Pretend (88 page)

* * *

             
We had been cooking, cleaning and running around for the last two hours and I am happy to say that everything is finally done.

             
“Right, I think that we are all set,” Aiden said as he stood back and scanned the living room.

             
“Yeah, I think that we are. Did Kyle get the plastic cups?” I asked.

             
“Yeah, I’ve put them on the island by all of the drinks,” he said as he smiled at me.

             
“Good.”

             
“So, did you two manage to sort things out?” Aiden asked as he stared into my eyes.

             
“Yeah, I apologised and told him that I was happy for him and would support him whatever his decision,” I said as I smiled. I had managed to speak to Kyle when he came round to pick up Tammy. We had a long talk and it ended on a positive. I didn’t want him to feel bad about trying to make a better life for him and
Tammy
.
I just wanted him to be happy
and if that meant that I had to make a few sacrifices then so be it
.

             
“Good, I’m proud of you. I know that it will be hard but we’ll make it work, ok?” He said as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

             
“I know, I’m just going to miss them both so much,” I said as I placed my head on his chest.

             
“Me too,” he said as he stroked my hair.

             
“Do you
thi
-“

             
Suddenly
I was cut off by a knocking at the front door.

             
“Well, it looks like the first guest has arrived. I’m just going to sort out the last of the food, ok?” He said before heading towards the kitchen.

             
“Ok,” I said as I walked towards the front door.

             
“Hey,” Crystal beamed as she threw her arms around my neck and handed me a bottle of wine. I didn’t like wine and so I didn’t take much notice of what it was but I’m pretty sure that she had bought it for herself anyway.

             
“Hi,” I said as I gently pulled away from her.

             
“Oh gosh, am I the first one?” She said as she scrunched up her nose.

             
“Yes you are but it’s not as if you haven’t been here before,” I said as I closed the door behind her.

             
“Yeah but I wanted to be fashionably late,” she said with a smile on her face.

             
“Leave it to Anthony,” I said as we both burst out laughing.

             
“The fashionable bit, no but the late
bit
, definitely,” she replied as she took her jacket off.

             
She was wearing a pair of tight denim jeans, a red, satin shirt and red heels. She of course had on matching jewellery to compliment the outfit.

             
“So, do I need to take my shoes off, since you have fresh carpet?” She asked as she smiled at me.

             
“Yes, Aiden has a thing about shoes on carpet. Just leave them there,” I said as I pointed to a
n empty
spot next to the door.

             
“Sometimes I wonder who the woman is in this relationship,” she said as we both began to laugh.

             
“You are aware that I can hear you, right?” Aiden shouted from inside of the kitchen.

             
“Don’t worry brother, it wasn’t a secret,” she said as we both headed towards Aiden.

             
“Oh, something smells good!” She said as she gave him a peck on the cheek.

             
“Of course it smells good,” he said with a smirk on his face.

             
“Modesty never was your thing
, was it?” I said
, sarcastically.

             
“Nope, I tried it once but it never
really
worked out,” he said as he began laughing
.

             
“Where are Kyle and Tammy?” She asked as she began to wash her h
ands in the sink before heading
towards some potato chips.

             
“They went home to get changed,” I said as I sat on one of the stools around the island.

             
“
Ok, how is Tammy?”

             
“She was fine, she stayed at Janet’s today
,
since she was ‘sick’,” I said as I rolled my eyes.

             
“Just like her aunty that kid is,” Crystal said as she grabbed another hand full of chips.

             
“Wow, I can feel my ears burning,” a voice said, making us all turn around.

             
“Hey Mimi,” I said as I smiled at her.

             
“I’ll have you know that I was not half as bad as Tammy when I was her age,” she continued, causing us all to burst out laughing.

             
“Yeah right,” Aiden said as he rolled his eyes.

             
“Oh come on
Aidy
, cut me some slack, I was cute,” she said as a huge smirk spread across her face.

             
It was so sweet that Mimi still called Aiden,
Aidy
,
there was something really cute about it.

             
“How did you get in anyway?” I asked as I raised my eyebrows at her.

             
“You didn’t lock the door,” she said, simply.

             
“I keep forgetting that you need a key to lock it, it’s not like the old place. It’s going to take some getting used to,” I said as I got up and headed towards the door.

             
As I approached the door and heard two voices I began smiling to myself.

             
“Oh come on baby, you can’t stay mad at me forever.”

             
“Yes I can! One thing I asked you
for
,
just
one thing!” Jess shouted as she stormed towards the door.

             
“Hey,” I said as I smiled at the two of them.

             
“Hey April, do you think that you can lock him out for the night?” She asked as she scowled at Anthony.

             
“Oh dear, what did you do?” I asked Anthony with a smile on my face.

             
“What makes you think that it was my fault?” He said as he smiled at me.

             
“Because it always is you moron!” Jess shouted as she turned to look at him.

             
“
It’s really not that big of a deal baby,”
he moaned as he raised his eyebrow at her.

             
“Yes it is because
I just wanted you to remember but you couldn’t even do that,” she complained as they both walked towards the kitchen, leaving me to lock the door, with the key this time.

             
“Ok guys calm down, you’re damaging my unborn God Son’s ears,” Aiden said as he smirked at the angry couple.
             

             
“God daughter,” Jess corrected.

             
“Baby, I told you that the kid is a boy,” Anthony said with a smirk on his face.

             
“And I told you that it is a girl,” she moaned as she gave him a dirty look.

             
“So, what’s all of the drama about?” Mimi asked as she bit into an apple and sat
down
on one of the stools.

             
“All I did was forget to get her a bar of candy, I said that I’d go back but now she’s saying that she doesn’t want it,” Anthony said in a frustrated tone.

             
“Yes because you should have remembered
it in the first place! One thing I asked you to do and you can’t even manage that,” she grunted.

             
“You won’t die if you don’t get a ba
r of candy,” he said as he leaned
against the island.

             
Oh dear Anthony, you just made a big mistake.

             
“Do you have any idea what it is like to carry around your big headed kid all day? My feet are swollen, my back hurts, my ribs ache, not to mention
that my breast now weigh a tonne and you can’t even manage to remember to get me one bar of candy!” She screamed as the whole room went silent.

             
“Do you see what I have to put up with?” Anthony asked. We all remained silent of course, we were not about to disagree with hormone crazy Jess right now.

             
“This is all your fault!” She shouted as Anthony stood staring at her with his eyes open wide.

             
“What’s my fault?”

             
“This,” she said as she pointed at her belly.

             
“All I wanted was to go out, have some
fun
but oh no, you just had to convince me to have a quiet night in and now look what you did. You’ve disfigured my body, I’m tired all the time and constantly hungry!” She shouted with her hands on her hips.

             
“
Aww
,
baby
,
calm down. I love your disfigured body, come here,” he said as she tried not to smile at his comment.

             
“You’re just saying that,” she muttered as he gently pulled her towards him.

             
“No I’m not.
I told you already, you’ll always be beautiful. I love your body, in fact you
’
r
e
the hottest mom that I’ve ever seen,” he said, making her giggle.

             
“Really?”
She said as she looked up at him.

             
“Yes, really.
Now you go and chill out with the girls whilst I go and get your bar of candy, ok?”

             
“You don’t have to go and get it-“

             
“I want to. I’ll see you when I get back, ok?” He said before kissing her on her head and walking towards the kitchen door.

             
“Thank you baby,” she said in a calm tone. Wow, those hormones really did have her up and down.

             
“I still got it,” Anthony mouthed to us once he knew that Jess couldn’t see. That boy made me laugh.

             
“What?” Jess asked as we all began laughing.

             
“Nothing, we’re just laughing at how
cute you two are,” Crystal said, quickly.

             
“Can someone let me out of this prison?” Anthony shouted as we all burst out laughing again.

             
“I’m on it,” Aiden said as he gently slid my keys out of my hand and went to his best friend’s rescue.

             
“Right, let’s go next door so that we can decide what games to play,” I said as Crystal, Jess and Mimi followed me into the living room.

             
I waited patiently
as
they all got comfortable in the couch. I couldn’t help but stare at Jess’ stomach, it was so cute. She was due any day now and she looked adorable. It was no lie when they say that pregnancy gives you a glow because it was working wonders for Jess. Her skin was immaculate, she hadn’t actually put on any weight other than on her stomach,
and she
just looked beautiful.

             
“I don’t know why we are planning because once your family starts a game of charades that’s it for the night,” Crystal said as we all burst out laughing.

             
“Yeah, you’re right,” I replied as I smiled to myself.

             
I was really looking forward to seeing everyone tonight. They had all seen mine and Aiden’s new home already but we thought that we would make everything official by inviting everyone round tonight. We had done some food and planned to play game
s
and socialise for the evening. Really it was just an excuse to get everyone together.