, which would lead us into the backyard, where the party was in full swing by the pool. Smooth Spanish music was playing in the background as some people cheered and Michael and I made our way through the dancing crowd.

I stopped when I spotted Daniel, noticing how much weight he had put on in all the right places. He didn't look as lanky as he did before. He gained just enough muscle to make my nipples ache and other things too.

"See something you like?" Michael leaned in to whisper and I glared at him when I caught him grinning.

"Shut up. I'm pregnant and horny. That's all." I corrected and he shuddered at my crude words, making me laugh as we made it around the pool, where the rest of the group was. Daniel noticed us first, handing his drink off to Jesse, whose smile faded the moment she saw me and my baby bump hanging out of my belly shirt and foot-length maxi skirt.

"Michael?" Daniel called for his best friend, and I expected him to fist bump him first. He came to me instead, wrapping his toned arms and heavy cologne around me as he kissed my cheek.

"Happy Birthday", I whispered into his ear, smiling as he rubbed my stomach, his grin spread from ear to ear as he pulled away.

"Happy birthday you old fart." Michael greeted his best friend and they slapped one on each other's backs before pulling away.

"Oh, man. Who else knew about this?" Daniel questioned the rest of the group behind him. Freddy and Marley both raised their hands up, asking to stay out of it. I grinned as Marley made her way towards me, hugging me as tight as she could without hurting the kid inside of me.

"You sneaky little squirrel. I knew you had something big to give him, I just didn't know it was Michael." Marley claimed, as she looked over at both of them, her eyes lingering more on Michael, who had no doubt kept his body in shape in the courtyard in prison. His body was firm and full of muscles he didn't have three months ago. Every woman in this backyard was sending him appreciative glances, including Marley.

"See something you want to take home?" I teased and she made a face at me as she blushed and stepped away to get me a drink. Freddy and I caught up on his recovery while Marley was off getting everyone refills. His burns were finally healing properly, but he still needed to keep his arm and hand wrapped until his skin could be exposed to the elements again. He also mentioned Giselle was having a hard time getting used to everyone. Her father was gone, and I supposed you could say Becca was too. She was rotting in a women's correctional facility in Galveston, and from the looks of it, Freddy hadn't taken Giselle up there for a visit at all. The little girl was simply hanging out by the pool, her feet deep in the water as she frowned at her reflection.

"Is she going to be okay?" I asked him and Freddy sighed, not a drop of concern leaving his expression as he looked at Giselle.

"I don't think I'm doing a very good job. She hates her room. Her clothes. The toys I bought her." he added in defeat.

"She'll come around. Just have to give her some more time." I encouraged and he nodded just as Marley joined us and handed me a plastic red cup full of what smelled like fruit punch flavored Gatorade. I raised an eyebrow at her choice of beverage and she grinned.

"It's good for the baby." She excused and I couldn't help but laugh at the woman. She looked like a doll with her short curls and red sundress. But she still looked like the same Marley I knew and had missed these past few months.

"What's the deal over there?" I asked, motioning towards Jesse and Daniel, who looked to be in a serious discussion. I was simply curious. Nothing more. Nothing less.

"They bought a garage together. Jesse's not sure Daniel will have time to dedicate to it now that you're back." Freddy answered and I nodded. Well, Jesse had nothing to worry about. Daniel looked to be plenty distracted by her anyway.

"Uh, oh. I know that look. Trouble's fixing to come." Marley chimed in as I sipped at my Gatorade and licked my lips.

"We're in a good place. No one's going to ruin it." I promised as I grinned and excused myself, heading into the house to sit and rest my feet in some shade. I plopped down onto the sofa in the living room and took my feet out from my sandals, rubbing at the soles to smooth out the aches.

"Need some help with that?" Daniel's voice startled me and I glared at him as he sat down carefully next to me on the sofa, taking my feet in his hands.

"Oh, that feels amazing. Thanks." I relaxed my back onto the armrest and closed my eyes, feeling the jet lag wash over me.

"You look beautiful." he complimented, while I ignored how my body still tingled at his touch and tried to focus on taking a short nap.

"I look like a watermelon." I corrected.

"A beautiful watermelon." he countered and I opened my eyes to flip him off. He laughed and began to massage my legs, higher and higher until he reached my inner thighs. I stared at him, daring him to go higher, but he didn't. He smirked instead and hovered over me to kiss my forehead.

"Behave." he warned, kissing my cheek as he returned to my feet.

"I have another present for you. Grab my bag." I explained, pointing to the purse I placed on the coffee table before I sat on the sofa. He took it, tugging at the zipper, then began to rummage through it until he found the sonogram pictures I had printed from my doctor's appointment a few days ago. I told the doctor not to tell me what the sex of the baby was. So this gender reveal wasn't just going to be a surprise for him, but for me as well. He finally found the sonogram and his eyes practically glazed over as he stared down at the picture in his hand.

"That was not the reaction I was expecting..." I announced, snatching the paper out of his hand to see what had caused that bewildered expression. My eyes almost popped out of my sockets when I realized what he had been looking at.

"We're having twin boys? Twins? I think I'm having a stroke..." I uttered, feeling lightheaded as I closed my eyes and Daniel began to shake me.

"Don't die on me now. At least not until the boys are born." He mentioned and I hit his chest in response, causing him to give me his usual cheesy smile.

"Are you happy now? I'm going blow up like a damn balloon." I informed him before he leaned in just enough to be close enough to kiss me. He didn't. But he sure as hell wanted to. He kissed my cheek instead and smiled.

"A beautiful balloon."

"I'm gonna kill you." I warned with a grin and he laughed, taking my threat with a grain of salt in my current exhausted and horny condition.