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I pressed play on Jessi's Nunu Nana, the rhythmic beats meandering with the sounds of movement all around me; Chey's footsteps as she organised snacks and food, my nail tapping against my mouse pad as I scrolled through Valerie's Korean music playlist in search of more songs to add to my mix, the guys' banter in the garden.
The weather was officially warm again, the sun adding brightness and vibrancy to everything its warm rays caressed. We were all in cute summer dresses, the men in shorts, everyone's toes out, as we happily embraced spring's arrival.
"Who would've thought this day would be a thing?" Chey said in Ma's kitchen as Ashley walked back into the house with golden helium balloons from her car. I temporarily stopped adding music to the party playlist I was putting together, my eyes glued to my gorgeous besties as they went about completing their tasks.
"Definitely not me." Ashley said, looking around the house and noting everything else that needed to be set up for the day. "Where are the men?"
"In the garden, they're setting up the games," I told her as I painstakingly held myself back from diving into the tantalising food all around me. There were snacks on the coffee table, platters of finger foods on the kitchen counter, a cake and more sweet goodies in the fridge. In the backyard, the guys had started a fire on the outdoor grill, the smoky smell of burning charcoal gathering saliva in my mouth as I shamelessly fantasised about the marinated meat they'd start cooking soon.
"They don't need all those hands for that," Ashley said, then shouted, "Hey, Drew! Come help me with these balloons."
"I know who I'm not planning a party with again," Andrew said as he walked in from the garden, his words delivered with sass.
"Yeah, whatever. Take these," Ashley rolled her eyes as she held the balloons out to him. "I want them on that wall. You think you'll be able to spell it properly?"
"No, I don't think so. Maybe you should help me spell welcome home," Andrew shot back sarcastically. "Ash, don't insult me like that. Even Rufaro can spell it properly."
"Okay, then get to it." Ashley said, rapidly snapping her fingers as Andrew shot daggers at her with his eyes. Those two were like a pair of twins, always at each other's throats, but also quite fond of each other, often sharing inside jokes and doing certain things together. At Ashley's request, Andrew would drop whatever he was doing to lend a hand. They spent hours on the phone together, and recently started hanging out without the rest of us.
As I watched them now, Ash laughed at something Drew said as he accepted another balloon from her. They were cute together, and could've made a great couple if not for them both insisting that they could never work as more than just friends, though neither would say why.
Towa snuck up behind me, temporarily distracting me from my Ashley and Andrew thoughts, his hands covering my humongous belly as he dipped his head into the flesh between my neck and shoulder, peppering sweet kisses there.
