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C L A I R E

Two months later:

"I'm happy to volunteer as the Godmother for the prettiest baby in this world."

"No way! Claire knows that only I can be that. Don't you, Claire?"

"That's so rude! You're already a Godmother to your niece. This one's for me."

"That's unfair. My niece doesn't even live here."

With my palms on my cheek, I look at my best friends as they throw each other relentless comebacks. They have been at it for the last 5 minutes and 20 seconds exactly, going back and forth over who gets to be the Godmother to my unborn baby. We are at Hot Cup Brews, sitting by the round table beside the fireplace. It feels like the perfect place to be in considering the weather outside is too chilly for a walk.

Sitting between Jesse and Nina, Chris looks between them too. His big brown eyes observe the two adults fighting like children. He has a milkshake in his hands, the straw in his mouth as he sips while staring. He looks at me often in between, his eyes asking me why am I not stopping my friends.

The child has a leather jacket on, along with boots that Dad bought for him. They are not even out on the market yet. The kid's little jeans-clad legs tucked inside the boots make him look eerily similar to his dead father. My parents are starting their parenting process again, forcing an image of Christopher Hill into Christopher Willows Hill's head.

I don't know what to say to him. I am actually loving the little bit of hold my friends still have between each other. We haven't been our normal selves for the last two months.

It took Nina days to finally realize the gravity of what her fianće did and now she tells us that she hates him, although I can see how her eyes spark when anyone mentions his name. Not that we do so willingly but sometimes, we have no choice but to make Nina keep attached to reality. We are afraid to let go, afraid that she will drift apart. Her pain is visible with just one look at her.

Jesse, on the other hand, is still coping with the loss of her grandma. Although she survived her first attack, she died a month later due to another. It's just her Mom and Jesse in the family now, both giving each other a shoulder to cry on.

On the table in front of me, our final year project sits inside the folder, all complete and sealed only to be opened later by our professors. Around it rests our empty cups of drinks and the cafe's menu card, making the table look cluttered.

I pucker my lips when Chris looks at me again, sticking my tongue out at him. I don't get it but there's something about the boy which makes me love annoying him. We haven't been on friendly terms yet but he gladly tagged along after I offered him a peace treaty with a chocolate bar.

I am his least-liked newfound family, according to Mom. I don't blame him though. I am still struggling to process that he is suddenly a part of our lives and that I have had a nephew for almost four years.

"Claire...Claire!" A light slap on my arm makes me look up from Chris to see Nina staring at me. "Are you listening?"

Instead of answering, I find myself studying Nina. No matter whatever excuses she gives us, she has thinned over the last two months. Ever since Noah's sentence of seven years imprisonment was passed, her last bit of feelings for him died. Before that, she was stunned to hear what had happened and didn't want to talk to me anymore. But times changed and she came along a month ago, apologizing to me while crying for him.

I only felt my heart grow heavy for her. She is my best friend and I know that she loved him truly. It wasn't a hopeless affair as she called it later. Noah freaking proposed to her. She had dreamed of marrying him and then he crushed her dreams with his bare hands. He got so blinded by his hate for Vaughn that he forgot that he was dragging an innocent in the middle of his revenge.

I hope Nina finds someone to love again. Someone better than him.

"Aunty Claire!" Chris shouts all of a sudden, placing his glass of milkshake on the table, and I blink my eyes, straightening in my seat.

"Oh, sorry...guys..." I mutter. "I spaced out."

"Yeah, you do that a lot nowadays." Jesse smiles. "Now, tell us...who will be your baby's Godmother — me or Nina? Hint, pick me!"

Nina slaps Jesse's hand with which she was gesturing towards herself.

"No, me!" Nina imitates Jesse and points to herself.

I blink my eyes at them, horrified at the thought of choosing. I can never choose between them. One would sulk at me for the rest of her life. Frightened, I glance at Chris and see him looking curiously at me. I have no idea if a four-year-old understands such things but by the look on his face, you would think he does.

All three of them have their arms crossed on the table as they wait for me to answer. Nina's new nose piercing is so close to my face that if I lean even an inch, I can see inside her nose. I widen my eyes, looking around at the three of them in complete discomfort.

"Huh...I'll let Chris choose," I blurt out, looking at the little boy who blinks again, definitely not understanding anything.

Both my friends exchange glances with each other before attacking the little child.

"Chris, you finished your drink! Let me buy you ice cream," Jesse says, tugging at the child's arm because Nina is holding him by his waist, not wanting to give him to Jesse.

"No, come with Aunt Nina. I'll buy you new toys. You like Iron Man, don't you?" Nina tickles the child and Chris giggles.

To our surprise, he jumps down from his seat and takes both of Nina and Jesse's arms in each hand, making them get up too.

"Ice cream first," he announces, tilting his head up at Jesse, then turns to Nina. "Then toys."

My friends look at me, staring agape and I shrug my shoulders, mentally impressed by Chris's cleverness to get the best of both worlds. My friends burst into a chuckle after a while and let Chris guide them toward the cafe counter.

I watch them as they place their order for a jumbo ice cream and Jesse opens her purse to pay. Nowadays, even the simplest of stuff feels too surreal. Vaughn says it's an effect of the pregnancy but I feel like it's just the lack of stress in my life.

Everyone around me is happy and that in turn makes me happy.

My phone beeps on the table and I see a text from Vaughn floating on the screen.

Vaughn: I miss you

I smile, picking the phone up and typing a reply back.

We showered together like three hours ago

Vaughn: Wasn't enough. I need more. Come to the office.

Mixing business with pleasure? Doesn't sound good.

Vaughn: Say that when you're bending over my desk with my cock inside that tight pussy.

I bite my lip, instantly becoming horny with the text. We have been having sex like maniacs these days. My hormones keep me horny all the time and Vaughn is much obliged to fuck me whenever I ask him. We had sex like six times this morning itself and yet, I can't help but squeeze my thighs together as the heat starts to pool between my legs.

When should I come?

Vaughn: On my cock or my tongue?

I smirk and type back.

Your wish

Vaughn: That's my girl. I'll be free in another hour. Sending David to pick you up.

K, bye

Vaughn: I love you

Love you too.

Someone taps my elbow and I put my phone down to look at the person. Chris is standing there with two ice cream cones in his hand and he has one forwarded to me.

"Grandma said Vanilla's your favorite," he says, his cheeks flushing as he bites his lip.

I smile at his innocence as I take the ice cream from him. "I do. Thank you, Chris."

He smiles back and just then, Nina and Jesse come back to the table and Nina helps Chris back up on his seat.

"Next stop, toy shop!" Nina exhales, pumping her fist with Chris. "And then you decide who to pick, awesome Aunt Nina or boring Aunt Jesse."

They don't notice it but I see a tiny smile on Chris's lips before he opens his mouth. "Aunt Rose bought me a new bike..." His 'bought' comes out as 'boujgth' and 'bike' as 'ike' with his mouth full. "I choose her."

Nina and Jesse both hang their jaws in the air as I burst into a laugh, loving the way Chris played them both so well.

As I said, everything is finally well.